Mickey Mantle collecting and investing questions

mrearlygold

Does anyone collect Mantles by putting "sets" together? What would a set entail and cost in a grade that's comparable to fine, choice au, gem unc? Have these cards seen any lengthy run ups or in need of a correction? Where are they're prices in relation to the past few months over the past decade ?

I'm looking for a Mantle bat day bat. I received one at Yankee stadium as a kid although I wouldn't swear on a stack of bibles exactly what year that happened but if I had to guess it was 1965 or thereabouts. I'm told they only gave bats out in 2 years then? Does anyone have more information on that and are there any favorite dealers for the bats and cards? I missed one on ebay, very nice condition sold for $160 bucks I think. That was a few months ago. I would have been happy to pay more than that but I was out when the bidding ended. Haven't seen another one. How tough are they?

What reading material similar to coin world exists?

Thank you

CrazyMind2017

I'm not sure how coin grades relate to card grades, but cards are graded on a scale of 1-10. PSA uses half point grades from 1.5 to 8.5, but there is no 9.5. Other companies have a 9.5 grade that they consider "gem mint," although they also have a grade 10 that's gem mint.

Depending on the card, the market value of a 10 can be 10x or more greater than the value of a 9, while the 9 is worth only 3-5 times the value of an 8. I can't speak to Mantle cards directly, but 1970s Topps cards of Hall of Famers like Eddie Murray and Nolan Ryan routinely sell in the thousands for PSA Gem Mint 10 copies. Going down a grade or two makes them much more affordable. A nice PSA 9 is often more bang for the buck than a 10 that might not even be perfect.

Someone else will have to provide more specific details on graded Mantle cards.

Sean1125

I believe beckett labels "10's" as "Pristine", I'm not sure about SGC.

PSA Gem mint is a 10, beckett gem mint is 9.5

JoeBanzai

In general Mantle is the most popular and expensive player collected in the post WWII period. A complete run of his cards in mint condition would be astronomically expensive, and possibly the "best" set a collector could acquire for investment purposes.

As far as bat day bats, I can't speak of the Mantle, but I had a Killebrew bat that I got as a youngster, that was broken and thrown away. I have acquired another from an eBay auction that I think is the same. I believe it had a number 77 stamped onto the label. I have only seen one on eBay for Killebrew in the last 15 years.

There are many books on collecting that you can find, the "Standard Catalog" has tons of information on values.

Joe

Ironmanfan

Here is some useful information on Yankees Bat Days (appears as if they gave thm out for more than 10 years):

Yankee Bat Days

mrearlygold

Oh gee while looking around I just had to buy a 55 Mantle and now thinking of doing a 55 set assuming that is something do able and then a corresponding 65 set. I saw some cards that had the whole team on them, are they from the era? Maybe my brain is too rusty on this as I don't remember them for some reason. Did they make those cards for only a few years ? I there an equivilent "red book" for these cards?

Thanks, this can be much fun I can see that

P.S. Are there "pop reports" like coins available?

CrazyMind2017

Here's your pop report.

I also like this checklist.