Willie Mays was already a living legend by 1966, having won two MVP awards and helped lead the New York and San Francisco Giants to three World Series championships over his first 12 seasons in Major League Baseball. At 34 years old in 1966, Mays was still performing at an elite level as one of the game’s premier power hitters and defensive outfielders.
Not surprisingly, baseball cards featuring Willie Mays from the 1966 season are highly sought after by collectors today given his iconic status in the sport. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the key Mays baseball cards from 1966 and analyze their current price valuations according to the hobby’s leading price guides.
Topps was the dominant baseball card manufacturer in the mid-1960s and unsurprisingly featured Mays prominently in their 1966 set, which was the company’s 25th annual release. The standard Mays card from the 1966 Topps set can still be found in relatively good condition for $15-20. In near mint to mint condition, the card jumps up to $30-50 range according to PSA’s SMR (Sports Market Report) price guide. Top graded gem mint PSA 10 examples of the ’66 Topps Mays card have sold at auction for over $1000.
Another very notable Willie Mays card from 1966 Topps is the much rarer “mini” size card variation that was inserted randomly in wax packs at a very low ratio. Only a small number of the mini Mays cards are known to exist today in high grades. A PSA 9 example sold at auction in early 2022 for a staggering $9,600, showing how coveted and valuable high-grade specimens of this oddball variation have become.
In 1966, Topps also issued their first ever high-number baseball card set beyond the standard base issue of 572 cards. The 1966 Topps High Numbers set featured cards #573-800, with Mays receiving card #596. This Mays high number card has become very collectible in its own right over the years. A PSA 9 copy would fetch $150-250 based on recent sales, while a PSA 10 example could command over $1000.
The other major baseball card manufacturer in 1966 besides Topps was Fleer. Their flagship regular issue set that year featured Mays on card #15. The ’66 Fleer Mays is quite collectible today for aficionados of the brand in general during its early card issues prior to losing the MLB license. In high grade PSA 9 condition, expect to pay $75-125 for the ’66 Fleer Mays. A pristine PSA 10 specimen could sell for $400-600.
Beyond the standard domestic English-language card releases, Willie Mays also received cards in 1966 issues targeted towards international collectors. The prestigious Italian-based Monaco Sports Memorabilia company put out sets that year which have become highly valuable today. The Monaco ’66 Mays card in PSA 9 condition is valued around $300 minimum per the SMR guide. An even rarer Japanese-language BBM baseball card set from 1966 featured Mays on a coveted insert card as well. A high grade PSA 9 copy of this exotic Mays card would be worth $1000-1500.
In summary, Willie Mays was such a dominant force in Major League Baseball throughout the 1960s that his baseball cards from 1966 remain extremely popular with collectors decades later. Top graded specimens of Mays’ main cards from the ’66 Topps, Topps High Numbers, Fleer and international issues can demand four-figure prices or more. Even in lower grades, Mays’ iconic 1966 cardboard continues to hold substantial value for enthusiasts of the Say Hey Kid and mid-20th century baseball memorabilia. As one of the true legends of America’s pastime, Willie Mays’ lasting legacy is still reflected strongly in the vintage baseball card market today.
