Summer Live and Premium 2018
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/12/2018
Graded 84 NM 7 by SGC. Hall of Famer. Rookie Card, and a scarcer "High Number" entry. Among nearly 600 copies recorded in SGC’s census reporting, just twenty-five examples have been placed at a higher tier. Bowman's number 253 in the 1951 production, picturing the young Yankee outfielder Mickey Mantle (who would become an incredible ballplayer and an idol to millions of youngsters in the years to come), has become properly and firmly established as one of the most valuable and sought-after of all baseball cards. Presented is a very satisfying representative of Mickey Mantle's "true" rookie card.
The 1951 season was Mantle's first in pinstripes and Bowman issued this card of the new Bronx Bomber in that year's final 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. This example – pulled directly from its pack in 1951 by our consignor – has superb white borders culminating in four extremely sharp corners. Significantly, the offered '51 Mantle displays none of the vertical print streaking that's typically expected in cards from the series. The card's image alignment is quite favorable, and the piece delivers tremendous eye appeal with bold colors and a full, uninterrupted image. Further, the item has escaped the printing inconsistencies that characterize the issue and which make clear examples, like this one, so very special. The reverse is boldly inked and free of any wax staining, which is another common discrepancy in the issue. An exceptional, very worthy specimen of one of the 1950s-era's most desirable baseball cards, in Near Mint condition.