Was Willie Mays the greatest there ever was? The throng of young boys swarming him in this Type I photo certainly seem to think so. Mays is pictured in-uniform with the 1954-55 Santurce Cangrejeros of the Puerto Rican Winter League where he patrolled the outfield with 20-year-old sensation Roberto Clemente. At 23-years-old Mays would receive 1954 National League MVP honors following what was arguably greatest season of his major league career - winning a batting title with his .345 average while banging out 110 RBI's and 41 homers in the process. After Mays' New York Giants swept the American League's Cleveland Indians in the 1954 World Series he and the young Clemente would famously power the Cangrejeros to both the 1954 Puerto Rican Winter League title and the 1955 Caribbean Series championship in Venezuela.

Bearing a paper caption dated to 11/23/54, this fantastic Type I photo featuring Willie Mays with Santurce is a testament to his incredible popularity and star power. An all-time great whose adoration could not be constrained by continental borders. According to affixed paper caption on verso: "The Puerto Ricans are warm admirers of the New York Giants center-fielder and National League 1953-54 batting champion. They cheer him even when he hits a homer for a rival club. And in the Caribbean island, where partisanship over "beisbol" is bitter, this is high tribute." Photo remains bright and clean throughout with a gorgeously composed central image of the great Hall of Famer as his admirers celebrate. A long vertical crease is apparent perpendicular to the left edge with some additional creasing at the extreme corners. This image was published throughout the country on December 5, 1954 within a feature article about the Say Hey Kid (we have chosen to show an example of one such article for reference). Measuring 7" x 9" this example (the only we have seen) has been authenticated and encapsulated as a Type I photo by PSA/DNA.