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Researching a signed Mickey Mantle card, need help!
mart
Posts: 108
First of all let me say thanks for allowing me to join this forum ! While I am not a card collector as such, I do pick them up on occassion. I have one that was a garage sale find several years back that I am trying to get info on and am hoping some of you can help. It is not the typical small card that everyone collects but a 4x6 inch card from the Shangri-La Celebrity Golf Classic. It is signed across the front. I have seen the same pic that is on my card on the smaller cards but without the background. Mine was taken inside a stadium and is not overlaid on the card. It shows the background !! It is from 1992, and has the stats on the back. I also found (another garage sale) a 7 inch figure of Mickey that is plastic & in batting position but has lost the bat !! There are no markings whatsoever on the figure. It has #7 on the back. I am curious about one thing though, was Mickey Mantle a lefty?? That is the position he is in in the figure,, Just curious !! Any help is appreciated !! You can email me (hope its ok to do this) at mart@quik.com if you wish. Since I am new here & not sure about how to navigate this site yet !! Thanks !! I am going to see if I can attach a pic.
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And welcome!!!
Can you give us a scan of the card and if you place the figure on the scanner, we can see that also.
The Mick was a lefty but was a great switch hitter.
The figure is probably a Hartland - year? Hard to say without looking at it. The originals are from 1960 and reprints were done around 1988 by Hartland. The bat can be replaced.
mike
If you have a problem, just email me the pics and I will host them for you.
Address is below
mike
Here ya go...
First the Mantle auto - I'm no expert, but it looks pretty good to me - value? His stuff is white hot on ebay but a PSA/DNA authentication will really make it sell IMO. Detailed picture link.
ebay Mantle auto - PSA/DNA:
On the figure - it's a 1960 Hartland - a mint issue is valued at about 400$ - this one has paint missing from the arm and will be worth less - I would probably pay no more than 100$ since it's also missing the bat.
You can contact Hartland about getting a replacement bat for the figure.
You have a couple of great items there!
mike
<< <i>Mike, thanks for all your help on these !! I haven`t cleaned the figure other than to dust it off,, is there anything you recommend? I also went to our local art gallery & got an archival mylar sleeve for the auto !! A friend from another board has an aunt that is with the Make-A-Wish Foundation & she is going to get authentication from them. But about the cert that you mentioned ,,, is it costly & how does one do it ? I have seen PSA`s membership fees & I really cant afford that for one card. Is there another option??? Again thanks for all your help !!! Martha >>
PSA/DNA does not require membership and it will cost you 75 bucks I believe to have it authenticated. If you plan to sell it, it will be worth the authentication fee IMO. If you plan to keep for yourself - no need. Based on the item - it's hard to believe that it is forged.
On the figurine - I believe mild soap is all I would recommend and do not touch up the figure with matching paint. It destroys the value of the item. As I said, go to the Hartland web and see if you can pick up a replacement bat.
mike
The autos look like Mick's classic signature to my non-expert eye, but then almost all the fakes do. The garage sale story will not play well on eBay because it's the standard line in a long history of scams. Nothing personal, but I know how memorabilia shoppers view these things. If you get the PSA/DNA authentication, that takes care of everything -- and multiplies your sale price a few times.
I love your items even if they had no autos. Good luck and please tell us how you do, with authentication or without.
The Mantle figure (which I have) comes "as is" (if one has the original box and neck "tag" - the item better than doubles in value!) and the problem with them is that some stand up on their own and others don't - unfortunately with ebay, you don't find that out till you buy it. That's a minor point.
I recommend you get the replacement bat and please "state it" in your description. I would say the Mantle would be described as "excellent" shape.
Another consideration on the Mantle auto is to get an "online" certification from them (call their 800 number) - I think that is very cheap and you can then honestly put PSA/DNA spam word in your description - it will not carry the weight of the full authentication.
I wish you all the best of luck
mike