1951 Boman Mantle/Mays or investment

76collector

I have been selling off some of my cards in the hope to raise enough money to buy a 1951 bowman Mickey Mantle. I have around 1500 for the purchase. Is it unrealistic to think that I could get a Mantle (maybe a psa 2 or 3) for around that price ? My collection consists of mainly mid grade cards so I am not super picky, but I can't see myself spending so much for a psa 1 card, and would rather get a Mays rc or an investment card with the money if I can't afford a decent Mantle. The SMR guide only lists down to a psa 5 so I wasn't sure what the going rate was for that card. Any info on the Mantle, or advice as far as other cards to maybe aim for as an investment would be appreciated.

Thanks a lot.

ThoseBackPages

i believe PSA 1 Mantles are in the $1,250 area, so you are better off going after a Mays imo.
You can get a really nice PSA 5 Mays in the $900 area

JoeBanzai

I would choose Mantle. It's the true rookie of the most popular player since Babe Ruth. Also I seem to remember that it's much more scarce than the 1952. Possibly best investment potential of any high dollar card made 1950-present in my opinion.

Keep looking (and saving) and you will find one with good eye appeal.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Joe

Dboneesq

You have enough right now to buy a "1", which should cost you about One Grand. A "2" or a "3" would run you between $2,000.00 and $2,300.00. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

YogiBerraFan

Save up a little more and get the PSA 2 or 3 Mantle. You will be happier in the end.

digicat

Being a Giants fan, my PSA 6 Mays RC is the centerpiece of my collection. I'd like a Mantle some day, but it's only so that I can add it to my Hall of Famer rookie card collection.


However, "investing" in sports cards is a huge risk. You need to keep inflation in mind, as well as the rapidly declining value of the US dollar.

fiveniner

Go for a 2 or 3 on the Mantle and a 4 on the Mays.You might be able to get the pair for 3 grand.

onebamafan

Agreed go for a 2-3 Mantle, save a little more................if memory serves in the last few months a couple of sgc 30 (2) ending in the 15-1800$ range.

76collector

Thanks a lot for the comments guys, I appreciate it. I think I will just be patient and watch for low end mantles, and keep saving while I look. I really do have my heart set on getting the Mantle, but I just don't think I will be satisfied with the quality of a psa 1 for the amount of money it costs. I have a psa 2 - 54' Kaline, which I really do like, it's not a bad looking card at all, so I think I would be satisfied with the right Mantle in a psa 2.

captainthreeputt

I think you will do fine trying to find a nice PSA 2 or 3. Choose one that works for you. There are a lot of guys who like PSA 2.5 that look much better, but do to a little paper loss on the back it can only get as high as a 2.5.

Good luck, and please share a scan when you accomplish your goal.

brian

hookem

Here is some VCP info to give you an idea on pricing:

Latest Auction Prices for: PSA 1 - Average Price: $1,090.41
7/31/11 eBay Listing $1,000.00
7/10/11 eBay Auction $990.00
6/12/11 eBay Auction $1,281.23
7/25/10 eBay $844.99
7/4/10 eBay $770.00
6/30/10 eBay $1,000.00
2/2/10 eBay $1,300.00


Latest Auction Prices for: PSA 1.5 - Average Price: $1,369.22
8/20/10 eBay $1,369.22


Latest Auction Prices for: PSA 2 - Average Price: $1,995.00
10/14/10 eBay $1,995.00
7/10/10 eBay $1,150.00
7/10/10 eBay $1,575.00
4/25/10 eBay $1,850.00
4/16/10 eBay $1,350.07
3/18/10 eBay $1,575.00
3/13/10 eBay $1,075.78
2/16/10 eBay $1,360.00
2/14/10 eBay $2,000.00


Latest Auction Prices for: PSA 2.5 - Average Price: $3,127.00
9/18/11 eBay Auction $3,127.00
12/20/09 eBay $1,575.05
10/14/09 eBay $1,625.00
2/9/09 eBay $1,547.77
1/2/09 eBay $2,025.00


Latest Auction Prices for: PSA 3 - Average Price: $2,287.38
9/11/11 eBay Auction $2,050.44
9/6/11 eBay Auction $2,727.44
8/19/11 eBay Listing $3,000.00
7/24/11 eBay Auction $2,581.00
6/29/11 eBay Auction $2,200.00
5/25/11 eBay Listing $2,250.00
4/29/11 eBay Auction $1,999.99
4/2/11 eBay Auction $2,202.79
1/13/11 eBay $1,800.00
9/14/10 eBay $1,750.00
7/4/10 eBay $2,799.99
6/23/10 eBay $1,581.56

76collector

76collector

Well, thanks again for all of your comments. It turns out I ended up with a little less cash than I had hoped for buying the card. I made a couple of offers on 1.5 Mantles, but they ended up being turned down and I foud a Mays that I really liked. It is an sgc 50 vg/ex 4 with no wrinkles or creases and the centering is very nice. I think the card has really nice eye appeal. I will have to wait a year or 2 before I can afford a Mantle in the condition I want. I would like to post a picture of the front and back of the Mays, but when I try to attach the image, I get an error that the image is greater than 50K. I have read lots of threads with pic's attached so I'm sure there is a way around that limitation (my pic is 200K) and if anyone could let me know how that would be great. I would like to post pics, and see what you guys think.