This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/23/2018
Goodness gracious, look what we have here! Presented with pride is the first and only example of the fabulous Mr. Willie Mays from the popular 1963 Fleer set to be graded GEM MINT 10 by PSA from nearly 1,450 total submissions. The '63 Fleer set is popular with collectors for a number of reasons, most notably the number of stars and HOFers, the relatively small size of the set (67 cards including the checklist), and the history of the issue, which began when the enterprising Fleer Corporation mounted a challenge on the Topps monopoly by issuing packs of cards containing a cookie rather than gum, believing this would uncover a loophole that would allow them to participate in the lucrative market. Unfortunately for them, Topps successfully filed a lawsuit that halted production at a single series of 66 cards plus a checklist. The set is basically numbered by league (American followed by National) and then alphabetically by team and player, with a few notable exceptions, one of which is the featured subject, Willie Mays. Willie appears as card number 5 rather than with his Giants teammates further on in the set, leading many to speculate that he was a late confirmation after the production process had already begun and that the company made the decision to make room for him by bumping a common Baltimore or Boston player. As for the offered specimen, as I often like to say, nothing screams perfection like a PSA 10 GEM MINT designation! We often wonder if the graders make a conscious effort to find a reason NOT to give a card a 10, and if that's the case, they simply couldn't find one here. Corners, edges, surface gloss, centering, borders, registration, it's all here, replete with GEM MINT splendor! If you are a world class collector who's constantly in search of the very best of the very best, you've found it here!