For the under 40 crowd, do you collect Mickey Mantle cards?

CollectorAtWork · February 27, 2012 4:51AM

I am another one of those collectors who does not understand the Mickey Mantle craze (e.g., see 52 Topps). Sure, he was a strong Yankee HOFer, but why are his cards worth multiples of other great Yankees of his era such as Dimaggio and Berra or other greats like Mays? I could understand something like a 10% premium, but not multiples like you see today. What I've read is that fans who saw him play during his day absolutely loved him, so they are huge fans understandably. He filled some big shoes and brought more titles to the Yanks. However, I'm wondering whether those collectors who never saw him play (and whose parents weren't huge Mantle fans), do you still collect Mantle cards? (and not just to flip them) I just want to see opinions on whether Mantle will stand the test of time and whether 40 years from now when all of the long time Mantle fans are gone, whether his cards will still be this popular.

corvette1340 · February 27, 2012 4:57AM

yes, I was a fan of the Mick when I was 12 years old even though I never came close to seeing him actually play. I'm 37.

I remember having my 1-2 year old daughter on my lap at my desktop looking at cards and her asking me "Daddy, who is that?" and me saying "that's Mickey Mantle, the greatest baseball player of all time". She would take the card or picture around the house and tell her mom that is was "Micka Mannle", lol. She's almost 5 now, but still recognizes Mickey.

Big80s · February 27, 2012 4:57AM

I started collecting in '85, and my Dad never had any interest in sports cards - but I collect O-Pee-Chee Mantles. I think there are quite a few people who collect him, as a fan of the game - not just as a fan of his. Not to mention, if you're a collector who's interested in the investment potential of your collection - there's no safer investment than high grade Mantles.

GB5HOF · February 27, 2012 4:59AM

I'm 37 as well...and I've never had much of an interest. Especially for the inflated prices his cards typically sell for. I'd much rather sell one Mantle to buy 2 nice Aaron's.

MattyC · February 27, 2012 5:06AM

I'm 35. I guess this is my best way to join in with a response...

I'm just a huge baseball fan, and love cards. As a kid, Mantle and many older players were legends about whom I educated myself. I also collect all the older HOFers.

Also, modern stuff is cheap and too common. If you love cards and want to build an elite collection, you kind of have to look toward the 70's and earlier. The '52 Topps Mantle is also from the seminal postwar set, and you can't have helped but idolize that iconic image (and all the other iconic older cards) when you were a kid. Looking through CCPs and Becketts and TuffStuffs as a kid, I'd always admire the older cards and dream of owning them one day.

As to why Mantle costs more than so many other stars of yesteryear, I suppose his immense popularity and iconic stature, due to the zeitgeist simply embracing/anointing him, the big market, the title-winning teams, the fact he was a poster boy of sorts, it all comes together in a perfect storm.

And all that said, you can admire his game a lot because it was so nasty. He had sick power, speed, won a triple crown, titles, delivered in the WS. He also partied HARD and legendarily, which I personally find kind of admirable. His cards, and all older cards, also harken back to, what seems to me in my time, a simpler, in some ways better time. When popular culture say wasn't such a cesspool of derivative dreck. But that's just my two cents

Edit to add: I think so many older cards of HOFers are WAY undervalued. But I'm okay with that so I can buy them.

jeffcbay · February 27, 2012 5:14AM

I'm 35, and I would collect Mantle if I have the cash. I just a fan of baseball cards in general, and I feel like Mantle cards are the best cards to own. Just timeless cards that make you feel good to possess.

californiacards3 · February 27, 2012 5:19AM

My belief is in the story. I met Mick several times as a youngster. He was originally from Oklahoma - Commerce - called the Commerce Comet. My dad took me out of school when I was a kid and we would go see the Rangers play the Yanks in September. Always one of my favorite things we did. My Dad was a catcher and a huge history buff, was also an auctioneer and read every biography known to man kind. As such he was a hug St Louis Card fan Dizzy and Daffy Dean, Gashouse Gang, but also a Ruth, Gehrig and Yanks fan. I am 48 and my Dad if alive would be 84 this year.

Mick was both a tragic and great character in this play called baseball. His alcoholism and later bouts with liver transplant possibly made him more beloved. I saw some old games in 68 and 69 and remember it a bit. He hurt his knee early in his career on a sprinkler or something in center field. Most people never saw him whole. As I remember his knee injury in th 51 series. If he hadn't drank and gotten hurt, no telling what he would have done. Probably the purest athlete in baseball of the 20th century. By the way the autographed 1981 TCMA Yankees Mantle is one of my favorite articles of memorabilia that I own.

Just my two cents

Barry

digicat · February 27, 2012 5:19AM

I'm 36 and have no interest in collecting the Mick beyond his 1951 Bowman rookie card.

miconelegacy · February 27, 2012 5:19AM

Every collector of sportscards should have at least 1 Mantle in their collection.

leathtech · February 27, 2012 5:19AM

I'm 37 and have no connection to the mick and no real interest in collecting him.

digicat · February 27, 2012 5:22AM

<< Every collector of sportscards should have at least 1 Mantle in their collection. >>

A few years ago, I picked up a 1969 Topps Mantle checklist, in very poor and marked condition, for 25 cents. There ya go. I met your quota.

MattyC · February 27, 2012 5:23AM

It really all depends on how one collects. My goal is to have all the greats represented in my collection, so even if I wasn't a huge fan, I try and pick a card I find aesthetically appealing of every great.

Dpeck100 · February 27, 2012 5:35AM

I am 32 and have no burning desire to own any of his cards but if I was a huge baseball card collector or interested in the investment potential only I would be very interested in his cards.

Longer term high grade Mantles I believe will only go up in value.

There seems to be the debate of the number printed or the fact others had better stats. None of that matters. The collector base for his cards is always expanding and that is what really matters. More buyers with no big increase in supply means higher prices period.

miconelegacy · February 27, 2012 5:41AM

Oh that's right we are considering wrestling a sport!! Lol. JK D.

blee1 · February 27, 2012 5:48AM

40' and no interest in Mantle. Very little in baseball in fact, but I do have a Maris card among others.

chaz43 · February 27, 2012 5:54AM

<< I am another one of those collectors who does not understand the Mickey Mantle craze (e.g., see 52 Topps). Sure, he was a strong Yankee HOFer, but why are his cards worth multiples of other great Yankees of his era such as Dimaggio and Berra or other greats like Mays? I could understand something like a 10% premium, but not multiples like you see today. What I've read is that fans who saw him play during his day absolutely loved him, so they are huge fans understandably. He filled some big shoes and brought more titles to the Yanks. However, I'm wondering whether those collectors who never saw him play (and whose parents weren't huge Mantle fans), do you still collect Mantle cards? (and not just to flip them) I just want to see opinions on whether Mantle will stand the test of time and whether 40 years from now when all of the long time Mantle fans are gone, whether his cards will still be this popular. >>

If we have to explain, you wouldn't understand. chaz

fmaz · February 27, 2012 5:54AM

My son is 13 and he has a 1969 Mantle that looks like a dog tried to eat it (and partially succeeded!) and then a few months back bought a '54 Bowman Mantle. He loves baseball history, so he collects, Aaron, Mays, Banks, etc... but he was very excited to get that Mantle... more so than any other card he has.

wallst32 · February 27, 2012 6:09AM

I'm mid 30's, a life long Yankees fan, and I could care less about Mickey Mantle's cards as I've never seen him play and can't identify with him. His popularity is what puts him over the top versus other Yankees or ball players of his era. Nolan Ryan is another great example; he was nowhere near the best pitcher of his generation, but from a collecting standpoint he trumps all other pictures of his era. Namath is another example.

Give me Gretzky, Lemiuex, Jordan, Henderson, Ripken, Clemens, Rice, Montana, Marino, Brady, Shaq, etc.

I think collectors want Mantles just because they're considered THE cards to collect, and I will have to say the 52T is iconic in the hobby.

cwazzy · February 27, 2012 6:20AM

I'm 31 and have no interest in Mantle. There are a couple of cards of his I wouldn't mind having, though. But these would only be because of the importance of the card ('51 Bowman)or because it was from a set I was doing ('54 Bowman and '56 Topps) and not the subject matter. Overall I think his cards are overrated and would rather spend my money on less popular HOFers like Campy, Bob Gibson, Snider, etc.

orioles93 · February 27, 2012 6:37AM

Im 18 but i love to collect mantle. I just love the history of the game and collecting all of the older greats. Also my father collected cards as a kid and has a number of 60s mantles so he kind of got me started with it to. I currently have around 15 mantles in my collectons. I hope to keep adding to that as well. Also even though it is not my main reason for collecting, i do see it as a good investment as well as enjoying it.

pdub1819 · February 27, 2012 6:44AM

<< 

<< I am another one of those collectors who does not understand the Mickey Mantle craze (e.g., see 52 Topps). Sure, he was a strong Yankee HOFer, but why are his cards worth multiples of other great Yankees of his era such as Dimaggio and Berra or other greats like Mays? I could understand something like a 10% premium, but not multiples like you see today. What I've read is that fans who saw him play during his day absolutely loved him, so they are huge fans understandably. He filled some big shoes and brought more titles to the Yanks. However, I'm wondering whether those collectors who never saw him play (and whose parents weren't huge Mantle fans), do you still collect Mantle cards? (and not just to flip them) I just want to see opinions on whether Mantle will stand the test of time and whether 40 years from now when all of the long time Mantle fans are gone, whether his cards will still be this popular. >>

If we have to explain, you wouldn't understand. chaz >>

+1 and I only have one Mantle. Read one of his biographies, that might help you.

MattyC · February 27, 2012 7:00AM

I look at it this way: we're all men going out into the world, trying to make our way and ideally succeed-- to leave our mark on the world. Mickey Mantle's mark on the zeitgeist is indelible. His name is known across generations. He reached the pinnacle of success as a star ballplayer. He achieved iconic status-- whatever the reason-- over so many other greats.

Again, regardless of the reasons or their validity to each person, the man is an icon. He achieved more than 99.999% of the other men to ever breathe air. I give mad props to that, and so his cards represent that kind of extreme success to me-- the kind he had while living and after death.

To think, my 16 month-old kid is really starting to talk now, and he looks in this Yankee ABC book I bought him or at my cards and says, "Mickey Mantle," (actually it comes out more like, "Mee-Ma," but I'll let it slide).

Now I try my best to kick ass in this world on every front, but I know that no toddler will ever say my name decades after I'm gone.

Yankees001 · February 27, 2012 7:14AM

No. I just feel the cards are over priced. So, I never buy any.

Dave

CollectorAtWork · February 27, 2012 7:19AM

<< 

<< 

<< I am another one of those collectors who does not understand the Mickey Mantle craze (e.g., see 52 Topps). Sure, he was a strong Yankee HOFer, but why are his cards worth multiples of other great Yankees of his era such as Dimaggio and Berra or other greats like Mays? I could understand something like a 10% premium, but not multiples like you see today. What I've read is that fans who saw him play during his day absolutely loved him, so they are huge fans understandably. He filled some big shoes and brought more titles to the Yanks. However, I'm wondering whether those collectors who never saw him play (and whose parents weren't huge Mantle fans), do you still collect Mantle cards? (and not just to flip them) I just want to see opinions on whether Mantle will stand the test of time and whether 40 years from now when all of the long time Mantle fans are gone, whether his cards will still be this popular. >>

If we have to explain, you wouldn't understand. chaz >>

+1 and I only have one Mantle. Read one of his biographies, that might help you. >>

Sure, I know Mantle's story already. However, I also know Lou Gehrig's story, and that is arguably a greater one that Mantle. However, you can say that Mantle cards are even more popular than Gehrig's.

epatmythes · February 27, 2012 7:29AM

<< Nolan Ryan is another great example; he was nowhere near the best pitcher of his generation, but from a collecting standpoint he trumps all other pictures of his era. >>

Is it just me, or does this quote not baffle the hell out of everyone else too???

Anway...

I'm 34 and have never bought into the Mantle collecting craze. True, as a kid when I started collecting (1987-ish) I always looked at Mantle as larger than life... would have liked to own his cards... and understood the significance of his 52 Topps. However, and to this day, I've never viewed Mantle as a supreme ballplayer worthy of such "collecting" value compared to his contemporaries, old and new. In terms of vintage, I've focused more on guys based on the overall scale of ability and value... and thus, have collected more the likes of Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, etc. It's only been in the past year that I've finally actually added some Mick's to my collection. It's only been a couple of mid-grade cards so far, and I have no desire to really become a quasi-Mantle collector... moreso just added them along those previously mentioned thoughtlines of "every collection needs to have Mantle in it".

bvc · February 27, 2012 7:30AM

I'm under 40, and about 18 months ago I started to collect his cards in PSA 6 and PSA 7. So far I've accumulated the following:

1969 - PSA 7
1968 - PSA 7
1968 w/ Mays, Killebrew - PSA 7.5
1967 - PSA 7
1966 - PSA 7
1965 - PSA 6.5
1964 - bought raw a couple years ago. Looks like a 7 but we'll see.
1963 - PSA 6.5
1962 - PSA 6.5
1961 - PSA 7
1961 MVP - PSA 7
1960 - PSA 7
1959 - PSA 6
1958 - PSA 6.5
1957 w/ Berra - PSA 6
1956 - PSA 6

Next up are the 1957 in PSA 6 and 1953 Topps in ~PSA4/5. Then I'll start on the Bowmans. Then maybe add the Topps All Star cards. Then the 51 Bowman, then the 52 topps. It'll easily be another 3+ years before I'm done, if ever.

BunchOBull · February 27, 2012 8:01AM

28 and have only owned a handful of Mantles in my life; nothing high grade and my first was a gift to me. I gave them all to a brave young Yankees fan who had just endured his 10th or so surgery to correct several malformations.

I don't buy into the Mantle craze, so it seemed like a better use of the cards. I do however need to find a well presenting '56 for my set.

RipublicaninMass · February 27, 2012 8:07AM

35 and mainly do pre-war, but I will most likely overpay for a 52 Mantle before I go

BenG76 · February 27, 2012 8:09AM

Never owned a real Mantle meaning one issued while he was playing. Would like to but I would have to find a deal in one. Theres too many other guys I would like to have as well.

WinPitcher · February 27, 2012 8:12AM

This tells me that those that think Mantle cards will only go up
may be wishful thinking, if the amount of under 40 guys here
represent the thoughts of most under 40 card collectors, then who exactly are the 50+ crowd
going to sell their Mantle's too?

Back in the 80's when the craze took off, those buying ( collect) were generally those that saw him play
and idolized him.

It's not like they are scarce or anything.

cadets68 · February 27, 2012 8:13AM

I am under forty until the fall.

But I do not collect Mickey.

I had some lower grade but sold them.

I will own a few because they fit in sets I am putting together. But that is about it.

Shawn

DavidPuddy · February 27, 2012 8:23AM

I'm 35, and have little interest in Mantle.

I do love the look of the 53 Topps. If I ever own a Mantle, that will be the one.

tyweb1 · February 27, 2012 8:26AM

I am 37 and I don't collect Mantle; however I found this laying around in my Ron Santo Master Set.

MantleMarisFordBerra · February 27, 2012 9:09AM

I'm 34, big fan of The Mick & the classic "golden years" Yankees. Only wish they didn't cost so much!! I'm sure the cards of Mantle (and Maris, Ford, Berra, etc...) will always be collected/in demand just as the cars of Ty Cobb, Christy Matthewson & Shoeless Joe Jackson will always be in demand. Younger generations appreciate not only legendary talent, but also the mystique of earlier eras.

vladguerrero · February 27, 2012 9:26AM

Nope.

I bought a PSA/DNA rookie era signed 1951 Bowman Mantle RC as a investment/historical piece for my PC, then something else in the same price range came up for which I had more interest/emotional connection to and I felt (probably as the OP does) that Mantles aren't going to be admired the same way by future generations. The real lesson learned was collect what you like (when buying for your PC).

First generation Mantle fans lived through a period where they watched him as a player who made history, future generations will only have the historical attachment. Also, they will be more objective about his stats (in comparison to other players of the era) and hopefully less affected by the american pie type romanticism that is a big part of his legacy (imo).

I think he was a great player but the scales of justice are tipped too far in his favor when it comes to the hobby, and I think over time it will level off.

msassin · February 27, 2012 9:52AM

Don't collect Mantle...but I am a Red Sox fan.

Beck6 · February 27, 2012 9:54AM

Not a Mantle collector, but would buy one if it was high grade. I am under 40 and have no more connection with Mantle than I do with someone like Hank Aaron or Stan Musial. I do understand his importance to the hobby and respect that and would like to have a couple in my collection.

The real question is does the Mantle market have anywhere to go but down? I believe that PSA 6 and under quality stuff probably doesn't go up much except for some of the big ones like the 1952 topps. High grade stuff is really tough to find still and I would feel pretty safe with a high grade in just about any year.

cincyredlegs · February 27, 2012 9:58AM

I turned 40 last year and have always loved Mantles since I was a kid. I have about 12-15 right now. Never saw him play but it was just something about his cards that made me want to buy them. But then again, I always loved Aaron, Mays, Koufax, Musial, etc...... I love vintage cards in general.

Mark

Downtown1974 · February 27, 2012 10:01AM

<< Every collector of sportscards should have at least 1 Mantle in their collection. >>

I couldn't agree more.

1980scollector · February 27, 2012 10:10AM

Downtown sold me like ten lower grade mantles or so several years ago to trade to a guy that liked Mantles.

He had a 53 Mantle VG 3 that looked 8ish but had a creaase.

You remember that deal Downtown?

CSC · February 27, 2012 10:28AM

I turned 39 last month and started collecting in 1980. Mantle will forever have an impression on me just from the awe that surrounded that name from collecting in my youth. I have always had at least one Mantle in my collection over the years, but no attachment to any of them. So, I don't really care for Mantle in general or any of his cards personally. There is one huge exception, which is for the burning desire to own a 52T Mantle. I can not imagine any collector around my age that does not have this desire somewhere inside. I think the awe of my youth was not Mantle himself or any general card of Mantle, it was singularly the incredible desire of owning a 1952 Topps Mantle (first Topps year, Topps rookie, high number, cases in ocean etc.). Now that has some meaning. That is where modern collecting really started. For Bowman collectors, remember, Topps is the Real One

Downtown1974 · February 27, 2012 10:39AM

<< Downtown sold me like ten lower grade mantles or so several years ago to trade to a guy that liked Mantles.

He had a 53 Mantle VG 3 that looked 8ish but had a creaase.

You remember that deal Downtown? >>

I sure do! I still have sellers remorse about that 53'

1980scollector · February 27, 2012 10:43AM

<< 

<< Downtown sold me like ten lower grade mantles or so several years ago to trade to a guy that liked Mantles.

He had a 53 Mantle VG 3 that looked 8ish but had a creaase.

You remember that deal Downtown? >>

I sure do! I still have sellers remorse about that 53'

>>

Me too buddy!

The way I remember it, the card had amazing eye appeal put had a surface crease.

The guy just wanted it so bad I couldn't pass it up. The reason I bought that whole deal was to wheel and deal with that guy.

Dpeck100 · February 27, 2012 10:51AM

Steve I don't think you can use the answers from this thread to forecast a lack of buyers in the future.

If money was no issue I and many others would certainly love to own some Mantle cards. The problem is many of his cards are very expensive and out of most's price range in higher grade and in some cases any grade.

What can't be forecasted is what mine and others economic circumstances with be 20 to 30 years from now. If you look at the collectors who dominate the sports card world they are rich and in their 50's or older.

That being said the real issue is will there emerge from the existing collecting base very successful people who will continue to collect as they age. The other important issue is what's to say some of those ultra rare cards come for sale and don't get passed down to the children of the current owners.

It is way to premature to call an end to the boom in Mantle cards. I can tell you this right now if I won the lottery and money was no object I would spend a fortune on a 1952 Topps PSA 9. I don't play the lottery so that won't be happening.

I just checked the population report and there are 1,070 Mantle's graded and obviously some of those are the same card graded multiple times. There are 12,921 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan's submitted and I am sure a ton at BGS too. The bottom line is the supply of his cards in any grade is so much lower then the modern stars that it would take a drastic decline in interest to see a collapse in his cards.

There are very few of the existing collector base who saw Babe Ruth, Joe Jackson, Ty Cobb and the lists goes on and on. Micky Mantle and baseball cards are synonymous and over time it is my belief that the crop of collectors chasing his cards is not going to decline and his higher graded examples for sure will continue to rise in value. Could his later year cards in grades of NM and below perhaps decline or not keep pace I suppose but I think it is a for gone conclusion that you continue to see much higher prices when his rare cards hit the auction block.

RedHeart54 · February 27, 2012 11:27AM

<< My son is 13 and he has a 1969 Mantle that looks like a dog tried to eat it (and partially succeeded!) and then a few months back bought a '54 Bowman Mantle. He loves baseball history, so he collects, Aaron, Mays, Banks, etc... but he was very excited to get that Mantle... more so than any other card he has. >>

Baseball history and card collecting is safe as long as we still have 13 year-olds whose sense of history goes beyond a two minute-old text.

bobbyw8469 · February 27, 2012 11:31AM

No offense, but something seems wrong with your 1956 Mantle PSA 8. Are the sides of the case frosted??

Darin · February 27, 2012 11:47AM

I'm over 40 but only have one Mantle, a 1964 psa 6 I bought from a board member here several years ago. There are other players I admire more that I'd rather collect, Clemente, Aaron, Kaline to name a few. I don't care at all for the hype of the Mantle cards.
I would much, much rather have a 33 Goudey Ruth and a 33 Goudey Gehring rather than a 52 Mantle of equal value.

CNote · February 27, 2012 11:51AM

I'm 31, and I when I was younger my dad would tell me about the "stacks of Mantles" he had as a kid and tossed them because they box they were in was needed to hide his pot. No joke.

And, I have no interest in collecting Mantle cards.

CNote · February 27, 2012 11:56AM

<< Nolan Ryan is another great example; he was nowhere near the best pitcher of his generation, but from a collecting standpoint he trumps all other pictures . >>

There was a whole lot more to Nolan Ryan that the strikeouts. Have you every actually looked at his numbers beyond the K's?

kingbeeswax · February 27, 2012 11:59AM

I'm 33 and have been collecting Mantle cards since 1986. Saw him in person in '91 and was a great moment for me. I probably collect his cards more than any other person or sets. My dad was also a huge fan of his. There are some great Mantle cards and items out there!

MattyC · February 27, 2012 12:24PM

<< No offense, but something seems wrong with your 1956 Mantle PSA 8. Are the sides of the case frosted??

>>

I'm holding it right now and it's AOK. Even went back thru PSA for a bump review along with the 52T. I have several slabs that have a small bit of frosting right where the "joints" of the holder (I guess you'd call them that) are; this usually manifests as very faint, very small, yet sort of shiny spider web cracks on the back, right under the corner of the upper blue PSA label, where the circular plastic joints are punched together. It's just natural for the plastic to be stressed like that sometimes during the slabbing process. When they bother me I just have them reholdered.

Better scan, though my scanner is still kinda junk.

On the OP's topic, I think Dpeck is right on.

Using the sample of responses on this thread as a predictor of the larger market would be specious logic, at best. Also, hypothetically, how many years from now would the posited scenario take effect? Let's assume collectors in their 50's with money now have Mantles worth say 3K and up. Now let's assume they are ready to part with them in...when, twenty years? Thirty years?

Let's assume for discussion's sake that the majority of high-end Mantle owners pass away in twenty years, and then their progeny decide to sell the Mantles, because said progeny need the money or have no attachment to the cards-- but wait, there is where some real shaky assumptions enter the projection. Who's to say said progeny do not know the value of these cards and thus would never sell below that value? I'd wager the elder collector tried his best to impart a love for the cards into his kids/grandkids-- or at least let them know what they are worth.

Making projections several years out leaves too much margin for error. I'd bet many of the collectors who own nice Mantles have little to zero desire to sell. The only way I'd sell mine is to upgrade. Sure, an individual here and there can go bankrupt and find themselves highly motivated to sell, but the odds of a huge, market-affecting rash of such highly motivated sellers erupting, and then selling for prices that bottom-out the Mantle market-- that's a little tough to envision.

If we're talking about a decade plus from now, man, so much can happen. Markets can crash. Comets can hit. Those who have the money and want high end Mantles will pay for them within the years between now and when the boomers die, because if you have the resources and want Mantle-X for Y-money, you're gonna pull the trigger instead of waiting so, so long for a possible dip in prices. Heck, I could meet any number of tragedies between now and the possible though immensely unlikely Mantle Crash, so I'm gonna enjoy the cards now

Even if such a wild dip occurred, speculators will likely recall the cards' historical value and snap them up, then gradually raising prices again.

For the under 40 crowd, do you collect Mickey Mantle cards?

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