This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/11/2016
Twenty five years have passed since PSA began grading cards and there has been but a single PSA 10 example of Hall of Famer Willie Mays' 1969 Topps card #190 on the population report. And while many collectors believe that the California grading company has raised their grading standards over the years, the featured card is proof that world class specimens still exist out there, waiting for their place in history. Submitted just a few short months ago, we were fortunate to see this card before it was newly minted as what is now the second GEM MINT example in existence, and we unanimously agreed that it was worthy of the assessment. First off, the centering appears to be absolutely perfect without utilizing some sort of measuring tool that breaks down distances within millimeters. The central image of "The Say Hey Kid" is spot on while the green circle that bears his name in black and yellow is completely free of any stray print. Each corner displays the stunning sharpness expected of the rarely achieved grade while the hot pink reverse is bold with no sign of fading or aging so common to the series. The usual paragraph bio has been shortened to a single sentence in order to fit Mays' long resume of spectacular achievements, but those eleven words succinctly capture and eternally freeze one moment in time; "Only Babe Ruth ever hit more big league homers than Willie!" Whether you're a 1969 Topps set builder looking for a new advantage in the PSA Set Registry rankings or an advanced hobbyist that covets the unique, this new addition to the GEM MINT club is a cornerstone piece to any world-class collection.