This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/6/2021
Mickey Mantle was a beloved figure for fans of the New York Yankees and, indeed, of the entire baseball world, for nearly twenty years. And, his fame spread even beyond the enthusiasts and historians of the diamond. For example, fans of the hit television series “X-Files” will surely recall the banter between Agent Arthur Dales and Fox Mulder in Season 6, Episode 19. In a conversation outside of his front door, Dales questions Mulder about liking the sport of baseball, and then asks this question, "How many home runs did Mickey Mantle hit?" Mulder thinks and then replies, "A hundred and sixty three." As Dales hears this clearly deficient answer and reaches to dismissively close the door, Mulder pushes it open and chirps, "Righty. 373 lefty. 536 total." Everyone knew about this larger-than-life player, and about all of his accomplishments.
The 1952 Topps production was the largest set of its day, not only in the quantity of cards included, but also in terms of those cards’ physical dimensions. The issue’s flagship entry (which hailed from the release's sought-after "High Numbers" segment), was Card #311, picturing a young, blonde-haired and blue-eyed rising star of the Yankees organization. And, though this promising phenom suffered a serious injury early in his career, he still played in more than 2,000 games and finished his career with an impressive .298 batting average, while compiling in excess of 1,500 RBI's and rapping out 2,400-plus hits.
Graded NM-MT 8 by PSA. Hall of Famer, in his Topps Rookie Card appearance. Among more than 1,700 copies recorded in PSA's census reporting, just fourteen examples (fewer than one percent) have been placed at a higher, unqualified tier. This is, without a doubt, the most famous and popular gum card of Mickey Mantle ever issued, and it marks Topps’ first depiction of the Yankee legend. In its portrayal, deep, rich portrait colors blaze against an intense and lustrous azure background. Here, the observer sees one of the most impressive and valuable individual pieces in the entire hobby industry. This is a true, centerpiece collectible!
All of this adored depiction's features combine most effectively in a truly high-grade example, as seen here. Only in the finest specimens of this card do the item's physical details coalesce with the early Mantle's remarkable evocative pull to yield a truly irresistible, magnetic collectible. The offered piece is clearly one of the collecting industry's finest, and it thus inspires only the most positive feelings within any hobbyist who views it.
Thoroughly befitting this '52 Mantle's exceedingly favorable grade assignment, its focus, color, centering, and border whiteness reflect the highest-imaginable quality. Also present is a sparkling luster that – in comparison to this piece – would likely be conspicuously diminished on similarly graded but visually lesser examples. The card's reverse-side printing is clear and crisp.
Over the past few years, the news media have been diligent in reporting the steady and consistent, but nonetheless dramatic trend toward rising prices for this treasured collectible in the highest grades. Three years ago – a lengthy interval in the progress of an important piece that's the subject of such active, persistent interest – a PSA NM-MT 8 copy fetched nearly $700,000 at auction! Just a year later, a PSA MINT 9 example brought $2.88 million dollars, and another PSA MINT 9 specimen, sold in mid-January, 2021, closed at $5.2 million. Finally, most recently, an outstanding PSA NM-MT 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card in our company's "Goldin Elite" sale closed at a figure exceeding $1.56 million (January 30, 2021, Lot #2). The rate and direction of this card's value trajectory are clear, and they could very easily combine to make the splendid piece, here offered, the first example at its grade level to realize a final number approaching or exceeding two million dollars!
Very seldom does this trophy gum card appear with all virtues in manufactured excellence, degree of preservation and harmonious eye-appeal so beautifully fulfilled. Here is a simply magnificent collectible, in resplendent Near Mint to Mint condition.