This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/19/2012
"When you had Willie Stargell on your team, it was like having a diamond ring on your finger," Chuck Tanner said. Big and powerful at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, with a deep, commanding voice, Stargell intimidated pitchers even before they delivered the ball by pinwheeling the bat in rhythm with their delivery. Despite being overshadowed at times by more prolific home run hitters Hank Aaron and Willie Mays, and by the play of his own Hall of Fame teammate, Roberto Clemente, Stargell's sheer power was unrivaled. He hit seven of the 18 homers over the right-field roof at Pittsburgh's Forbes Field from 1909-70 and once held the record for the longest homer in nearly half of the National League parks. "He didn't just hit pitchers, he took away their dignity," former Dodgers pitcher Don Sutton said. His influence extended into the clubhouse, where he rewarded teammates with stars for outstanding performances. His father-figure status earned him the nickname Pops and his leadership helped the Pirates win world championships in 1971 and '79, when he shared National League MVP honors. The ultimate cardboard rendering of Stargell’s rookie card, the offered specimen is one of only two GEM MINT 10’s among 1,255 copies scrutinized by PSA.