What card would you rather own? (Jordan/Mantle)

balco758

52 Mantle PSA 1 or
86 Jordan PSA 9

This is a decision I’ve been thinking over. Today the Mick is worth more, who knows what the future holds.

The Mick would we a very messy looking card; the Jordan would be mint. Both are iconic but the Mick - even in a 1 - is pretty rare (only 273 graded a 1).

What do you think?

(Sorry MOD I posted this thread wrong in B/S/T can you please delete)

Halos2002

I am a baseball guy...so Mantle for me...

JoeBanzai

Mantle all the way!

GreenSneakers

@balco758 said: Mick would we a very messy looking card;

Not necessarily. Go look at Tanners 1 he recently posted (though it’s SCG not PSA)

If you get the “right” Mantle, it’s an easy choice for me, but not a beater.

pab1969

Mantle.

rtimmer

Jordan Star or Fleer

doubledragon

Is this for investment purposes or strictly from a collectors standpoint? If it's from a collectors standpoint, I would advise you to go for what makes you the happiest inside. I would choose the card that will make me the happiest to own for years to come, if it's from a collectors standpoint.

DBesse27

Definitely never a 52T Mick for me, so I’ll go with Jordan. Even though I don’t collect much hoops, that would be a worthy exception.

Now if the option was a Mantle 51B rookie vs the Jordan, I’d take that Mantle every time.

KingBen

I’m a basketball guy, but it’s a no brainer... MANTLE!

Kids these days don’t care about Michael Jordan, but ask them who Mantle is, and they will let you know!

balco758

DeBesse27

Do you like the 51 B better from an investment? appeal? POV or are you just not a fan of the 52 T

DBesse27

@balco758 said:
DeBesse27

Do you like the 51 B better from an investment? appeal? POV or are you just not a fan of the 52 T

While I understand that the 52 is his first Topps and more scarce than the lower series, it is NOT a RC and I personally think the 52 Topps design is ugly. On the other hand, the 51 Bowman IS his RC and I also personally consider that set to be arguably the most gorgeous ever produced. For those reasons, I’d rather have the 51. I answered the question from the perspective of what card would I rather have in my personal collection. I apologize if it was an investment question. Just my 2 cents.

balco758

Thanks. Appreciate your views and appreciate your views. very much.

Sometimes it’s tricky what do you want more - A or B - which in these days, leaves me feeling guilty.

My experience ripping unopened has led to a new POV that great cards, are better than great unopened. ! And while I love having great cards to see and admire, can’t help but focus on the longer term liquidity.

stwainfan

This is easy. Jordan.
Jordan the GOAT in NBA.
Mantle not the GOAT in MLB.

JoeBanzai

@DBesse27 said:

@balco758 said:
DeBesse27

Do you like the 51 B better from an investment? appeal? POV or are you just not a fan of the 52 T

While I understand that the 52 is his first Topps and more scarce than the lower series, it is NOT a RC and I personally think the 52 Topps design is ugly. On the other hand, the 51 Bowman IS his RC and I also personally consider that set to be arguably the most gorgeous ever produced. For those reasons, I’d rather have the 51. I answered the question from the perspective of what card would I rather have in my personal collection. I apologize if it was an investment question. Just my 2 cents.

I always liked the 1951 Bowman better myself.

KingBen

@stwainfan said:
This is easy. Jordan.
Jordan the GOAT in NBA.
Mantle not the GOAT in MLB.

I think in comparison, there are 13 basketball collectors, and three Trillion baseball collectors. Also, average joe outside of the sports card world will know what a 1952 Topps Mantle is, and not so much the Jordan “fleer rookie.”

1951WheatiesPremium

@stwainfan said:
This is easy. Jordan.
Jordan the GOAT in NBA.
Mantle not the GOAT in MLB.

If I concede Jordan as GOAT (and I do not) I still don’t know if there has ever been a more collected player (read popular) than Mickey Mantle, who loses out to the Babe for greatest . So, I concede he’s not the GOAT but in terms of greatest athletes of the 20th century, there weren’t many on the short list who were as accessible as the Commerce Kid and as a result his popularity endured.

Also, Mickey’s dead and gone. Jordan is still alive. You don’t have to dig to far to hear a bad Jordan story. A book or movie could shake up his legacy. And he was totally phenomenal in every sense; I’m no hater. Just a bit more realistic about him than most...

When’s the last time someone showed off their OJ Simpson collection?

JoeBanzai

Who said anything about GOAT?

I would take the PSA 10 1955 Harmon Killebrew card over either of these, regardless of value or the players ability.

brad31

Would buy a ‘51 Bowman Mantle - his true rookie in a PSA 4.

DBesse27

@brad31 said:
Would buy a ‘51 Bowman Mantle - his true rookie in a PSA 4.

My man!

soxaddict

I have a PSA 9 1986 Fleer Jordan. Anyone want to trade their PSA 1 1952 Mantle?

BJY83

I have these for for a nice 52T Mantle. 3 PSA 8's and 1 PSA 7.

stevek

Mantle

DM23HOF

Mantle in 1. The card is still valuable in the 1 grade, which says a ton about its intrinsic value. In contrast, the Jordan's value is tied strictly to its sticker grade, which to some extent is arbitrary and subjective. Especially in the higher grades, where the difference in card quality between grades is smaller and smaller.

Additionally, there is no option cheaper for the Mantle than a 1, whereas the Mint 9 Jordan could theoretically be found for less in grades 1-8. I used to own a few Jordan 10s and a 9 for example, and then I came across this 1 pictured below and purchased it. When I had them in my case all together and stepped back to my usual viewing distance, then looked only at the cards, for the life of me I could not parse any of them. So I kept the 1, sold the rest, and bought other cards that were expensive when still in lower grade.

Bottom line, when one card in eye appealing poor condition will sell for as much or more than another in mint condition, that kinda says it all right there. And I love both cards a ton.

DM23HOF

To have a worthy hypothetical example in mind, here is a friend's PSA 1 Mantle. I just got his permission to post it; I remember when I called him at his work and told him to stop doing what he was doing and buy this card. We're both glad he did LOL.

So to the original question, I'd take the two 1s over the single PSA 9 MJ

remedylane

I'd go with the Mantle. As iconic as Jordan is, and the 86 fleer is, the Mantle is more iconic. And the Jordan isn't a rare card, at all. DMF23, why is your Jordan graded a 1? Back damage?

LarkinCollector

@KingBen said:
I’m a basketball guy, but it’s a no brainer... MANTLE!

Kids these days don’t care about Michael Jordan, but ask them who Mantle is, and they will let you know!

I don't know what kids you're talking to, mine knows Jordan, as does every middle/high school boy, if for nothing else, the status symbol of his shoes. Mantle means absolutely nothing to him. Outside of NY or dads who collect Mantle, I'm not sure how kids these days would have a clue.

DM23HOF

@remedylane said:
I'd go with the Mantle. As iconic as Jordan is, and the 86 fleer is, the Mantle is more iconic. And the Jordan isn't a rare card, at all. DMF23, why is your Jordan graded a 1? Back damage?

Pinhole top center. Can't see it from about a foot away, which is clutch. Will try and take a natural light pic later.

remedylane

@DM23HOF said:

@remedylane said:
I'd go with the Mantle. As iconic as Jordan is, and the 86 fleer is, the Mantle is more iconic. And the Jordan isn't a rare card, at all. DMF23, why is your Jordan graded a 1? Back damage?

Pinhole top center. Can't see it from about a foot away, which is clutch. Will try and take a natural light pic later.

I see it when I blow the picture up. It doesn't bother me either. I likely would have done the same thing you did .

DBesse27

@LarkinCollector said:

@KingBen said:
I’m a basketball guy, but it’s a no brainer... MANTLE!

Kids these days don’t care about Michael Jordan, but ask them who Mantle is, and they will let you know!

I don't know what kids you're talking to, mine knows Jordan, as does every middle/high school boy, if for nothing else, the status symbol of his shoes. Mantle means absolutely nothing to him. Outside of NY or dads who collect Mantle, I'm not sure how kids these days would have a clue.

Agreed. Every teen these days knows who Michael Jordan is, and many don’t know which sport Mantle played, if they even recognize the name. Which is not to say the 52T Mantle isn’t iconic. Of course it is. But it’s a foolish statement to say he’s more popular with today’s youth than Jordan.

JoeBanzai

I didn't take what they were worth or any other factors into consideration, would rather own Mantle if $ value was the same or even if Jordan was worth more.....................to a point!

coolstanley

The 86 Jordan is a nicer looking card by a mile. Never liked the 52 cartoonish looking cards. But I think I would still take the 52 Mantle. Hard choice though.