Anyone know what happened to Dimitri Young’s Mays Rookie?

brad31 · August 14, 2026 2:48PM

Just saw this on Mile High Auctions. Anyone know how it ended up in this holder? Is it really the same card?

Must be a story somewhere.

brad31 · August 14, 2026 2:51PM

Actually story is in Mile High’s description. Wonder if PSA will not grade it a 9 or will not give it a number grade.

bgr · August 14, 2026 3:01PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJbaLX69MAE&t=461s

ElMagoStrikeZone · August 14, 2026 4:17PM

Good customer he was.

brad31 · August 14, 2026 5:04PM

From Mile High:

Without a PSA 10 example of the Mays rookie card on record, the grade of PSA 9 was the highest in existence, with 8 specimens claiming that honor. In 2010, International Sports Authentication (ISA) launched to compete with the industry giants, and Dimitri so believed in the accuracy and integrity of the newly founded company that he crossed his card over to an ISA 9 MINT grade, instantly creating major hobby credibility and catalog acceptance for the Michigan-based firm.

Offering complete transparency the offered card was in a PSA MINT 9 holder and part of the famed Dimitri Young collection. Dimitri made the decision to transfer the card to a GAI 9.5 GEM MINT holder thereby removing from the PSA MINT holder. Understandably this sounds suspect today, but at the time GAI was gaining a great deal of marketshare and was quite popular within the industry. Upon GAI's fall from grace and the eventual closing of the business, the card was attempted to be regraded on a review basis back into a PSA MINT 9 holder. After several attempts it has become apparent that PSA will not regrade the card a MINT 9 and at that point the card was graded MINT 9 by ISA. Please note you are bidding on a ISA MINT 9 of Willie Mays 1951 Bowman rookie card and we are making absolutely no claims at all that the card will ever be regraded by PSA.

HOMETOWNSPORTS · August 14, 2026 5:53PM

In the early 2000s I sold Dimitri his 1981 Topps PSA 10 Harold Baines which seemed difficult to find at the time. I opened several Rack boxes to get the 10. He was very "down to earth" when I spoke with him and sold him the Baines. Other than Marshal Fogel I don't think anyone had quite the number of ultra high grade cards. He was very very close to getting most all the 50's-80's major rookies in PSA 10 grade (absolutely amazing it seems to this day)..

ElMagoStrikeZone · August 14, 2026 5:58PM

I can see why PSA would be hesitant to reassign it a MINT 9. It also looks sad in that holder. Oh well, a decision made long ago. Dmitri was a superstar in our world for awhile. It was fun tracking the news on his latest purchases.

Ironmanfan · August 15, 2026 10:51AM

I remember at one of the Nationals in Baltimore,, Memory Lane Auctions had Dimitri at their booth signing autographs for free.

IMF

brad31 · August 15, 2026 12:39PM

I know Young tried extremely hard to get an ‘81 Valenzuela in a 10. He told a story of opening up a lot of 1981 Topps and doesn’t think there will ever be one.

BBBrkrr · August 15, 2026 1:11PM

I agree with him on Fernando too. No way there’ll ever be a 10. Especially with grading as it is now.

handyman · August 15, 2026 1:57PM

Ill take that bet. You might not like the way it looks but it will happen.

HOMETOWNSPORTS · August 15, 2026 5:18PM

@BBBrkrr said:
I agree with him on Fernando too. No way there’ll ever be a 10. Especially with grading as it is now.

Maybe spend a year scooping up as many of the nicest PSA 9 Fernando's one can find, crack them out and then send them all in at once. Try to time them such that the graders are at their happiest point in the year (holidays Christmas etc) Might this work???

Yankees70 · August 16, 2026 11:02AM

When and if the Fernando 10 does show up the current Vegas odds that 4SC will be the submitter is -4500.

ElMagoStrikeZone · August 16, 2026 11:29AM

@brad31 said:
I know Young tried extremely hard to get an ‘81 Valenzuela in a 10. He told a story of opening up a lot of 1981 Topps and doesn’t think there will ever be one.

I pulled this from a Google search....

Former MLB all-star Dmitri Young famously bought un-opened vintage wax and set cases—including 1981 and 1982 Topps products—spending tens of thousands of dollars to rip cards, hunt for gem-mint rookie cards like Harold Baines and Cal Ripken Jr., and submit them directly to PSA.
Dmitri Young's Wax Box Strategy
The Hunt: Young bought massive quantities of early-1980s wax cases to find pristine "Gem Mint 10" rookie cards.
Hygiene Routine: He washed his hands meticulously before opening packs from his cases.
Submissions: Freshly ripped cards went straight into protective holders and off to PSA for grading.
The Collection: His massive, high-grade accumulation later realized millions when put on the auction block.

jackstraw · August 19, 2026 1:36PM

Seemed like he enjoyed the hobby as a regular dude that just had a lot of money so why dump his collection so fast after he built it?

brad31 · August 20, 2026 8:35AM

The Mays went for $87K about the price that a PSA 7 to 7.5 would go for now.

Stone193 · August 20, 2026 5:11PM

I forgot some of the great cards he had that went up for auction. No crystal ball - so no way to know waiting would've been a larger payday?

1955 Topps Roberto Clemente (PSA 10): Sold for $432,690

1954 Topps Hank Aaron (PSA 10): Sold for $357,594

1963 Topps Pete Rose (PSA 10): Sold for $157,365

1948 Bowman Stan Musial (PSA 10): The oldest card in his collection and the only flawless copy ever graded by PSA. It sold for $129,850.

1954 Topps Ernie Banks (PSA 10): A flawless rookie of the beloved Chicago Cubs icon that fetched $142,836.

1969 Topps Reggie Jackson (PSA 10): Another "1-of-1" sole survivor copy in perfect condition, bringing in $115,242.

1954 Topps Al Kaline (PSA 10): A pristine rookie card of "Mr. Tiger" that went for $88,688.

Other Legends: Perfect 10 rookies of players like Roy Campanella, Brooks Robinson, and Nolan Ryan.

Details of the Sale:

Total Sale Price: $2,461,032

Auction Year: 2012

Focus of Collection: Hall of Fame rookie cards (1948–1990)

HOMETOWNSPORTS · August 20, 2026 5:39PM

Holy PERFECTION... Today my guess is a couple of those 10's are $1 million and above. You listed 7 of prolly the highest $$ ones but seems there are maybe 110 more in that case (My 1981 Baines is lurking in that case ). my guess is today prices would yield $15-25 million? will be interesting to see if any will come to auction over the next few years and that may give a reference point for the collection!

BBBrkrr · August 20, 2026 5:43PM

I"d be so happy to have those and 100% terrified I'd do something to lose or damage them that I'd always be nervous about having them. Then I'd lock them in a bank which would be like not having them...

ElMagoStrikeZone · August 20, 2026 5:46PM

He bought into the collection for far less than he received at auction. Considering what he had been paid to play baseball, there probably wasn't a gear in his thinking process that would have told him to hold on for another decade or so to reach these heights never imagined.

Any time I want to feel sad about selling a card out too soon, I just think about all those lovely 10s.

HOMETOWNSPORTS · August 21, 2026 5:51AM

@ElMagoStrikeZone said:
He bought into the collection for far less than he received at auction. Considering what he had been paid to play baseball, there probably wasn't a gear in his thinking process that would have told him to hold on for another decade or so to reach these heights never imagined.

Any time I want to feel sad about selling a card out too soon, I just think about all those lovely 10s

I think 99% of people are missing that "gear" in their heads to be able to predict the future

brad31 · August 21, 2026 6:49AM

That's why I collect and don't invest in sports cards - my heirs will deal with the gear to sell and lament too soon or regret too late!

bgr · August 21, 2026 10:02AM

if you invest in your collecting you can establish a basis for your heirs.

Anyone know what happened to Dimitri Young’s Mays Rookie?

Comments

Categories