This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/16/2015
Along with card #1 Andy Pafko and, of course, #311 Mickey Mantle, there is no more coveted specimen from the legendary 1952 Topps set than the final card of the series, the rookie card of Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews. One of several rookies whose promising debut warranted an appearance in the high-number series, Mathews was still adjusting to life in the "big show," clouting 25 round-trippers while posting 115 whiffs and batting just .242, almost 30 points lower than his lifetime average. But he showed all the potential of a budding superstar and Topps rewarded him with the final spot in their 407-card assemblage, a huge gamble considering that Mantle, Campanella or Jackie Robinson would have ably rounded out the collection. Mathews didn't disappoint, delivering a league-leading 47 homers while wrapping out a .302 batting average on his way to an all-star season in 1953. Over 60 years later, Mathews is a respected Hall of Famer with 512 lifetime home runs and his 1952 Topps rookie card is one of the true legendary pasteboards of the hobby. Not many collectors in 1952 had enough passion to invest in the high number series as football season was commencing, and of those that did, even fewer made the effort to preserve the final card of the set, too often the victim of the dreaded rubber band. The featured item has defied all odds and represents a near miracle at the grade of PSA 8. While positioned mildly toward the left edge, hardly mentionable compared to the large majority of cards in the final series, what makes this Mathews card extraordinary is the color and clarity of the image as well as the incredible strength of the top two endpoints, which are borderline MINT. That's not to say the bottom two corners are deficient in any way; they easily uphold the standards for NM/MT consideration. The reverse is bright and problem-free. This isn't one of those high-profile cards that stumbled their way into an elite-level grade as it appears very much closer to the next highest grade than the previous one. If you've been on the lookout for a '52 Mathews and want an NM/MT card you can truly be proud to own, this is it!