Willie Mays is on the shortlist of the greatest all-around players in baseball history, and his 1952 Topps #261 card is one of the most celebrated cards ever produced. As the first Topps card of the Say Hey Kid, it is a key card in the landmark 1952 Topps set, the issue that established Topps as the leading name in the hobby.

The front features a striking portrait of a young Mays in his New York Giants cap, set against a deep blue background. The Giants logo appears at lower left beside the star-bordered nameplate with his facsimile signature. The colors on this example are particularly rich.

The reverse recounts his early career, including his .353 average at Trenton in 1950, his .477 average in 35 games at Minneapolis in 1951 and his 1951 National League Rookie of the Year award. The statistics box shows his 1951 totals of 20 home runs and 68 RBI with the Giants.

Mays was the complete package, combining power, speed, defense and an unmatched flair for the game. He won the 1954 batting title and two NL MVP awards, hit 660 home runs, earned 12 Gold Gloves and was named to 24 All-Star Games. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

This example shows wear consistent with the grade, including rounded corners and some edge wear, but the image is sharp and the portrait presents with excellent eye appeal. The reverse is clean and fully legible. A desirable example of one of the hobby's most important post-war cards. Graded FR 1.5 by PSA.