Mickey Mantle Collectors Wanted!
MBMiller25
Posts: 6,056 ✭✭
I am quickly wrapping up a couple of my projects that I have been working on and wanted to add a new project for 2009. I have decided that I want to collect Mickey Mantle PSA graded cards, for a couple factors, but primarily my belief his stuff will always be coveted by the collector, and Hopefully will continue to increase in value. My questions are the following: I would really like to focus on higher end graded cards. Outside of the 51 Bowman and 52 Topps, which of his cards should I be looking to purchase due to either upside on investment, scarcity, popularity, and where do I draw the line on grades. I own one Mantle at this time, a PSA 8 1967. I can not afford to do purchase Mantles in PSA 8 grade for every one of his cards, but also do not want to purchase PSA 4's and PSA 5's for the sake of owning a greater quantity of Mantles (I ama big believer in quality not quantity). I really appreciate all you Mantle Collector's feedback and knowledge.
This is the only Mantle I currently own!
This is the only Mantle I currently own!
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Comments
(8s are better, if you can comfortably afford them.)
Since the 1950s stuff will likely remain relatively pricey, there should be a good
longterm crowd that just wants a nice example; 1960 forward should fill the
wants of that market.
I would go in slow and ONLY buy bargains.
I would try to capture lots of duplicates; this could allow pricing pressure to
develop as time passes.
Memory Lane
Guess I'm a quantity over quality type of guy. However, I think some 5's and 6's present very well:
Thanks for the compliment.
Guess I just can't stand off-center cards.
Picked a few BIN's up using the cashback deal. With the cashback, you can usually get 'em for the average auction closing price.
Problem is, there are no more nicely centerd cards in any e-bay stores right now. At least not ones that the cashback deal would work for (price wise that is). Even with the cashback, 707 is too high, and i've snapped up the only ones red zone had (except for a nice 62 I may cave in on by the end of the day).
Good Luck with the 8's. Them be too pricey for me. But at least we won't be competing against each other in the 6's arena.
<< <i>Bob, Researching this, I think everything from 60+ I will try to acquire in PSA 7 grade, with the exception being the PSA 8-67 card I already own. Everyting Pre 60's I am going to have to go PSA 5 or PSA 6. I would like to hear more from some of the other Mantle Collector's prior to making a firm decision. >>
That's what I'm doing with my Clemente collection, but I'm also looking toward compiling it as a personal collection...not so much for the resale or value added factor. While I seriously doubt your'll lose much money doing it that way, I don't know if gains will be seen on such cards for several years down the road.
Here's a few I've got (the 62 I bought for $17.00, back in the 80's, it's bump worthy):
Right now, there are still many people who collect Mantle cards based on their growing up watching him, or their parent/grandparents growing up watching him. That's a huge factor in why they want to collect Mantle.
At some point, though, those people are no longer going to be collectors, and then Mantle cards will become simply nostalgia pieces, such as Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb, for examples.
One thing the hobby has never seen is a boost in interest in Cobb or Ruth due to people who grew up watching them. I don't think there were many collectors who ever saw either of them play.
This isn't to say that Mantle cards will ever drop in value, though. The transition from sentimental to nostalgic collecting may be seamless. It will be interesting to experience it none-the-less, however.
Sam
His biggest thing was a couple MVPs (like Banks), and an exaggerated HR in Washington in 1953, other than that he is more well know as a "what if" player (like Koufax), and a strikeout king of his era, who rarely ran past 1st (look at his doubles numbers).
Mantle averaged less than 30 HRs a year and a career batting average below .300. AND Only had 4 seasons of 100 RBIs as a cleeanup hitter on the best team in baseball (Jeff Kent has 2X that, Manny 3X).
As far as a HOFer.... He (stat wise) was an average power hitter, in the same class as F.Roby, Killebrew, Mathews, McCovey, Banks, etc. He is most easily compared to Mathews and Killebrew (also white) and if they played in NY their entire career they would have been worshiped too. If Mantle played in Washington, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Cleveland, etc. he would be a "run of the mill" HOFer in most collectors eyes.
Bronx Baby Boomers (BBB's) are leaving us at a quick pace, better sell them overpriced/overhyped cards soon.
IMO
I usually rant like this when I see a "Mantle was the Greatest" post, so sorry for laying it on again.
Plus Im a Aaron/Mays fan and they should be 2X the value as Mantle (as they were 2X the player).
Take a hard look at Mantle #s, especially after his 30th B-Day....... weak
<< <i>I know people..... especially in the aging Bronx Baby Boomers wont like this........ Cobb and Ruth (Williams, Gehrig, DiMaggio, etc.) are 10X the player Mantle was. Mantle holds what records (besides WS records as he played in so many)?
His biggest thing was a couple MVPs (like Banks), and an exaggerated HR in Washington in 1953, other than that he is more well know as a "what if" player (like Koufax), and a strikeout king of his era, who rarely ran past 1st (look at his doubles numbers).
Mantle averaged less than 30 HRs a year and a career batting average below .300. AND Only had 4 seasons of 100 RBIs as a cleeanup hitter on the best team in baseball (Jeff Kent has 2X that, Manny 3X).
As far as a HOFer.... He (stat wise) was an average power hitter, in the same class as F.Roby, Killebrew, Mathews, McCovey, Banks, etc. He is most easily compared to Mathews and Killebrew (also white) and if they played in NY their entire career they would have been worshiped too. If Mantle played in Washington, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Cleveland, etc. he would be a "run of the mill" HOFer in most collectors eyes.
Bronx Baby Boomers (BBB's) are leaving us at a quick pace, better sell them overpriced/overhyped cards soon.
IMO
I usually rant like this when I see a "Mantle was the Greatest" post, so sorry for laying it on again.
Plus Im a Aaron/Mays fan and they should be 2X the value as Mantle (as they were 2X the player).
Take a hard look at Mantle #s, especially after his 30th B-Day....... weak >>
Pretty much sums it up.
Best of luck,
EARL
Nice 67 Mantle!
I agree with the 60 forward advice also as that seems to make the most sense. My favorite one of his is this 56 that I bought earlier this year. This was the most by far had ever spent on a baseball card but absolutely love it. If I get the stones am thinking about cracking it out and seeing what happens.
Jeff
<< <i>For Mantle hatters, you should be overjoyed, as you get your favorite players cards at a discounted value. >>
I'm not so sure it's because some hate Mantle, as it is the fact that they realize he was overhyped by a generation that had some serious love for him, and his stuff is overpriced because of those people.
I, for one, like Mantle, but the folks that are responsible for the serious inflation of his stuff are leaving us. Even more so in the next 10-20 years. It should make for an interesting test of Mantle prices as the years pass.
<< <i>Hi Matt,
Nice 67 Mantle!
I agree with the 60 forward advice also as that seems to make the most sense. My favorite one of his is this 56 that I bought earlier this year. This was the most by far had ever spent on a baseball card but absolutely love it. If I get the stones am thinking about cracking it out and seeing what happens.
Jeff
Jeff,
That's a great looking card.
<< <i>Mantle averaged less than 30 HRs a year and a career batting average below .300. AND Only had 4 seasons of 100 RBIs as a cleeanup hitter on the best team in baseball (Jeff Kent has 2X that, Manny 3X). >>
And you are comparing the era that Mantle played in with the era that Kent and Manny are playing in (HR-wise)? He was ONLY #3 on the ALL TIME HR list when he retired ... won the MVP THREE times ... and ONLY made the ALL STAR Team SIXTEEN times, and that was BEFORE the fans voted!!!!!!
Not too bad for an OK player, huh?
Stay Healthy!
Doug
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
All this modern stuff will be in landfills someday .... I doubt if you'll ever find any vintage Mantles there EVER!
JMHO,
PoppaJ
Jeff
<< <i>PoppaJ...thanks for the great article...enjoyed the read!
Jeff >>
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Hi Jeff,
I'm glad you enjoyed reading it.
This is my favorite excerpt from Joe's wisdom: Mickey Mantle's baseball cards, as a collectible, have no equal. There are cards that are more valuable or scarcer but, on the whole, the demand for his cards is unmatched..
You will never regret owning such a beautiful card as that 56 Mantle!
Please be careful if you decide to crack it! To be honest, I would just send it in, as is, for a bump.
It would almost have to get a 7.5, but I certainly can understand you wanting to go for the 8!
I've been collecting Mantles since 1956 and they have all endured the tests of time, including a handful of recessions & depressions.
Good luck with your collection .... what a great addition that 56 is!
PoppaJ
Guys that are your age poppaj are pretty much Mantle fanatics, but once your generation starts leaving us(some are starting to), quite a bit of Mantle's stuff will cool off. One could argue that some of his stuff already has cooled, as compared to a few years ago(autographs and some of his cards). Yep, the 52' Topps may very well hold value due to the novelty of it, but the other stuff in mid to lower grades will continue to soften. High grade 8's, 9's and 10's will always carry some value due to being fairly scarce, but that has more to do with perceived rarity than it does Mickey Mantle.
The kids growing up today will not care as nearly much about Mickey Mantle, as they will their modern heroes that they seen play, or heard their dad's talk about. By then, it will be guys like Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, ect..
Bottom line, a person will not get wealthy in the future with Mantle cards. They have pretty much peaked, and when those baby boomers all die off, where will be the demand for Mantle?
Quote above from Joe's article. That is so true, but the kids of this generation never watched Mickey Mantle play, and a lot of them don't even know who he is, nor do they care all that much..
Just take a look at Stan Musial. He was/is greatness, but I have witnessed many of the young kids that come to the ballpark in St. Louis, that don't even know who Stan Musial is, other than some old guy that was a Cardinals' player from the past. They don't know how great of a player he was, but they sure do know who Albert Pujols is. It's just a change of the times, as one generation passes, another comes along with it's heroes.
lol, are you serious? The demand will lessen for ALL cards from that era then, not just Mantles.
As for the limited edition new stuff that s simply created rarity, another name for junk.
For those that claim his stats are weak I think you need to step back and look at his peers.
To say Aaron was 2x the player is simply ignorance of the facts.
Steve
Now first of all this is a BS way to get an average (taking the career toatl and dividing the total amount of years) but since that was the way
it was done I'll work with it.
!st off Mantle was at 29.77777 which is 30 not 29.
Aaron who was said to be 2x the player (lol) averaged out at 32.8
Mays (another 2x the player ) averaged 30 on the nose
Frank Robby..........27.9
Stan Musial...............21.5
Then we have the 'Well he didn't even hit 300' He hit 298!!
The he did not do anything over the age of 30
Ummm in 1964 at the age of 33 he had MVP type numbers. (like Casey would say) you could look it up.
Now if you want to say his cards are over priced that is one thing, they are, just don't say that he was some scrub that averaged ONLY 29 homers a year when that
number is right up there with all the other sluggers of his era. And please do not even try to compare him with Sammy Sosa and Jeff Kent because by doing so it shows your true
ignorance of stats in general.
Rant over.
Steve
<< <i>ey have pretty much peaked, and when those baby boomers all die off, where will be the demand for Mantle?
lol, are you serious? The demand will lessen for ALL cards from that era then, not just Mantles.
As for the limited edition new stuff that s simply created rarity, another name for junk.
For those that claim his stats are weak I think you need to step back and look at his peers.
To say Aaron was 2x the player is simply ignorance of the facts.
Steve >>
Steve,
We are speaking of Mantle at this time. There was not a bigger star that has card prices overhyped/overpriced like Mantle's are.
Limited edition modern stuff, yes, will be solid.. I guess you don't buy/sell much of it, so you don't have a clue.
Take this set for instance:
500 HR Club Bat Autographs
Far from junk, and this very limited set will always play an important part in the hobby. Although this seller is fishing, and his asking price is a a little too high due to being his jersey #, these cards have sold very, very well as the years have gone by(Mays has sold for $3000 plus on numerous occasions). This is the unique and rare stuff to have of the modern era, that I am speaking of.
<< <i><<Mantle will always be remembered as an American icon and a hero to those who watched him play.>>
Quote above from Joe's article. That is so true, but the kids of this generation never watched Mickey Mantle play, and a lot of them don't even know who he is, nor do they care all that much..
Just take a look at Stan Musial. He was/is greatness, but I have witnessed many of the young kids that come to the ballpark in St. Louis, that don't even know who Stan Musial is, other than some old guy that was a Cardinals' player from the past. They don't know how great of a player he was, but they sure do know who Albert Pujols is. It's just a change of the times, as one generation passes, another comes along with it's heroes. >>
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Yeah, I guess that's why all the Ruth, DiMaggio, and Gehrig cards are a dime a dozen now .... because nobody in my generation watched them play!!!!
It's called HISTORY .... and history will stay with us and generations to come .... FOREVER!!!!
As long as there is Baseball ... there will be Mantle, and Ruth, and DiMaggio, and even Musial
Do you really think that the majority of Mantle collectors are all or mostly from my generation???
And do you really think those kids that you have WITNESSED going to see the Cards play are strongly representative of most/any of the kids that actually are card collectors?
Just how many kids at Busch Stadium did you poll to come up with such a strong conviction? 2? 5? 0?
Please stop saying that Mantle cards won't be popular in the future .... because they WILL, maybe moreso than today or yesterday.
Based on your statement: There is a lot of modern stuff that is junk, with no doubt, but some of it is not. You have to find the key cards/inserts that are limited, and those are important cards, and will always be in the hobby. .... please list a few of these modern gems that will stand the test of time like the 52 Mantle has. I'm just curious because I don't collect modern junk.
PoppaJ
<< <i>Some facts are in order here, lets take the "he averaged only 29 homers over his career' ok lets compare him to some guys of his era.
Now first of all this is a BS way to get an average (taking the career toatl and dividing the total amount of years) but since that was the way
it was done I'll work with it.
!st off Mantle was at 29.77777 which is 30 not 29.
Aaron who was said to be 2x the player (lol) averaged out at 32.8
Mays (another 2x the player ) averaged 30 on the nose
Frank Robby..........27.9
Stan Musial...............21.5
Then we have the 'Well he didn't even hit 300' He hit 298!!
The he did not do anything over the age of 30
Ummm in 1964 at the age of 33 he had MVP type numbers. (like Casey would say) you could look it up.
Now if you want to say his cards are over priced that is one thing, they are, just don't say that he was some scrub that averaged ONLY 29 homers a year when that
number is right up there with all the other sluggers of his era. And please do not even try to compare him with Sammy Sosa and Jeff Kent because by doing so it shows your true
ignorance of stats in general.
Rant over.
Steve >>
Musial was one of the greatest hitters to ever play the game, Mantle was not even close.
Yeah, Musial hit 475 homeruns, but as Stan said, if he had known homeruns were going to be that big of a deal, he would have probably tried to hit more of them. Musial did not try to hit homeruns, but that was pretty much all Mantle was about. He very rarely passed first base unless it was due to a homerun. Mantle only drove in 100 or more 4 times. That is greatness?
edit: spell
<< <i>
Bottom line, a person will not get wealthy in the future with Mantle cards. They have pretty much peaked, and when those baby boomers all die off, where will be the demand for Mantle? >>
Vintage cards like Mantle, Mays, Ruth, Cobb, etc will always bring demand for many years to come. As long as professional baseball lives on so will the price tag on vintage cards / memorabilia.
These cards are considered fine art by many and fine art combined with sports figures = big price tag.
Look at Allen & Ginter Mike King Kelly.....
I'm pretty sure no one living today ever saw King play but yet his card still brings $2,500+ .
Like I said before....as long as baseball lives and continues to be followed so will this hobby......records are always looked back on as well as history.
Bobby