The 1951 Bowman Set – A Price Guide to the Originals
The 1951 Bowman baseball card set is a true classic and iconic issue that holds significant nostalgia and value for collectors. Sporting colorful illustrated designs on every card depicting each player, the 1951 set was the 4th annual release by Bowman and featured all 16 major league teams from that season. With its throwback to the Illustrated baseball cards of the pre-war era, the 1951 Bowman cards remain highly recognizable and desirable decades after their original distribution. Here is an in-depth price guide exploring the current market values and demand for each card in the complete 126 card 1951 Bowman set.
The set includes all 122 current major league players from 1951, as well as 4 special “manager” cards depicting coaches Leo Durocher, Eddie Stanky, Chuck Dressen, and Burt Shotton. As with other vintage sets, the rarity and condition of each individual card plays a huge role in its current price. While the most common players are affordable in lower grades, the true star rookies and legends can command big money–especially in pristine “mint” condition fresh from original packaging.
Some of the most notable and expensive cards in the 1951 Bowman set include:
Willie Mays (Card #126): Often regarded as one of the true “holy grail” cards of the vintage era. In high gem mint (GEM MT) condition, a Willie Mays ’51 Bowman can sell for over $400,000. Even well-centered near mint (EX-MT) examples still fetch five figures.
Mickey Mantle (Card #69): As arguably the most famous card in the set other than Mays, a Mantle in top GEM MT shape is worth around $200,000. Near mint copies still sell for $10,000-$30,000 depending on centering quality.
Roy Campanella (Card #61): Campanella was already an established star by 1951, but his card stands out due to the ultra-rare reverse negative printing error variant. In any grade, a “negative Campy” can sell for $50,000-$150,000.
Jim Piersall (Card #109): Like Mays and Mantle, Piersall was a rookie in 1951. But his card has added value since only approximately 100 copies are believed to still exist. Even well-worn graded copies sell for over $1,000 due to the extreme rarity.
Ted Williams (Card #110): Considered perhaps the greatest pure hitter ever, a PSA/DNA gem mint Ted Williams can sell for $15,000-$25,000. Very high end condition is needed due to the ample surviving population.
Moving down the scale, there are still many cards that command four-figure sums or more in pristine mint condition:
Joe DiMaggio (Card #31): $3,000 – $8,000
Stan Musial (Card #83): $3,000 – $6,000
Bob Feller (Card #39): $2,000 – $4,000
Warren Spahn (Card #115): $2,000 – $3,500
Minnie Miñoso (Card #78): $1,500 – $3,000
Jackie Robinson (Card #96): $1,000 – $2,500
As for more common stars, here are the approximate values for high grade examples:
Duke Snider (Card #106): $300 – $600
Eddie Matthews (Card #68): $250 – $500
Early Wynn (Card #124): $200 – $400
Phil Rizzuto (Card #101): $150 – $300
Yogi Berra (Card #14): $100 – $200
Moving into the lower rung commons, here are typical prices for choice near mint copies:
Most veterans/role players: $25 – $75
Pitchers/position players in backup roles: $10 – $35
Marginal/fringe players: $5 – $15
For the manager cards, popular skippers like Leo Durocher and Eddie Stanky can reach $100-150 in top condition due to unique pose/design. Less heralded managers are roughly $25-75.
The 1951 Bowman set holds iconic imagery and remains one of the most aesthetically pleasing vintage issues. While extreme rarities like the Mays and Campanella are out of reach except for the most serious collectors, there are still many affordable ways to obtain high quality examples of your favorite players – especially those not considered true “stars.” Condition, as always, is key – so be careful purchasing lower grade common cards online without expertise or imaging to verify. But for those willing to search, a complete near mint 1951 Bowman set can be assembled for under $10,000 with patience.
