Card Images
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WILLIE MAYS
1952 TOPPS
Stylized illustration — actual card image varies by edition
View sold images on eBay1952 Topps Willie Mays #261
The Say Hey Kid's most collectible early card. Mays is widely considered the greatest all-around player in baseball history, and this high-number card is scarce in top grade.
Player
Willie Mays
Year
1952
Set
1952 Topps
Card #
261
Sport
Baseball
Type
Base Card
Market Value (Based on Sold Data)
Based on public auction recordsSource: eBay sold comps, Heritage Auctions, Goldin, PWCC — April 2026
Values compiled from public eBay sold listings, Heritage Auctions, and Goldin results. For real-time pricing, click “Verify on eBay” above.
Grade-by-Grade Pricing
Values based on recent eBay sold listings and auction results
| PSA Grade | Label | Market Value | Pop. | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
PSA 1 | Poor | $500–$1,000 | — | → |
PSA 2 | Good | $1,000–$2,000 | — | → |
PSA 3 | Very Good | $2,000–$5,000 | — | ↑ |
PSA 4 | VG-EX | $5,000–$10,000 | — | ↑ |
PSA 5 | Excellent | $10,000–$20,000 | — | ↑ |
PSA 6 | EX-MT | $20,000–$40,000 | — | ↑ |
PSA 7Best Value | Near Mint | $50,000–$120,000 | 85 | ↑ |
PSA 8 | NM-MT | $150,000–$400,000 | 18 | ↑ |
PSA 9 | Mint | $800,000+ | 2 | ↑ |
Source: eBay Sold Comps / Heritage Auctions · Willie Mays 1952 Topps high number — scarcer than many think for a player of his stature. PSA 9 is exceptional.
PSA Population Report
Total Graded
2,600
PSA 10 Count
0
PSA 9 Count
2
Gem Rate
0%
Grade Distribution
Gem Rate (% achieving PSA 10): 0% — Extremely difficult to gem.
Notable Sales
| Price | Grade | Date | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $830,000Record | PSA 9 | May 2022 | Heritage Auctions | Pop 2; auction occurred shortly after Mays' passing drove demand |
| $156,000 | PSA 8 | Nov 2021 | Goldin Auctions | Pop 18 in PSA 8 |
| $108,000 | PSA 7 | Apr 2024 | Heritage Auctions | PSA 7 benchmark — key entry point for serious Mays collectors |
Figures sourced from publicly reported auction results. Private sales may exceed.
PSA vs BGS vs SGC
Professional Sports Authenticators
- +Most liquid — highest resale demand
- +Largest population database
- +Vintage specialists
- +Most recognized globally
- −Slowest turnaround at economy tier
- −No subgrades on base service
Best for: Vintage, high-value singles, resale liquidity
Beckett Grading Services
- +Subgrades reveal exact condition
- +BGS 9.5 Black Label = highest premium
- +Preferred for modern parallels
- +Slab design seen as premium
- −Less liquid than PSA for vintage
- −Stricter centering = harder to get 10
Best for: Modern parallels, autographs, centering-first cards
Sportscard Guaranty Corporation
- +Faster turnaround than PSA/BGS
- +Lower cost at economy tier
- +Growing collector base
- +Good for tobacco/pre-war
- −Lower premium than PSA on most cards
- −Smaller population database
Best for: Pre-war, tobacco cards, budget-conscious grading
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