2020 Holiday Auction Closing December 12-13
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/12/2020
Graded EX 5 by PSA. Hall of Famer, in his cherished "Rookie Card" depiction. Mickey Mantle is still considered by many to be the last true baseball hero. The young outfielder accepted the torch passed by the great DiMaggio, who had similarly followed in the path of Lou Gehrig. The 1951 season was Mantle's first in pinstripes and, despite being sent back down to the minors for more seasoning, Bowman issued this card in that year's final, key series. Bowman's first vision of future greatness takes the form of this mini-artwork, rendered as a horizontal image set against the brightest skies. Only in carefully preserved specimens, like this one, does the design's true magnificence reveal itself. This example features a fundamentally undisturbed illustration with peripheral features that are only minimally affected by traces of wear. Centering ever-so-slightly tends toward the bottom edge, and there are none of the usual factory print lines to bring about distraction from the card's favorable manner of presentation. The reverse is perfectly legible, with inoffensive reminders of the item's original wax-wrapper packaging on the surface. An appealing specimen of this always-coveted card, in Excellent condition.