CSG Certifies Willie Mays Card Easily Worth Six Figures

Certified Sports Guaranty® (CSG®) is honored to have certified a high-grade 1952 Topps #261 Willie Mays card, one of the hobby's most desirable baseball cards and worth well over $100,000 in its condition. The card is graded CSG 8; very few are known to exist in higher grades.

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In his 22 seasons, Willie Mays put together stats that earned him a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. The Giants center fielder was Rookie of the Year in 1951, National League batting champion in 1954 and a 12-time Gold Glove Award winner. His 660 career home runs have him comfortably in the top 10 list of all-time home run leaders.

Topps had big plans in 1952 for their first full baseball card set. The unique style of the cards had each player’s name inside of a theater marquee with a facsimile autograph accompanied by a team logo, a first for a baseball card set. For the player images, black-and-white photos were colorized with the help of an artist. As a result, the cards from this set have a unique appearance unlike any other cards up until that time.

“We are excited to see more and more great rarities like this Willie Mays card coming through the CSG Grading Room,” said Andy Broome, CSG Senior Grading Finalizer. “It was thrilling to see this sought-after card in this incredible condition, and I cannot wait to see what collectors send us next — the submissions just keep getting more impressive.”

The CSG Population Report reflects the fact that more collectors are entrusting rare vintage cards like this one to CSG. As of June 2022, the CSG Population Report lists 10 examples of 1952 Topps #261 Willie Mays, with the CSG 8 example being the highest graded. Another example, a CSG 4.5, has powered a set called Willie by LittleBabyBlue to the top spot among Willie Mays Player Sets in the CSG Registry.

Other rare baseball cards certified by CSG include:

• 1887 Allen & Ginter N28 cards for Timothy Keefe (graded CSG 2.5) and Adrian C. Anson (graded CSG 1.5)
• a circa 1922 Romeo and Julieta Cigars Jose Mendez graded CSG 2.5 that realized $19,470 in a Hake’s Auction in March 2022
• a 1934 Goudey #37 Lou Gehrig graded CSG 3.5
• a 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle graded CSG 3

CSG also uses its expertise and cutting-edge authentication technology to identify counterfeit or altered cards. Examples include:

• a 1954 Topps Hank Aaron Rookie Card
• a 1967 Topps Baseball #581 Bill Denehy/Tom Seaver
• a 1968 Topps #177 Koosman/Ryan
• a 1980 TCMA Reading Phillies #22 Ryne Sandberg

CSG uses world-class expertise, advanced technology, innovation and operational excellence to provide sports card collectors and dealers with accurate, consistent and fast certification services. CSG also offers the industry’s strongest guarantee, which adds significant confidence, liquidity and value to the hobby.