Tell me what to do with this card.............

RonBurgundy

Bought a raw 61 Mantle at the National. Paid close to SMR price for an 8. Thought it had a shot at an 8.5 by SGC, but they graded it an SGC 88. Deciding it would make more sense to have it in a PSA holder, I cracked it, submitted it onsite, and it received an 8.

Now I have slightly over SMR in the card. I will probably start this set in the next year or so, but I hate having a card that I paid over SMR for. In addition to that, the card was my one "splurge" at the National and I still have buyer's remorse about it. It's a nice card - 50/50 centering with 3 out of 4 corners being 9 quality - but I honestly wish I had not bought it.

Tell me what I should do with it..........Ebay it, work a trade, or hang on to it.



Stay classy,


Rom

calleocho

GAI 8.5?

bri2327

I would hold onto it in a PSA holder. If it has 50/50 centering and great eye appeal it will definately continue to appreciate. If you go forth with building the set it will definately be worth alot more than todays SMR by the time your set is complete.

How is the surface of the card ? Does it have any of the snow that is common on the 61's ? If the surface is clean and doesnt have the snow i would strongly back my above comments on holding onto the card. In 2-3 yrs you will look back on your posted question and wonder why you were ever concerned.

diamondman

Probably the best thing to do if you want to get rid of it is put a reserve price on it either what you paid for it or what you are willing to lose on it. Then throw it on Ebay, or keep it for a while and see if it goes up. IMO

Kurtman9

I assume you mean #300 (there are 6 Mantles in the 61 set). If it is truly 50/50 (extremely rare for this card) both ways with no tilt then you should have paid way over smr. Also, if you got one without the huge fisheye on his chest, that's another big plus. If it is 50/50 with a clean surface that card would easily bring $1,400+. It sounds like a keeper and bound to keep appreciating, but I'd love to see a scan of your card.

edited to add: The best one I have ever seen currently resides in Paul Selken's (pmsbcc) registry set. I've tried to buy it from him but he doesn't want to part with it and I don't blame him. Here is a link to his set and he's got a scan of the #300:
link

MorrellMan

I can relate to overpaying for a card, but it's not like you bought a Billy Ripken F/Face card. Mantle cards are blue chip. Unless you're hurting for dough, I'd put it away for a bit until the value goes to where you want it.

Bosox1976

I'd keep it, or list it with a big, fat buy-it-now. Levi might be interested too. He'd sell it for significantly over smr (and likely have buyers).

1420sports

I think that is a situation that most of us have been in ... getting a card that really doesn't cut it for whatever reason. Fortunately for you, this is a card that you can unload and most likely get back at least what you have into the card including fees.

Just curious, if you were thinking 8.5 why didn't you use GAI?

MorrellMan

I, for one, am glad that a PSA 8 Mantle card does not reside in a GAI 8.5 holder.

envoy98

Personally, I see nothing wrong with having slightly over SMR into a high grade '61 Mantle. I think you might have gotten it cheap in all honesty so there might be some room on it for you already. If not, there will be in the future, he's as blue chip as they get. Great purchase from my perspective.

-Josh

RonBurgundy

Guys -

I really appreciate all the feedback and let me answer several questions:

1) The card is #300 and truly is 50-50. Nicest centered '61 Mantle I have ever seen. There is absolutely no tilt to it and no fisheye. It does have some print spots (not snow) around his face that is not readily visible with the naked eye, but visible upon close up inspection and definitely with a magnifier. This - along with the slightly touched lower left corner - is probably what keeps it out of an 8.5 holder. I knew it would be close but decided to roll the dice.

2) I considered GAI to see if it would bump, but know Baker well enough to think it would have a hard time making an 8.5 there. It's been my experience that GAI is tougher on print spots and snow than SGC.

3) I definitely won't get hurt on the card with what I have in it now. In retrospect I think I have buyer's remorse because if I don't buy this card then I would not have overspent at the show. Plus, I trust my self grading enough that the chances of it getting an 8.5 were probably 1 in 4 at best.

I will try to post a scan later. In the meantime, any more feedback would be great. Oh well, this is the third PSA 8 Mantle I have ('57 and '68 are the others). That's enough to start a collection, right?


Stay classy,


Ron

bri2327

Id love to see a scan of the 61 and the 57 when you get the chance. A PSA 8 Mickey can never be wrong. Great start to a collection anyone would be proud to own.