The 1951 Bowman baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic in the history of the hobby. The post-World War II era saw a boom in the production of baseball cards as the sport regained popularity across America. Bowman was one of the top issuers of cards during this time period and their 1951 set remains highly sought after by collectors today due to the stars of the era it features.
The 1951 Bowman set contains a total of 242 cards, with each player receiving one card except for the New York Giants who had two cards each due to the team winning the 1950 World Series. Some of the notable rookies included in the set are Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, and Eddie Mathews. With legends like these, it’s no surprise the 1951 Bowman set holds significant value even 70 years after its original release.
When grading the condition of vintage cards, the top designation awarded by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) and Beckett Grading Services (BGS) is PSA/BGS 10, also known as gem mint. 1951 Bowman cards that grade PSA/BGS 10 are considered the cream of the crop and can be worth tens of thousands of dollars or more depending on the player featured. For example, a PSA 10 graded Willie Mays rookie card from the 1951 Bowman set recently sold at auction for over $657,000, setting a new record price for the card in pristine condition.
While gem mint PSA/BGS 10 examples of star rookies are out of reach price-wise for most collectors, there is still value to be found in lower graded 1951 Bowman cards. A PSA 9 graded Willie Mays rookie would still fetch at least $50,000. Mantle and Mathews rookies in the PSA 9 range could sell for $30,000-40,000 as well. Even more common players from the set in top-rated condition have value, with PSA 9 examples of Giants pitcher Larry Jansen recently selling for around $1,000.
For collectors on a budget, there are also opportunities with lower graded 1951 Bowman cards. A PSA 8 Mays rookie would sell for approximately $15,000-20,000 depending on the exact sub-grade. Mantle and Mathews PSA 8 rookies could go for $10,000-15,000 each. Moving down to the PSA 7-6 range, star rookies might sell in the $3,000-7,000 range. More common players at PSA 7 could still fetch a few hundred dollars.
Even well-worn lower grade 1951 Bowman cards have found buyers in recent years thanks to the hobby’s continued growth. Heavily played PSA 3-4 graded examples of the top rookies can still sell for $500-1,000 each. Complete common player sets in similar lower grades have sold for $1,000-2,000 total. For collectors just starting out, lower grade common players are quite affordable at $10-50 each.
In addition to the star rookie cards, there are also several key short prints and error cards that command premium prices in the 1951 Bowman set. Among the most valuable and sought after short prints are Yankees pitcher Vic Raschi (SP-VR) and Cleveland Indians outfielder Larry Doby (SP-LD), who are believed to have prints around 100 times rarer than standard issues. High-grade examples of these short prints routinely sell for $5,000-10,000 each.
The 1951 Bowman set is truly a cornerstone of the vintage sports card market. Featuring legends like Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle, who went on to have Hall of Fame careers, the set has proven to hold incredible long term value for collectors. No matter your budget, there are opportunities to own a piece of this iconic release, with values ranging from affordable lower grades to record-setting sums for pristine examples of the game’s all-time greats. The 1951 Bowman set is sure to remain a prized part of card collecting history for generations to come.
