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Eenie, Meenie, Mienie, Mantle.

If you could own one of the following Mantle cards, which would you choose? (If you already own one or more of the listed, just pick the one you don't have yet.)



everywhere you go
there you are

marc in Hawaii

Comments

  • SDSportsFanSDSportsFan Posts: 5,136 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I picked the '52 Bowman 'cause it's always been my favorite Mantle card (plus I already have a PSA 5 '51 Bowmanimage )


    Steve
  • helionauthelionaut Posts: 1,555 ✭✭
    I went with 53B. It's hard to go against the rookie (grade notwithstanding), but the young god in full color Kodachrome is too nice to pass up.
    WANTED:
    2005 Origins Old Judge Brown #/20 and Black 1/1s, 2000 Ultimate Victory Gold #/25
    2004 UD Legends Bake McBride autos & parallels, and 1974 Topps #601 PSA 9
    Rare Grady Sizemore parallels, printing plates, autographs

    Nothing on ebay
  • GriffinsGriffins Posts: 6,076 ✭✭✭
    I picked the Stahl Meyer, just because it is by far the toughest to find of those listed. The Dan Dee is a distant 2nd, the rest are pretty easy (although all can be found on Levi's site, of course).

    Always looking for Topps Salesman Samples, pre '51 unopened packs, E90-2, E91a, N690 Kalamazoo Bats, and T204 Square Frame Ramly's

  • aconteaconte Posts: 2,053 ✭✭✭
    I went with the Dan Dee card. I like that one a lot.

    aconte
  • I went with the Dan Dee myself. I think it's one of the most beautiful Mantle cards out there. And a very, very difficult one to find in any condition.
    everywhere you go
    there you are

    marc in Hawaii
  • unishipuniship Posts: 492 ✭✭
    tough call - but I went with the 51 Bowman. The rookie rules imo.
  • qualitycardsqualitycards Posts: 2,811 ✭✭✭
    I voted on Dan Dee, to me a psa-6 Mantle is a high grade. The stahl mayer was my 2nd choice because of the low grade.
    I voted before I read anyone's picks and rationale...jay
  • dstudebadstudeba Posts: 215 ✭✭
    I would have to agree with Griffins naturally. The Dan Dee is cake compared to the Stahl Meyer which is relatively easy compared to the........Briggs. (not even Levi has it on his site) Unfortunately they all have the same picture. (as do the 54 & 55 Stahl Meyer)

    There is a DanDee in Goodwin's auction, and on Mile High's site I think.

    Elway - if you are selling these I am interested in the Stahl Meyer.
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  • I wish I had a Mickey Mantle Stahl Meyer. Actually, I was reading an article on '54 Dan Dee that Joe Orlando wrote. Then I went and did some serious daydreaming at Levi's site...he actually has a few Dan Dee Mantles. Even PSA 1's were big $$$$$.
    everywhere you go
    there you are

    marc in Hawaii
  • Gotta go with the RC and the fact that the '51 Bowman is a horizontal card, a plus in my book!
  • IndianaJonesIndianaJones Posts: 346 ✭✭✭
    While the list of your eenie, meenie, and mienies does not show, the choice is easy--the Stahl-Meyer Mantle, hands down. There's a pretty nice
    selection of Mickey Mantle cards that would comprise a dream master collection of those that combine varying amounts of beauty and scarcity.
    But for sheer eye appeal that positively ARRESTS a card connoisseur's attention and makes him stare for an indefinite period of time, the
    Stahl-Meyer Mantle is IT. Further, when you become educated about the history of these cards(and I would love to know more), and you
    ponder the fact that they were issued FACE-AGAINST the wet, greasy franks as a package-stiffener, you come away with a multitude of
    thoughts and emotions:
    1. No wonder so few of these beautiful cards exist today
    2. No wonder only a few of the fewer survived in PSA5, or better.
    3. What were the Stahl-Meyer people thinking to go to the trouble of hiring the Milprint Company to create such gorgeous cards, and then
    subject them to creases and stains and stamped numbers (a date, I suspect) before a mother could give her beloved child his treasure?
    I realize card-collecting wasn't that serious then, and it was just a somewhat cheap promotional tool to sell more Stahl-Meyer hickory-
    smoked frankfurts. But still, but still, .....
    4. I wish that they had had a season-end opportunity for kids, or adults, to send in 2 labels and 50 cents for a set, But they didn't.
    5. As long as we're dreaming, I wish it was 1953, and my mom and I were walking into the Stahl-Meyer office to beg, plead, scream,
    and implore them to sell us a set. It might have worked. Judging by the number of nice specimens, nobody, or at least very, very
    few, were successful.

    6. If I were a fox, and I were honest about it, these cards are one batch of "grapes" that were just as nice and sweet as they could be!
  • AlanAllenAlanAllen Posts: 1,530 ✭✭✭
    Indiana, are you a writer for Mastro?

    Joe
    No such details will spoil my plans...
  • MantlefanMantlefan Posts: 1,079 ✭✭
    Wow. Indiana Jones says it all. I actually have all of the other cards and would kill for a Stahl Meyer Mantle. That's right. Give me a name and an address and I will personally "rub out" the subject of your choice in exchange for a Stahlie of the Mick! image
    Frank

    Always looking for 1957 Topps BB in PSA 9!
  • ajwajw Posts: 2,281 ✭✭✭
    Anyone have any photos of the Stahl Meyer Mantle (or others from the set)? A link would be good, too. I know I've seen them before, but I'd like to take a second look.
  • IndianaJonesIndianaJones Posts: 346 ✭✭✭
    Hiya Joe. No, I do not write for Mastro. I've received his catologs since he began his auction business with Dan Knoll at the National Convention
    of 1995. I've always enjoyed their write-ups of the lots. They throw in some significance of the time, and occasionally how earlier collectors
    regarded the particular card and/or issue. Let's face it--it's the kinda of stuff we vintage collectors relish. Lately, they've included a little bit of
    "be the first one on your block to own . . ." and have consciously appealed to collectors' possible vanity, which I don't care for, but that's their
    choice and it obviously works. I've been trying to acquire some good research for an article(s) on the Stahl-Meyers, but it has been tough-
    going. Some people have given superb interviews. Others who know A LOT wish to abstain. That is depressing. I almost got the
    impression that one guy was so closed-mouth about it that he won't even talk to himself! But then, if he's still hunting for these
    babies, an article might somehow scotch his efforts big-time. If he's a dealer of such cards, that might hurt his business because owners
    of such rarities will wake up to the fact that they're sitting on gems. Wow, am I off-subject. Take care. -IndianaJones
  • IndianaJonesIndianaJones Posts: 346 ✭✭✭
    Dear Frank, Ok buddy, let me direct you to a nice scan of the Stahl-Meyer Mantle. You're just a few clicks away. Click on the truly
    renown "PSA Set Registry." Under "Baseball," click on "Player." Scroll down to "Mickey Mantle Master Set," and click on that. Now,
    Scroll down to the 9th "Current Finest Collection;" there you will see "707 Sportscards- ltd- #7" and click on that. Finally, scroll down
    to "1953 Stahl Meyer Mickey Mantle." You will find a camera icon beside this listing, and click on that. Levi Bleam is the ONLY ONE
    I believe on the PSA Set Registry that owns this beauty. In fact, he owns ALL 3 YEARS; however, the 1953 is the only scan that he shows
    of his Stahl-Meyers. As was mentioned, the same photo is used in each year. That is another discussion, and I've said enough. Take care.
    --IndianaJones
  • IndianaJonesIndianaJones Posts: 346 ✭✭✭
    Dear AJW, I'm sorry that I got your moniker wrong. Rats. I'm new at this. Also, I get wordy. Magnum P. I.'s Jonathan Higgins has
    nothing on me. Frank, I'm sorry that I confused you with AJW. However, I have good news for you. Levi Bleam's 1953 Stahl-Meyer
    Mantle is FOR SALE. It's only $3,500. It is a PSA2, and while many wince at that price, it's because they don't realize what it is and
    what's out there--very, very little. Most I would venture are held in collections with the tenacity of the giant squid in Disney's
    "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." But then for most of us, me included, $3,500 is not play money. I wish you the very best in your
    quest, collector friend. Also, I trust it won't have to take a "body" to get one! Take care. --IndianaJones





















































































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  • dstudebadstudeba Posts: 215 ✭✭
    Indiana -

    I love the Stahl Meyers, especially the 1953s. I would be interested in the information you gathered on this set, but have no interest in more collectors being introduced to it! You wouldn't by any chance have an extra Campy cluttering up a showbox somewhere?
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  • IndianaJonesIndianaJones Posts: 346 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Indiana -

    I love the Stahl Meyers, especially the 1953s. I would be interested in the information you gathered on this set, but have no interest in more collectors being introduced to it! You wouldn't by any chance have an extra Campy cluttering up a showbox somewhere? >>



    Hello friend. I can well understand your preference for the 1953's. I honestly don't mind the neon-yellow borders, but if I had my "druthers",
    I would much prefer the 1953's china-white borders also. Perhaps they switched to the neon-yellow to somehow mask the bow-wow
    stains. Stains do not seem to show as badly on those cards. Unfortunately, that color is a bit loud, so to speak.

    While I am very willing to share info, I would prefer to wait. Believe me, not to keep you dangling, but because I need some more substanciating
    evidence of some information that I have gotten. Really, nothing that I have is that earth-shattering; however, I do feel that it is one of the
    most fascinating, mysterious, and eye-appealing baseball card sets ever issued.

    Lastly, yes, I do have a 1953 Roy Campanella. I hate to let you down though because it is not for sale. It is ungraded and probably a PSA4,
    though they might give it a 3. If I were fortunate enough to upgrade it (FAT CHANCE), I would be glad to sell it to you. That great photo of
    Roy, as you probably know, was used on sevcral cards. None of them IMHO can hold a candle to the Stahl-Meyer. Take care. -IndianaJones
  • dstudebadstudeba Posts: 215 ✭✭
    Thanks for the info, it is nice to know that there are some nice examples out there. It gives me hope that I can one day get my hands on one.

    The second best example of that picture I have seen is a Wheaties premium. Almost bought the Berk Ross a little while ago just to have it, but instead decided to wait. There was a nice pre-accident signed example of the photo in and auction (Hunts I think) a while back that went for a large chunk of change.

    As for the numbers on the cards, I always thought they were lot numbers and not dates. It would be interesting to compile a list of all numbers which could shed some light on the subject. #203 seems to pop into my head.
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  • IndianaJonesIndianaJones Posts: 346 ✭✭✭


    As for the numbers on the cards, I always thought they were lot numbers and not dates. It would be interesting to compile a list of all numbers which could shed some light on the subject. #203 seems to pop into my head. >>



    The numbers on the cards is one of the mysteries that I would like to conclusively solve. I have heard several theories. The
    possibility that they are indeed lot numbers is one of them. If you'd like to help me with this project, I could use your
    assistance. Out of curiosity, have you ever seen the same lot #/date/whatever?!? on different cards from the same year?
    Regardless, it's been fun corresponding. Take care. --IndianaJones
  • dstudebadstudeba Posts: 215 ✭✭
    Unfortunately, I try to avoid the ones with numbers on them, so I think I only have one in my collection now. I will check it out tonight to see which one it is. Here is a picture of one that seems to have a the first number be a 0 (038?) which would point away from the date. Unless of course, it was made on the 38th day of something (probably not the year).

    Shoot me an email : danstudebaker(.at.)hotmail.com
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