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What is the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle really worth?

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WoundedDuck

Active member
Aug 23, 2008
2,904
2
fkw, I'd like to take your knowledge and write a book. I really appreciate your insight on cards when I read your posts.
 

scotty21690

New member
Aug 7, 2008
16,150
0
fkw said:
"""It is so hyped that people THINK it's his rookie card."""
I agree 100% :)

Also the value will always be there because everyday some newbie with a fat wallet becomes a baseball card collector, and its the 2nd more recognized card in existence and far more obtainable than one of the est.65 known T206 Honus Wagners would be.

For a player who batted in the 3 or 4 spot on the Yankees for most of his career.... Mantle had ONLY 4 seasons of 100+ RBIs in 18 years..... that is not a great player IMO

..... if so, Jeff Kent was 2X the player as Mantle ;), and Manny Ramirez 3X :eek: :lol:
That is what I have been saying, but no one seems to agree, lol. His 52' Topps has to be the more overvalued card of all time....I would never pay that much for a mainstream brand 2nd year card.


I would argue that the card is the most recognized card in existance
 

Graymouse

New member
Sep 1, 2008
190
0
Well, ever since the Mr Mint find of 52' high numbers, that card has increased in price. I seriously doubt that the card will ever come down in price, simply because of the legend that topps dumped its 52' high numbers stock into the ocean sometimes in the early 60's. I believe that there are more 52 Mantles, or any of the high number cards for that mater, around then what people think. To prove my point the Mantle was double printed!!!! What other post war 2nd year card other then the 52' Mantle is worth more then the players true rookie card.

Being that it is one of the most well known post war cards is also helping the card enjoy its cost.

Well lets look at this logically: (raw) (near mint) (base-cards) not AS cards, etc

1951 Bowman NM (true rookie) 8k
1952 Topps 30k
1953 Topps 3k
1953 Bowman 2k
1954 Bowman 1.5k
1955 Bowman $800
1956 Topps: 1.5k
1957 Topps: 1.2K
1958 Topps: 1k
1959 Topps: 1k
1960 Topps: $600
1961 Topps :$600
1962 Topps: $600
1963 Topps: $600
1964 Topps: $500
1965 Topps: $500
1966 Topps: $350
1967 Topps: $350
1968 Topps: $350
1969 Topps: $350

In my opinion the true value of a 52 Mantle should be in the range of 4k to 7k. If we go buy the price listing above.
Mickey Mantle is the most overated "star" of the 1950's-1975 playing era. No card through those years are priced as highly as a Mantle card. Even the rookies cards of some HOF are priced as high but on their second year card a steep decline is observed. Example: 1955 Roberto Clemente card 2.2k Rookie card. Second year card $400. So you are telling me that Mickey Mantle is better then all the HOF who played during that same time frame. I think not. He was hurt most of the time during his twilight years. Its crazy to think that Mickey Mantle is held so high for in my opinion a slighty above average baseball career. There are so many other players that deserve the spotlight more then Mickey Mantle.

Edited to add: To be fair here is all his accomplishments:

7× World Series champion (1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962)
3× AL MVP (1956, 1957, 1962)
20× All-Star (1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1959², 1960, 1960², 1961, 1961², 1962, 1962², 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968) (popularity contest)
Gold Glove Award winner (1962)
1965 Hutch Award
1956 Triple Crown
New York Yankees #7 retired
Major League Baseball All-Century Team

Career Stats
Batting average .298
Home runs 536
Hits 2,415
Runs batted in 1,509


If Mickey Mantle was on any team other than the Yankees I truely believe he would not have been voted to that many AS games and he would have a hard time getting into the HOF.

He was voted into HOF in 1974
Vote 88.2% (first ballot)
 

rc4157

Member
Aug 10, 2008
161
1
If just looking at HOF credentials, not $$value for his cards, I have a hard time not believing that the #3 career home run leader at the time of his retirement wouldn't get into the HOF.

At the end of 1968:
1. Babe Ruth - 714
2. Willie Mays - 587
3. Mickey Mantle - 536

Really not too shabby any way that you look at it.

RC
 

scotty21690

New member
Aug 7, 2008
16,150
0
rc4157 said:
If just looking at HOF credentials, not $$value for his cards, I have a hard time not believing that the #3 career home run leader at the time of his retirement wouldn't get into the HOF.

At the end of 1968:
1. Babe Ruth - 714
2. Willie Mays - 587
3. Mickey Mantle - 536

Really not too shabby any way that you look at it.

RC
I don't believe anyone is trying to say that he is not a deserving member of the HOF, just overrated as a hitter.
 

rc4157

Member
Aug 10, 2008
161
1
I was just mainly replying to Gray's comment (Hi Gray!) that if Mantle hadn't played for the Yankees he would have a hard time getting into the HOF.

I would agree that Mantle's cards are overpriced and that corresponds to his overall popularity as a player, which I'm sure was magnified by his playing in New York.

His last 4 years hurt his numbers, but that is true with many players. I would certainly like to have his bat in my lineup. Averaging almost 30 hrs/game and around .300 BA to go along with almost 100 walks per year while scoring over 90 runs/year. I agree with Frank that his rbi's aren't great but I'm sure he was pitched around quite a bit with runners in scoring position, plus he struck out a lot, about the same rate as his walks.

RC
 

Graymouse

New member
Sep 1, 2008
190
0
rc4157 said:
I was just mainly replying to Gray's comment (Hi Gray!) that if Mantle hadn't played for the Yankees he would have a hard time getting into the HOF.

I would agree that Mantle's cards are overpriced and that corresponds to his overall popularity as a player, which I'm sure was magnified by his playing in New York.

His last 4 years hurt his numbers, but that is true with many players. I would certainly like to have his bat in my lineup. Averaging almost 30 hrs/game and around .300 BA to go along with almost 100 walks per year while scoring over 90 runs/year. I agree with Frank that his rbi's aren't great but I'm sure he was pitched around quite a bit with runners in scoring position, plus he struck out a lot, about the same rate as his walks.

RC

Long time no see RC! How ya been? Hope to see you around more often!

Anyways, All I was saying is that if Mantle played for lets say for the sake of the discussion, the Senators his entire career, with the numbers he put up I would still see him having a hard time getting into the HOF. I am not saying that Mantle had a medicore career but he didn't have a great career either. All I am saying is popularity (because he was on the Yankees team) played a major role in getting him in the Hall and it seems that was the main reason he went in and not his career numbers. He even said it himself that if he had taken better care of himself he probably would have put up better numbers.
 

rc4157

Member
Aug 10, 2008
161
1
Some of Mantle's late night carousing has been well documented, coming to games without having been to bed and with a hangover you would think hurt his performance!

Gray - I've been a little slow in card collecting of late but picked up a few '40 Reds Play Ball cards yesterday that I will eventually get scanned and on the pickup page.

Bigger yet, I snagged a '58 Reds yearbook, pretty cool, especially ads for hotel rooms at $4.00/night.

Sorry to hijack the thread - Somebody get this back on Mantle card values, which I agree are overpriced.

RC
 

TBTwinsFan

New member
Nov 8, 2009
24,583
0
Southwestern Minnesota
Graymouse said:
1951 Bowman NM (true rookie) 8k
1952 Topps 30k
1953 Topps 3k
1953 Bowman 2k
1954 Bowman 1.5k
1955 Bowman $800
1956 Topps: 1.5k
1957 Topps: 1.2K
1958 Topps: 1k
1959 Topps: 1k
1960 Topps: $600
1961 Topps :$600
1962 Topps: $600
1963 Topps: $600
1964 Topps: $500
1965 Topps: $500
1966 Topps: $350
1967 Topps: $350
1968 Topps: $350
1969 Topps: $350

:eek: ::facepalm:: :x :cry: :eek: ::facepalm:: :x :cry: :eek: ::facepalm:: :x :cry: :oops: :oops: :oops:

I had plans of finishing the set...
 

kdailey4315

New member
Mar 4, 2009
5,458
0
TBTwinsFan said:
Graymouse said:
1958 Topps: 1k

:eek: ::facepalm:: :x :cry: :eek: ::facepalm:: :x :cry: :eek: ::facepalm:: :x :cry: :oops: :oops: :oops:

I had plans of finishing the set...

Not sure how high a grade you want but PSA 4 and low grade SCG's are going for 170-225 on ebay.

Not to totally derail this thread but can someone please explain to me how anyone can think that the 52 Topps is his RC?
 

TBTwinsFan

New member
Nov 8, 2009
24,583
0
Southwestern Minnesota
kdailey4315 said:
TBTwinsFan said:
Graymouse said:
1958 Topps: 1k

:eek: ::facepalm:: :x :cry: :eek: ::facepalm:: :x :cry: :eek: ::facepalm:: :x :cry: :oops: :oops: :oops:

I had plans of finishing the set...

Not sure how high a grade you want but PSA 4 and low grade SCG's are going for 170-225 on ebay.

Not to totally derail this thread but can someone please explain to me how anyone can think that the 52 Topps is his RC?

Actually looking for raw, (but I can crack them out). As long as there is minimal paper loss and 97% of the card is intact then I am good.

People think it's his rookie because either:

A) They are un-educated
B) Topps reproduces these like crazy for sets.
C) Answers A and B
D) Answer C
 

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