Willie Mays is widely considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time, dazzling fans with his incredible speed, defense, and powerful swing during his iconic career from 1951 to 1973. Known as “The Say Hey Kid,” Mays won two National League MVP awards and was selected to 24 All-Star teams over his storied tenure with the New York and San Francisco Giants. Given his immense talents and status as a legend of America’s pastime, it’s no surprise that some of Mays’ vintage baseball cards have gained immense value from collectors and card enthusiasts in recent decades. Several of his scarce and conditionally rare cardboard issues from the 1950s have climbed to stratospheric prices at auction. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most valuable Willie Mays baseball cards:

1952 Topps #91 – One of the rarest and most coveted sports cards in existence, only a handful of Mays’ rookie card from Topps’ hugely popular 1952 set are known to exist in high grades. In the most pristine mint condition of PSA Gem Mint 10, the 1952 Topps Willie Mays has shattered records by selling for as much as $6.1 million at public auction. Even well-centered and sharp examples in PSA Excellent-Mint (EX-MT) 8 or Mint 9 condition can demand six figures. The scarcity and fame of this iconic rookie issue have cemented it as the most treasured Willie Mays card among collectors.

1952 Bowman #61 – Often considered the “holy grail” for pre-1960 baseball card enthusiasts, the 1952 Bowman Willie Mays is nearly as rare and sought-after as his Topps rookie. High-grade specimens in EX-MT 8 or Mint 9 grade are believed to number under a dozen certified copies in existence. A single PSA 10 example in a 2000 Sotheby’s auction stunned the hobby by selling for $500,000, still a record price for the 1952 Bowman Mays. Even in lower grades of Good-Very Good, examples have still pulled in five-figure sums at public sale.

1957 Topps #258 – Though overshadowed by his prized rookie cards, Mays’ colorful 1957 Topps issue holds immense significance as one of the last cards produced during his legendary prime with the New York Giants. Its scarcer low-print run compared to later 1950s Topps issues and the immense popularity of its subject matter have pushed high-grade examples of the 1957 Mays into the six-figure range. In a PSA 9 sale in 2018, one copy realized an astonishing $94,800 from a bidding war between collectors. Graded examples in EX-MT 8 are regularly traded in the $50,000 range as well.

1964 Topps #139 – As one of Mays’ last cards featuring his trademark New York Giants uniform before being traded to the San Francisco squad, the 1964 Topps issue holds additional nostalgia and rarity against later issues from his career. With a scarcer print run versus subsequent years and a sharp, colorful Mickey Mantle-inspired design, mid-grade copies in EX-MT 8 have reached $20,000 at auction. Clean PSA 9 specimens regularly eclipse the $30,000 auction price point as well. It’s a key card chronicling Mays’ transition between two legendary franchises.

1967 Topps #20 – Often touted as one of the most attractive and graphically bold designs from the classic 1960s Topps era, the hugely popular 1967 design took on special significance when featuring baseball legends at the peak of their careers like Mays. Aside from its brilliant artwork, a relatively short print run increases the rarity of high-quality specimens today. Crackless PSA 9 copies have reached $25,000 at public sale in recent years, with PSA 10 Gems commanding sums well north of that figure when they rarely come to market.

1971 Topps #500 – As one of the final “action image” cards produced during Mays’ playing days, the 1971 Topps issue captures the Say Hey Kid in the midst of his classic left-handed swing during his tenure with the San Francisco Giants. Also notably one of Mays’ highest numbered cards issued, finding high-quality copies in near-perfect condition has proven elusive for collectors. In 2019, a PSA 10 example shattered records for the issue by selling for $31,200 at auction, demonstrating the rarity, condition sensitivity, and enduring appeal of one of the cooler Mays cards available.

While the bulk of high-dollar Willie Mays cards originated from his early 1950s rookie and New York Giants issues as one might expect, examples from other pivotal points in his career consistently break auction records due to their more limited surviving populations in top grades. With generations of fans and collectors holding Mays in the highest esteem as a player, cards like his 1952 and 1964 Topps rookies will likely maintain their positions among the most legendary and valuable baseball collectibles ever produced.