Collect this irreplaceable Willie Mays photograph - a great piece of baseball history!
This rare hand-signed and personally inscribed game action sepia AP Wire Photo of Mays shows an historic play from the June 13, 1951 New York Giants v. Cincinnati Reds game played at Crosley Field. The AP text displayed in type on the photo describes the play:
(CE1) CINCINNATI, JUNE 13-- "OOPS, I MISSED HIM"-- Bob Scheffing, Cincinnati catcher, falls flat on his face as he misses the tag on Don Mueller, 22, Giant right fielder, in eighth inning of Red New York game here today. Umpire Augie Donatelli, right, signals safe as Willie Mays, Giant centerfielder, stands just out of the batter's box. The Giant's won, 5-2, to make it two straight. (AP WIREPHOTO) (GS41715-STF-GS) 1951.
Ready for display in a silver frame with a double layer mat of white and silver, the photo has been personally hand-signed and inscribed by Willie Mays in blue felt-tip. The inscription and signature are bold, large and clear, and read: "Best Times, Willie Mays". The framed size measures 14.75" in height x 17.75" width.
Willie Mays' signature and inscription on the photograph have been examined and authenticated by James Spence Authentication (JSA), and the photograph is accompanied by a Full Letter Certification of Authenticity from JSA, which also includes a unique alpha-numeric authenticating certification label.
"They invented the All-Star Game for Willie Mays." —Ted Williams
Willie Mays, born 1931, played Major League Baseball as center fielder, playing almost all of his 22 season career for the New York and San Francisco Giants, before finishing his spectacular career playing with the New York Mets. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility. Mays won two National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards and shares the record of most All-Star Games played (24) with Hank Aaron and Stan Musial. Mays ended his career with 660 home runs, third at the time of his retirement, and currently fifth all-time. He also won a record-tying 12 Gold Glove awards beginning in 1957 when the award was introduced.
Mays' career statistics and longevity in the pre-PED era, recent acknowledgements of Mays as perhaps the finest five-tool player ever, and the overwhelming consensus of many surveys and other expert analyses carefully examining Mays' relative performance have led to a growing opinion that Mays was possibly the greatest all-around baseball player of all time. In 1999, Mays placed second on The Sporting News's "List of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players", making him the highest-ranking living player; he was also elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Mays is one of five National League players to have had eight consecutive 100-RBI seasons, along with Mel Ott, Sammy Sosa, Chipper Jones and Albert Pujols. Mays hit over 50 home runs in 1955 and 1965, representing the longest time span between 50-plus home run seasons for any player in Major League Baseball history. His final Major League Baseball appearance came on October 16 during Game 3 of the 1973 World Series.