Auction Item Details
Lot 197
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Lot Number: 197
Description: 1965 Willie Mays National League Most Valuable Player Award. Black painted wooden plaque measuring 16” across display with its original octagonal sterling silver placard mounted on front. A 10K gold bust of Kennesaw M. Landis with cartouche is positioned above “Most Valuable Player National League” and “San Francisco Giants” titling in relief. Gold nameplate with engraved “Willie Mays” name is positioned above an additional date of “1965” incorporated into a 10K gold crossed bat and ball design. The larger silver placard is stamped “Sterling Dieges & Clust” at lower right. Black painted wooden plaque remains fairly clean with a few areas of surface wear noticeable upon close inspection under a secondary coat of black paint add many years ago. The black paint currently on the wooden plaque has been repainted at some point many years ago which now masks some of the aforementioned condition points. Original Dieges & Clust manufacturer’s foil label is affixed to the back but mostly masked by the black paint. While Mays’ 1954 NL MVP season properly remains one of the most legendary of his career his 1965 season is arguably the most impressive of that same tenure. Mays led the senior circuit with 52 Home Runs, .645 Slugging %, 1.043 OPS, and a fantasy-like 11/2 WAR number. Although Mays’ Giants would fall short of the 1965 NL pennant his performance was so dominant that he soundly beat out Sandy Koufax for the NL MVP even though the Dodgers’ pitcher went 26-8 with a 2.04 ERA and threw 27 complete games. Along with its sister from 1954, the offered MVP award occupied a place of prominence within the Mays household for decades noted as a particular point of pride for Willie Mays himself. One of the crowning achievements from Willie Mays’ period of excellence. Includes modern image of Mays receiving the award and a certificate of provenance from the Willie Mays Collection: EXEstimated Price Range: ($250,000-$500,000)
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