1973 Topps Baseball Forum

It's on my Want List and it seems to be one of the hardest non-rookie cards I've pursued of players whose last card was in the early to mid-70s. Is that simply a tribute to Mays that the market has adjusted to? I believe one so-called Bible of trading card collection has BV listed at $40 - at least that is what I was told or read or heard recently in my pursuit of it.

Just curious. It's my least favorite Mays card in that I cannot picture him as a Met, and don't personally recall watching him play, though I know he did.

I have one you can have Joshua. it's not in very good shape though

Wow! That'd be great! Let me know what you need for it. It can't be any worse than this one in my collection.

What is probably not seen on this is that it's actually laminated.

No. not that bad. PM me your address

BUT, let's not end the discussion on the topic. Still am curious as I'm seeing it more from a Giants fan's perspective (which I was growing up) and not so much as a Mays fan, I guess.

Joshua- is your question more about how few copies you have found for sale?  or the price of such copies?  or the percieved book value itself?

thanks, mark

Value. It's been harder to get this particular card in trade than other HOFers such as  Jim Palmer, Reggie Jackson, even Nolan Ryan in some cases. Maybe I'm wrong in perspective, and I do not look at my collection as an investment, but even so i believe generally as a player's career winds down the degree of their cards value also is less. I understand sometimes distribution and production affects it, but it's hard to see a 1973 Mays which i don't believe to be short printed or distributed in a later series to be considered a high end type card. Again, my perspective comes as a fan, much like it used to be for me with Nolan Ryan as a Ranger or Joe Morgan with the Giants, or Astros even in 1981.

I'd throw out a few reasons that could add to the value of the card:

1.  collecting final year base cards is a type of way people collect thefore increased demand for it.

2.  Legendary New York player - but also appeal to west coast fans.  I say New York, because many Mets fans were former New York Giants fans.  So being able to get a star player from their old favorite team in the uniform of their new favorite team adds demand.

3.  1973 was a great Mets team so I wouldn't be surprised at increased demand for complete team set building.

Don't have an answer to your question, but I was happy to discover that the '73 Mays was one of the few vintage Last Topps Cards of Every Hall of Famer Who Has a Topps Card that I already had in my collection. Got it out of the pack in 1973, barely knowing who Mays was and certainly not knowing enough to be offended by the Mets uniform. Glad you're getting one.

I think I disagree with you on the value of cards for players whose career is winding down. Late in a career, you can see that they're headed to the Hall of Fame, and demand might rise. I don't know, but I'd think Albert Pujols cards would be on the way up. Maybe CC Sabathias. You now know they were recognizably, eternally, great, and getting a late card might be your only shot.

v3

I remember having a difficult time finding this one in lower condition at a lower price when I was trying to upgrade mine from poor to good after finishing the set several years ago.

Looking just at the annual price guide book, Mays is priced at or near Aaron and Clemente from same set/similar series in 4 of the years I looked at.

Not sure if that helps you or not?

Mark