Top 10 Cassius Clay / Muhammad Ali Cards
#1 - 1965 Edizioni Lampo Grandi Campioni #154
Often described by enthusiasts as the ‘1952 Topps Mantle’ of Cassius Clay cards; the 1965 Lampo album released in Italy includes Clay’s first pack issued card by a major manufacturer that showcased a traditional sports card look. It features blazing eye appeal with a bright blue background and Clay’s most iconic headshot from his 1960 gold medal triumph in the Rome Olympics. The Edizioni back version of this card (with blue text) is one of the rarest Cassius Clay collectibles you can own. Edizioni backs from the Lampo set could be redeemed for prizes which no doubt adds to their rarity today. Part of the Italian translation states, “Worth 2 Points. Collect these stickers. Amazing prizes await all those who send us the necessary number of points.” The prizes listed ranged from: 500 points for a plastic soccer ball to 3000 points for “a great working sewing machine”.
Only 4 Cassius Clay Edizioni Lampos exist on the PSA pop report today. There are 38 PSA graded copies of the more common Collezioni back.
The Collezioni back Lampo would have ranked high on this Top 10 list as well, but in an effort to show some variety I didn’t include any parallels. Below is a look at the differences between the 2 Lampo backs. The fronts are identical. The card stock is thinner on the Edizioni version and very condition sensitive. The highest graded Edizioni is a PSA 3 while one PSA 7 of the Collezioni version represents the highest graded Lampo. I have also seen an online photo of a Collezioni BVG 8.5 that might take the title in a crossover.
#2 - 1960 Hemmets Journal HC #23
The Hemmets Journal (printed in Sweden) hand cut Cassius Clay #23 is his first and most instantly recognizable card. It is considered to be his “rookie” by most collectors in the hobby and is the undisputed heavyweight champion of high priced Clay / Ali cards. It comes hand cut from a larger collectible sheet of 4 different athlete images. There is a long-standing debate about whether or not these cut outs should be considered a “card”. You can see from the back image that it does not line up evenly with the front and the ‘J’ in ‘Journal’ and Olympic Rings have to be cut off in order to center the front of the card. The two hole punch on the full panel (seen below) represents the fact that these collectible sheets were designed to be kept intact in the Hemmets Journal binder for display along with the other panels from the set (21 in all). Regardless, collectors have certainly shown a desire to own these hand cut cards and PSA is happy to grade them. Surprisingly it is one Clay’s easiest cards to find. There are 31 total Hemmets Journal complete panels graded by PSA. There are 254 hand cut Clay cards graded by PSA. A PSA 9 recently sold in July of 2021 for $88,818. There does exist one PSA 10. That sold in December of 2019 for $49,200 and has been a wise investment for that lucky owner.
#3 - 1962 Po-Po Boxing Disc (1962 Editorial Bruguera)
You cannot find a more rare or mysterious history of a Cassius Clay card than that of the 1962 Po-Po Boxing Disc (mislabeled by PSA). This is a One of One Cassius Clay pack issued “redonda” card from Argentina that was actually released as part of the 1962 Editorial Bruguera - Los Diez Mandamientos supplemental set. You are looking at the one and only example of the first ever pack-issued Cassius Clay card that has yet to surface. The card is heavily creased and received a “Miscut” qualifier from PSA.
#4 - 1964 Chocolates Simon #87
The 1964 Chocolates Simon set included one of the very first Cassius Clay cards to be distributed in packs. Released in Spain these cards were actually inserted in packages of chocolate. This set titled “Album 3 Anos De Vida Mundial” focuses on the biggest historical events from a 3 year period previous to its release in 1964. The majority of the Chocolates Simon cards are historical figures rather than athletes. Like most of Clay’s early releases, this card is extremely rare and the thin stock is very condition sensitive. Most of these cards have graded at a PSA 1 or PSA 2 level due to surface defects. It is not uncommon to see this card with the imprint of an “S” on it, which may have been stamped on the chocolate bar. I have also seen several of these cards with chocolate stains on the back. PSA has only graded 27 total copies with a single PSA 6 earning the highest grade. The image on this card is not his most appealing to the eye, however it depicts one of Clay’s most famous moments when he was interviewed after defeating Sonny Liston in 1964 to become Heavyweight Champion. This moment exemplifies the historical and cultural significance of Cassius Clay / Muhammad Ali’s life and the impact he made on the world. As he was interviewed he stood next to the former champ Joe Louis in a crowded ring and proclaimed that he was the greatest fighter that ever lived. “I am the king of the world. I’m pretty. I’m a bad man. I shook up the world!”
A video of that interview can be seen below:
#5 - 1968 Mira Tuttosport I Campionissimi #507
Italy would have been a nice place to visit if you wanted to find the best Cassius Clay cards from the 1960’s and 1970’s. Ask any seasoned collector from the other side of the pond and they will tell you that the Mira Tuttosport album is one of the most coveted sets from this era. It had an extremely short print run and focused only on the greatest athletes of the 20th century. Other notable cards from the set include a Lew Alcindor pre-rookie and the holy grail of all golf cards; the elusive Arnold Palmer #368. This Cassius Clay card showcases a rare in-fight action shot that comes from one of the most significant fights in boxing history; Clay’s 1964 triumph over Sonny Liston to become Heavyweight Champion at the age of 22. The bright yellow border and light blue highlights make the cards from the Mira set instantly recognizable. Anyone who has searched for this card knows how few of them exist. PSA has graded just 8 total copies with one PSA 8 taking the highest graded title. This set also includes a “Regalo” rare back version. There have been zero graded and I have never seen a photo of a Cassius Clay Regalo back.
#6 - 1965 TV Film - Idoler Beatles w/ Cassius Clay Horizontal (1964 Dutch Unnumbered)
It is impossible to deny the cool factor of the Beatles w/ Cassius Clay Horizontal card. There are 2 cards in this set with vivid colors that feature the Greatest Rock Band ever and the Greatest Fighter that ever lived. This is the horizontal version. A vertical version with Clay’s back to the photo that is not as popular sells for about 1/2 the price of the horizontal. These cards have typically been graded by PSA and SGC as "1964 Dutch Unnumbered". I have also seen several older slabs graded as "1965 Swedish Candy". PSA recently did extensive research and has determined that this particular card came from a 1965 print run that they are now calling "1965 TV Film - Idoler". Consider this iconic image, the historical significance of the people in it, and the story behind this famous photo shoot from Miami on February 18,1964. It is hard to believe that an opportunity to own a card this cool even exists. The Beatles and Cassius Clay are quite possibly the most famous and recognizable people in world history. It was only weeks after this photo shoot that Clay would become Heavyweight Champ and change his name to Muhammad Ali. Like all the 1960’s Clay cards; this one is rare but not impossible to find, and it is his most undervalued in my opinion. There are currently 66 graded PSA copies of the horizontal card with one PSA 10 in existence. That sold for around $2,000 on Ebay back in the Spring of 2020. I saw it re-listed for $100k in early 2021. The listing was cancelled, and may have sold privately. Keep an eye on this pop report. I have seen dozens of raw copies sell on Ebay over the past year and I’m sure there are lots of these sitting at PSA. I also saw a couple of recently graded PSA 9’s and 8’s added to the pop report in 2021/2022, so it appears that there may still be hope for some gems floating around the Netherlands.
#7 - 1966 Panini Campioni Dello Sport #377 - Valida back (lighter print)
Panini has been the industry leader in boxing cards (among many other sports) for several decades now. The 1966 Panini Campioni Dello Sport set was the first regionally distributed option for Cassius Clay collectors. A strong argument can be made that Clay’s 1st year Panini release is the best fit for the modern-day definition of a “rookie card”. There are two distinct print runs from this set (both from 1966) easily distinguishable by the lighter or darker background which can be compared in the image below. It has been said that this set was so popular because of the Cassius Clay card that Panini decided to do a 2nd print run to satisfy collector demand. It is believed that the lighter print copy was printed before the dark. The highest graded copies of this card appear to be mostly of the darker varietal. PSA does not differentiate between the two print colors. There is no question that the light grey background with the more vivid colors on Clay’s robe is definitely more appealing to the eye. PSA has graded 117 of the regular back copies (light and dark combined). The Valida back version, which could be redeemed for prizes, has been graded by PSA just 37 times. For this particular card ranked #7 on our list (lighter print, Valida back), you likely have less than 20 chances of adding one to your collection. The Valida back has been graded a PSA 7 on two occasions and I’ve seen photos online of one of them. It was the lighter print copy and I want it. Please contact me if you are the owner. Centering is a very common problem with this set in all variations and there are only nine copies in a PSA 9 grade for the regular back version. No 10’s currently exist.
#8 - 1964 Mac Robertson’s Olympic Quiz Cards
One of my favorite things about the Cassius Clay cards of the 1960’s is the wide variety of bright colors. They are never boring to look at or obsessively search for. The 1964 Mac Robertson’s Quiz Card set is an intriguing option that came out of Australia. These cards were offered as part of an Olympic Quiz Game used as marketing for the Tokyo Olympics. The style and color of the card are completely unique and it was printed in one of the most important years for Cassius Clay cards. An argument can be made for “rookie” card status if you are willing to consider a game card as such. 29 PSA graded copies exist including one PSA 10 which sold for $6,543 in August of 2021. The bright magenta color on the edges will likely ensure that it never receives a gem mint grade again if any raw copies are found in the future.
#9 - 1962 Swedish Rekord Journal HC
The 1962 Swedish Rekord Cassius Clay cards were hand cut from the cover of Issue #5 of the Swedish Rekord Journal. For nearly 10 years starting in 1956 every issue of the Swedish Rekord Journal had a 2 sportsmen cut-out card included on the bottom right corner of the cover. Unlike the Hemmets Journal, these cards did appear to be intended for cutting out. PSA grades these as either an individual Clay card or as a pair with Kjell Jarlenius. There are 83 PSA graded pairs and 109 of the individual Clay image. There is a wide variety of sizes and borders on these cards, as it is up to the hand cutting collector to determine how the card is removed. You will see in the top image that the Clay card was cut out using the left border of the Jarlenius card. The grey and yellow colors are the background of the magazine cover seen below. The early release and young image of Clay is what makes this card appealing. In 1962 he had only just begun his professional career, and it would be another 2 years before he shook up the world. After holding several of these cards in my hands, I have high admiration for the high-grade copies. The stock is razor thin and considering that these cards were located on the front of magazines printed 60 years ago, it explains why no PSA 10’s exist. There are nine PSA 9 graded individual Clay cards and eight PSA 9 graded pairs. I have personally sent in a handful of these for grading. After reviewing my results with previously graded copies from years ago, there is no doubt that PSA has become much more stringent. I’d be willing to bet my entire Cassius Clay collection that there will never be a PSA 10 of this card.
#10 - 1967 Stora Popbildserien Type 3 (1965 Swedish Candy)
The orange color and close up image of Clay getting ready to knock you out is hard to ignore in the 1967 Stora Popbildserien Type 3 (formerly graded as 1965 Swedish Candy). The simple white border, blank back, and nothing more than his name really makes for a fresh & clean design. These Swedish cards were printed from 1965-1967 and were issued in packs of candy. Type 1 was printed in 1965, Type 2 in 1966 and this Cassius Clay card came in the Type 3 printing from 1967. This card is lesser known than some of the others on this list. These sets were almost entirely musicians and actors with the exception of Cassius Clay who was the only athlete deemed worthy to warrant his own card. The PSA pop report is confusing (and still being updated?). There have only been 2 cards graded with the new 1967 Stora Popbildserien name. The vast majority of these cards were originally slabbed and labeled as “1965 Swedish Candy”. SGC also grades these as “1965 Swedish Candy”. Somewhere along the line, PSA started incorrectly grading these cards as “1968 Dutch Unnumbered Set 3 Group 3”. You can no longer find “1965 Swedish Candy” on the PSA pop report and you will see 61 total graded Cassius Clay cards as “1968 Dutch Unnumbered”. Short story long, this is an awesome Cassius Clay card printed in Sweden from 1967 and there are currently 63 PSA graded copies in existence. The highest graded example is a single copy of a PSA 9. That card sold in July of 2019 for $3,240 and would easily surpass 5 figures if it were to be sold today.