This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/14/2024
We are 56 years past the time when this card was produced and only one example of Nolan Ryan's rookie card has earned the coveted PSA 10 GEM MINT label. While some cards in the series are relatively commonplace at the top rung of the PSA grading ladder, the debut issue of "The Ryan Express" almost always has askew centering, stray print, or both. The featured card is graded PSA 9 MINT and sidesteps both of those liabilities, delivering an intoxicated presentation that should catch the interest of every competitor on the PSA Set Registry that is currently not up to MINT quality with their Ryan RC. The popularity of Nolan Ryan only seems to grow over time, and while his lifetime winning percentage (.526) and ERA (3.19) don't compare to other diamond legends, when he was on his game, there was no one more dominant on the hill. On seven different occasions, Nolan Ryan left the opposing team with the same amount of hits they began the game with ... zero! At a time when a 200 strikeout season meant elite status, Ryan was topping the 300 mark, and did it six times! Noticeably high-end, even for this grade, this card offers borderline GEM MINT endpoints and a nearly perfect surface. Finished off with a smooth, generous application of gloss, this richly registered Ryan rookie is a clear winner at the elite level of PSA 9.