1955 Bowman Baseball Card # 184 Willie Mays (HOF)

Description: 1955 Bowman Baseball Card # 184 Willie Mays (HOF) - New York Giants (VG) 1950-1959 Baseball CardsOther decades may have produced more valuable cards, but 1950s baseball cards are arguably the most iconic and sought after vintage cards in the entire hobby. At times, they seemed more like art than simply sports cards. Vivid colors and beautiful images filled checklists with names that now populate Cooperstown. As the country moved on after World War II, this would become the Renaissance period for baseball cards. A dominant figure throughout much of baseball card history, Topps released their first baseball product in 1951 and would not look back. While the later years of the 1950s and beyond were owned by Topps, they got a serious fight from Bowman in the early 1950s.Although there are many great options from this decade, 1951 Bowman, 1952 Topps, and 1954 Topps have separated themselves from the pack. Top rookie card offering from this decade include Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Ernie Banks, Sandy Koufax, Roberto Clemente, Eddie Matthews, and Bob Gibson.1955 Bowman Baseball CardsClosing out this hobby chapter for vintage collectors, 1955 Bowman Baseball provides the last release for the iconic baseball brand. The vintage set is headlined by Mickey Mantle.Product DetailsThe 1955 Bowman Baseball Card Set was the last vintage set issued by the Bowman Gum Co. It contains 320 horizontally oriented cards that have a height of 2½" and a width of about 3¾". direction.The 1955 Bowman Baseball Cards feature a set of umpires interspersed throughout cards #226 to #317. The 1955 Bowman cards are easily recognized by the wood-grained television set framing each player's photograph. The high number series (225-320) is more difficult to collect. The only key rookie card in the 1955 Bowman set is #68 Elston Howard.1955 Bowman Baseball Set DetailsA few error cards have attracted collector attention: Most notably, Milt Bolling’s card (No. 48) exists with Frank Bolling’s card back (No. 204), and vice-versa. Harvey Kuenn’s name was misspelled “Kueen” on both the front and back of card No. 132, and Ernie Johnson’s card (No. 157) erroneously pictured Don Johnson. All of these errors were later corrected by Bowman, resulting in somewhat higher prices for the error versions. An additional variation is that Erv Palica’s card (No. 195) was updated by Bowman to include a line that he had been traded to Baltimore.Several other players in the set have incorrect birthdates on their respective card backs (for example, Hoyt Wilhelm No. 1 and Minnie Minoso No. 25, among others), but these errors do not command a higher price since they were never corrected.Interestingly, the first 64 cards of the 1955 Bowman baseball set have light brown wood-grain television borders, while the rest of the 320-card set has dark brown television borders. The shading of the card backs also varies between the three series. While no price premium is attached to a particular shade of borders or backs, the high-number cards in the set (Nos. 225-320) are more expensive, typically commanding at least double the price of the low-number cards.While the ’55 Bowman backs list only basic statistics, each card back does include substantial text, often a first-person account by a particular describing “My Biggest Thrill in Baseball,” “My Favorite Baseball Memories,” “My Advice to Youngsters,” “The Greatest Fielding Play I’ve Ever Seen,” “The Best Pitcher I’ve Ever Seen,” “The Most Important Part of Baseball,” “The Most Exciting Game In Which I’ve Played” or “The Funniest Incident in a Game.” The rest offer a general summary of that player’s career. The result is that the backs of the Bowman cards are frequently more entertaining and edifying that those from that year’s Topps set.The 1955 Bowman baseball set, for all of its plusses and minuses, set the stage for some card issues to follow. By being the first major card set with colored borders, ’55 Bowman surely provided at least some inspiration for the brown-bordered 1962 Topps baseball set. There can also be little doubt that the popular 1966 Topps football card set was modeled on the 1955 Bowman style.How We Grade: Gem Mint (GMT): (10.0) A flawless card. To be in Gem Mint condition, a card’s borders must have a ratio of 50/50 side to side and top to bottom. Mint (MT): (9.0-9.5) A perfect card. Well-centered with parallel borders which appear equal to the naked eye. Four sharp, square corners. No creases, edge dents, surface scratches, paper flaws, loss of luster, yellowing or fading, regardless of age. No imperfectly printed cards – out of register, badly cut or ink flawed – or card stained by contact with gum, wax or other substances can be considered truly Mint, even if new out of the pack. Generally, to be considered in Mint condition, a card’s borders must exist in a ratio of 60/40 side to side and top to bottom. Near Mint/Mint (NM/MT): (8.0-8.5) A super high-end card that appears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may exhibit a very slight wax stain on reverse, slight fraying at one or two corners, or a minor printing imperfection. Centering must be app. 65/35 to 70/30 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. Near Mint (NM): (7.0-7.5) A nearly perfect card at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may have slight surface wear, slight fraying on some corners, slightly out-of-register picture focus, a minor printing blemish or slight wax stain on reverse. Centering must be 70/30 to 75/25 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. Excellent/Near Mint (EX/NM): (6.0-6.5) Card may have visible surface wear or a printing defect. A very light scratch. Corners may have slightly graduated fraying. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. Card may have minor wax stain on reverse, may have very slight nothing on edges. Centering must be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. Excellent (EX): (5.0-5.5) Corners are still fairly sharp with only moderate wear. Card borders may be off center as much as 85/15. No creases. May have very minor gum, wax or product stains, front or back. Surfaces may show slight loss of luster from rubbing across other cards. Dark bordered cards may have one or two small nicks. Very Good/Excellent (VG/EX): (4.0-4.5) Shows obvious handling, but still looks nice. Corners may be rounded or have minor creases. No major creases, tape marks or extraneous markings or writing. Surfaces does exhibit loss of luster, but the printing is intact. May have paper wrinkles. May show major gum, wax or other packaging stains. All four borders visible, though the ratio may be as poor as 95/5. Exhibits honest wear. Very Good (VG): (3.0-3.5) A well-worn card, but exhibits no intentional damage or abuse. May be “Mis-cut or Off-Center” with no border visible. May have major or multiple creases, however, creases are not so deep as to show the underlying paper. This card is completely readable, has not been written on, and has no tape marks or holes. Corner rounding may extend well beyond the border. Good (GD) (2.0-2.5) Shows excessive wear, along with damage or abuse. Will show all the wear characteristics of a Very Good card, along with such damage as thumb tack holes in or near margins, evidence of having been taped or pasted, perhaps small tears around the edges or creases so heavily as to break the cardboard. Backs may show minor added pen or pencil writing or be missing small bits of paper. Still basically a complete card. Poor (P): (1.0-1.5) A card that has been tortured to death. Corners or other areas may be torn off. Card may have been trimmed, show holes from a paper punch or have been used for BB gun practice. Front may have extraneous pen or pencil writing, or other defacement. Major portions of front or back design may be missing. Not a pretty sight. We believe that all our listings are 100% Original and Authentic unless otherwise noted. They are all covered by a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee, if for whatever reason you are not happy with your purchase we will exchange it, replace it, discount it or you can return it for a full refund.Standard/Combined 1st Class Shipping via USPS is $3.95 for the first card and $0.15 for each additional card, with a max. of (40) items per invoice. Subject to change as postal rates continue to increase. Estimated delivery is 3-5 days. Subject to change as postal delivery schedules continue to increase. Please see shipping tab for current postage rates. All cards will ship in penny sleeves, top loaders, team bag & bubble wrap envelopes.Please see all of our other ads & visit our store for some great deals on both New & Vintage cards, comics and more.Get your copy of the DC Rebirth or the All New, All Different Marvel Series before they are gone!Yes! We are always buying & accepting consignments.We are trying to establish a Brand and grow our business within the E-bay cyber world, so please Join/Follow us, you never know what we will list next, because: We are: The Toy Collector 4 U 2 C

Price: 399.95 USD

Location: Madison, Alabama

End Time: 2024-09-06T14:49:18.000Z

Shipping Cost: 3.95 USD