Hunt Auctions Showcasing Must-Haves for Willie Mays Collectors
Any opportunity to cover 24-time MLB All-Star Willie Mays is a great opportunity. Thanks to a massive live upcoming Hunt Auctions event, closing on Jan. 12, there is plenty to cover on “The Say Hey Kid.”
Debates will continue as long as the game of baseball is played, but regardless of one’s stance, Mays is one of the game’s greatest all-around talents, best center fielders, and most beloved players.
Starting his MLB career in 1951 with the New York Giants, Mays won Rookie of the Year honors after hitting .274 with 20 home runs and 68 runs driven in. Due to military service in the Korean War, Mays was limited to 34 games in 1952 and missed the entire ’53 season. But upon return, Mays proceeded to cement his place in MLB history.
Mays’ MLB Accomplishments
- Awarded National League MVP in 1954 and 1965
- Led league in batting average (.345), triples (13), and WAR (10.5) in 1954
- Led league in home runs four times – 1955/51, 1962/49, 1964/47, and 1965/52
- 1954 World Series champion
- Retrospect honor, led the league in WAR 10 times – 1954/10.5, 1955/9.2, 1957/8.3, 1958/10.2, 1960/9.5, 1962/10.5, 1963/10.6, 1964/11.0, 1965/11.2, and 1966/9.0
- 12-time Gold Glove winner: 1957-1968
The End of an Amazing Career
After 21 seasons with the Giants and two with the New York Mets, Mays retired at end of the 1973 season. Then and now, looking throughout the record books, Mays’ name lines one major statistical category after another.
Career Statistics: .301 BA, 3,293 Hits, 660 HR, 1,909 RBI, 339 SB, 156.2 WAR
Willie Mays Hunt Auctions Highlights
- 1954 Mays Giants World Series Ring – Est. $500,000-$1,000,000
- 1954 Mays NL MVP Award – Est. $250,000-$500,000
- Mays Baseball Hall of Fame Ring – Est. $100,000-$300,000
- Mays 1962 Babe Ruth Sultan of Swat Award – Est. $75,000-$150,000
- 1963 Mays National League Gold Glove Award – Est. $25,000-$50,000
- 1964 Mays National League Gold Glove Award – Est. $25,000-$50,000
- Mays 2002 San Francisco Giants NL Championship Ring – Est. $15,000-$25,000
- 2010 San Francisco Giants World Series Ring – Est. $7,500-$15,000
- 2012 San Francisco Giants World Series Ring – Est. $7,500-$15,000
- Mays National Baseball Hall of Fame Lapel Pin – Est. $1,500-$3,000
- President Barack Obama Autographed and Inscribed Photo to Mays – Est. $1,000-$3,000
*All auction item estimates per Hunt Auctions
**”Per Mr. Mays’ wishes, all proceeds from this auction will go to delivering education, training, and health services for youth through the Say Hey Foundation, which Willie Mays founded in 2000.”
***All images provided by Hunt Auctions
