Muhammad Ali
Date of Birth: 1/17/1942
Rookie Card Year:
Investment Rating: 10.0 (Exceptional)
Overview
More than 30 years after his final fight, Muhammad Ali memorabilia and card prices continue to see strong growth. A legend inside the ring and out, Ali is an icon unlike none other.
Muhammad Ali Boxing Memorabilia
His high status is reflected in the high prices Muhammad Ali memorabilia continues to bring in. Popular pieces of Muhammad Ali memorabilia include signed boxing gloves, photos and boxing robes. Additional items collectors might want to consider include issues of Sports Illustrated and other magazines where he appears on the cover and boxing posters. Understandably, Ali's signature deteriorated over the years.
With his unique place in both sports and modern history, Muhammad Ali memorabilia should still be considered a strong investment despite its already high prices. He is a beloved figure whose accomplishments make him one of the greatest pop culture icons.
The top pieces of Muhammad Ali memorabilia are, not surprisingly, pieces of fight-worn gear. In November 2011, the trunks Ali wore in "The Fight of the Century" in his match against Joe Frazier sold for $173,102.
Muhammad Ali Boxing Cards
Considering the stature of Ali and his place in history, there are very few cards of the boxing legend. Most come from the 2011 Leaf Muhammad Ali, 2011 Leaf Muhammad Ali Metal and 2012 Leaf Muhammad Ali: The Greatest releases. Although the compositions are a little different, both are premium sets that chronicle Ali's accomplishments inside and outside the ring. Both also contain plenty of Muhammad Ali memorabilia, autograph and cut signature cards.
A more comprehensive boxing release, 2010 Ringside Boxing Round One is another set with both Ali's autographs and relics. He was also in 2011 Ringside Boxing Round 2 as a case topper.
All of these sets pail in comparison to the ultra high-end 2000 Upper Deck Muhammad Ali Master Collection. The box set starts with 30 base cards dedicated to the legend. Printed on premium stock, each card came with a matching serial number out of 250. Housed in a wooden box, sets also had an on-card autograph and three Muhammad Ali memorabilia cards (train-worn gloves, fight-worn trunks, fight-worn robe) numbered to 50 copies. Finally, collectors received a mystery pack that contained either a one-of-one base set parallel or an autographed memorabilia card. Given the high initial cost and extremely limited availability, most of the 2000 Upper Deck Muhammad Ali Master Collection sets went directly into personal collections.
See also: Top Muhammad Ali Cards to Celebrate His Amazing Life
For those on a tighter budget, 1992 Classic World Class Athletes and 1992 Pro Line Portraits Football have Muhammad Ali autograph cards that can be more affordable but are still pricey. It is worth noting that the Pro Line Portraits card is signed on the back. Authentic versions of the card can be identified by the embossed stamp on the bottom corner of the card.
Perhaps the most popular and widely available Muhammad Ali card comes from 1983 Topps Greatest Olympians. Pictured as Cassius Clay, his official name when he won the gold medal, the horizontal card depicts a young version of the boxer celebrating with his mouth open and his arms raised. Because the card has widespread centering issues, collectors may want to track down professionally graded copies for a little added piece of mind. The 99-card set features many legendary athletes and is one of the most overlooked sets of the 1980s.
Additional Muhammad Ali card highlights include several basic cards in 1991 All World Boxing, a hologram insert in 1991 Kayo, a spot in 1992 Kayo Holograms and a 1986 Monty's Gum Wrestling Stars card in which he's pictured with Hulk Hogan.
Muhammad Ali Card Gallery
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- 1983 Topps Greatest Olympians Cassius Clay
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- 1986 Monty Gum Wrestling Stars Muhammad Ali, Hulk Hogan & Liberace
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- 1992 Kayo Holograms Muhammad Ali
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- 1992 Pro Line Portraits Football Autographs Muhammad Ali
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- 2000 Upper Deck Muhammad Ali Master Collection Autograph #/50
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- 2000 Upper Deck Muhammad Ali Master Collection Autographed Glove #/70
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- 2011 Leaf Muhammad Ali Metal Cut Signature
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Autograph Guide
Muhammad Ali Autographed Memorabilia Buying Guide
Below you will find an example of what Muhammad Ali's authentic signature looks like. This can be used as a first point of reference for determining the legitimacy of autograph memorabilia, but is not a substitute for having your items authenticated by a well-respected professional autograph authentication company. Some of the trusted sources within the sports memorabilia market include the following companies: PSA, JSA, and Mounted Memories.
Muhammad Ali Cut Signature Exemplar:
Muhammad Ali Key Signature Attributes: Due to Ali's longtime and ongoing battle with Parkinson's Disease, his signature has changed frequently through the years. As a result, his signature can be very hard to analyze let alone authenticate. Additionally, his name change back in the 1960's creates the added challenge of authenticating signatures for multiple names of the same person.
Because of his tremendous popularity, Muhammad Ali signatures are one of the most forged in the sports memorabilia industry. We have provided signature examples, above, that PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) has authenticated over the years. A hand-writing analysis of each signature would not do justice to collectors, as his signature varies so significantly depending on the era signed and even his specific health on any given day. The following signature traits are general and not absolute.
- The signature exhibits an overall consistency that lows, with very few starts and stops.
- The entire signature is written on an even horizontal plane.
- The letter "M" is always legible, and each letter is attempted.
Muhammad Ali Signed Boxing Glove Pricing:
Active Listings for Muhammad Ali Signed Boxing Gloves
Muhammad Ali Cut Signature Pricing:
Active Listings for Muhammad Ali Cut Signature
Muhammad Ali Signed Photograph Pricing:
Active Listings for Muhammad Ali Signed Photograph
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More Info
Be sure to check out our other Muhammad Ali collecting guides and articles:
Max
Found a really large professionally framed picture of the Ali vs Liston. Estimate size 40×50’’ signed by Ali. Sitting behind some ugly frames at goodwill with a $25 price tag. Steal!