CSG-graded 1952 Willie Mays Card Tops Recent PWCC Highlights

Certified Sports Guaranty® (CSG®) is collaborating with PWCC Marketplace to bring collectors weekly online auctions presented by PWCC that feature sports cards graded by CSG. The popular program offers a large variety from across the sports card market, as collector interest continues to grow since the collaboration debuted in 2022.

On May 29, 2023, a 1952 Bowman #218 Willie Mays graded CSG 4 sold for $1,590. This is the second-highest price realized for a vintage Mays card certified by CSG and offered through the PWCC collaboration.

1952 Bowman #218 Willie Mays graded CSG 4 Click images to enlarge.

From the five-tool center fielder's second season in the big leagues, the Bowman #218 is colorful, with a sky-blue background and Mays pictured in a batting stance. This is one of the most sought-after cards in the hobby (after the slugger's 1951 Bowman rookie card) and one of the most attractive. With many considering Mays as the second-greatest MLB player of all time behind Babe Ruth, it's no surprise that numerous bidders vied for the opportunity to add the iconic second-year card to their collection.

1912 T202 Hassan Triple Folders Ty Cobb - End Panel (Hand Cut) graded CSG 2 Click images to enlarge.

On May 7, 2023, a 1912 T202 Hassan Triple Folders Ty Cobb - End Panel (Hand Cut) graded CSG 2 sold for $1,290. The American Tobacco Company created a two-player insert in its 1911 T201 set. However, the following year in 1912, the company produced a triple-fold card for its T202 set, featuring three different sections all on one card, which were found in Hassan Cigarettes. Each card featured a black-and-white game photo in the middle, with smaller player portraits flanking each side of the game image. Hall of Famer Ty Cobb is the gem of the series, as his end panel stands alone after being removed from the triple-sectioned card.

1933 DeLong #21 Jimmy Foxx graded CSG 3.5 Click images to enlarge.

In addition, a 1933 DeLong #21 Jimmy Foxx graded CSG 3.5 sold for $930 on May 29, 2023. In 1933, the DeLong Gum Company released their only issued series of baseball cards to compete with the first Goudey release. The set featured black-and-white images of MLB players towering over a colorful miniature ballpark. The fan favorite set is led by Yankees great Lou Gehrig, but Hall of Fame first baseman Jimmy Foxx isn't far behind. Foxx played for 20 seasons in the big leagues, and upon his retirement in 1945, he was second in total home runs only to Babe Ruth.

2021-22 Panini Noir Sneaker Spotlight Signatures #SNS-DNO Dirk Nowitzki - #'d/99 graded CSG 8.5, with an autograph graded CSG 10 Click images to enlarge.

On May 29, 2023, a 2021-22 Panini Noir Sneaker Spotlight Signatures #SNS-DNO Dirk Nowitzki - #'d/99 graded CSG 8.5, with an autograph graded CSG 10, sold for $870. This unique insert highlights NBA players and their shoes, with this particular card of Dirk Nowitzki being numbered to only 99 copies. German-born Nowitzki helped usher in a new era of basketball in the NBA, as one of the first global stars of the game. Spending his entire 21-year NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks, he is a 14-time All-Star, NBA MVP, NBA Finals MVP and winner of the 2011 NBA Championship.

Other CSG-graded cards in the May auctions included:

• a 1985-86 O-Pee-Chee #9 Mario Lemieux graded CSG 8.5 that realized $750 on May 29, 2023
• a 1987 A Question of Sport Diego Maradona graded CSG 8.5 that realized $700 on May 18, 2023
• a 1999 Brasileirao Stickers #139 Ronaldinho graded CSG 5 that realized $552 on May 15, 2023
• a 2020 Panini Plates & Patches Full Coverage #14FC-14 Jalen Hurts - Red graded CSG 9.5 that realized $516 on May 7, 2023
• a 2014 Topps Tier One Cut Signatures #CS-HG Hank Greenberg - 1/1 graded CSG 8.5, with an autograph graded CSG 9, that realized $492 on May 15, 2023
• a 1986-87 Fleer Stickers #8 Michael Jordan graded CSG 6 that realized $492 on May 7, 2023
• a 1912 T202 Hassan Triple Folders Ty Cobb - End Panel (Hand Cut) graded CSG 1 that realized $480 on May 15, 2023
• a 2022 Leaf Lumber Off the End of the Bat Relics #OEB-127 Tony Gwynn graded CSG 9 that realized $468 on May 15, 2023
• a 1984 Rio Grafica LTDA Show Time Ayrton Senna graded CSG 1.5 that realized $408 on May 30, 2023
• a 1912 T202 Hassan Triple Folders Ty Cobb - End Panel (Hand Cut) graded CSG 1 that realized $396 on May 30, 2023

Notable Upcoming PWCC Sales in June

2018 Topps Update #US300 Juan Soto - Mother's Day Hot Pink #'d/50 graded CSG 9 Click images to enlarge.

Among the PWCC auctions in June, there are numerous CSG-graded gems. Already, a 2018 Topps Update #US300 Juan Soto - Mother's Day Hot Pink #'d/50 graded CSG 9 was sold for $1,530 on June 5, 2023. However, there are still many more amazing cards from across the sports world that are being offered in auctions this month.

CSG-graded cards in the June auctions include:

• a 1948 Bowman #6 Yogi Berra graded CSG 6
• a 1936 Album Nestle Sports Serie 72 #12 Jesse Owens graded CSG 8
• a 1911 T205 Gold Border Addie Joss - Hassan graded CSG 1.5
• a 2010-11 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Rivalries Signatures #R-BJ Magic Johnson/Larry Bird graded CSG 9, with autographs graded CSG 10
• a 1986 Topps #161 Jerry Rice graded CSG 8

Sell Your CSG-certified Cards on PWCC Marketplace!

PWCC Marketplace and CSG have created a streamlined pathway to grading and selling through an operational partnership between the two companies. The grading and selling program is accessed via an online submission process on the PWCC website, and everything is managed through the PWCC Vault.

Cards sent to CSG receive priority grading and encapsulation through its third-party grading service for sports cards. Graded cards are returned to PWCC and immediately added to PWCC’s Auction Builder Curation Algorithm process, which optimizes cards for sale in upcoming PWCC Weekly Sunday Auctions.

For more information about this program, click here.

Prices realized include buyer’s premium.