As a young high schooler, Willie Mays was already better than everyone his own age. To seek attention and a higher level of competition, Willie's father would drive him to Chattanooga during the Summer to play for a minor league team in the Negro Leagues, the Choo Choos. Despite only being 16 years old, he stood out as a prodigy. There has never been a single example of Mays in a Choo Choos uniform that has surfaced in the hobby, until now! Here is a high grade original team photo of the 1946-47 Choo Choos club with a young Willie Mays kneeling fourth from the left with his glove in hand. Stamped from the original photographer on the back (Ernest Withers of Beale Street in Memphis), this is one of the most important images of baseball rookie photography that has ever hit the market and one that is sure to excite even the casual fan. The rarity of this image can not be overstated and as far as we know, it is the only example in the world!

Size: 8x10
Designation: Vintage 1
Condition: 4.5/5
Quality: 5/5
Overall Grade: 9.5/10