It’s not easy being an extreme rookie card collector.
It’s a lot of fun chasing rookies of big names like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, as well as guys you may have not heard of like Chip Lang. But every once in a while you find a rookie card that is essential to your collection but you have a hard time pulling the trigger to acquire.
Exhibit A: 1952 Topps Hoyt Wilhelm.
1952 Topps Hoyt Wilhelm High Series rookie card
Fact: Wilhelm is a Hall of Famer.
Fact: This set is probably the most popular set in the hobby.
Fact: The card books at $1,000
Fact: I didn’t pay (or trade) anywhere near $1,000 for it.
Fact: Wilhelm had his eyes closed when the photographer snapped his picture for his first official card.
Is there an uglier rookie card that books at $1,000?
These Wilhelm rookies are considered tougher to get because they are from the legendary high series, a late release that saw a large portion of it dumped into the river instead of getting into collector’s hands. This is the same series that the iconic Mickey Mantle hails from.
Wilhelm is one that I had to have for my collection. There was no alternative. And while the card is ugly as sin, I managed to get it for about half of what they usually go for on eBay or elsewhere. And it is in pretty good shape; it’ll probably grade a 3 or so.
And to answer your next question: Yes, it is real.
The Wilhelm represents two firsts for me. It is my first High series card from the 1952 set. And it now represents my first post highlighting the rookie cards of Hall of Famers in my collection.
See more Hall of Fame Rookie Cards by clicking HERE.
