All I Gots To Say This Morning Is... HE HAS ARRIVED.

mattyc_collection · March 28, 2014 12:03AM

bobbyw8469 · March 28, 2014 12:05AM

You won that from Bill Goodwin last night?

mattyc_collection · March 28, 2014 12:09AM

Most definitely.

BPorter26 · March 28, 2014 12:28AM

Absolutely beautiful card it looks better the grade that was given. Congrats on the pickup!!

DanBessette · March 28, 2014 12:29AM

That's a good looking 4.5

vladguerrero · March 28, 2014 12:35AM

haha congrats!

JoeBanzai · March 28, 2014 12:37AM

cardcountry · March 28, 2014 12:37AM

Congrats buddy. I'm really happy for you!

Jeff

ClockworkAngel · March 28, 2014 12:46AM

Wow.....42K for a 4.5. I think everyone owning a 52T Mantle gave this auction a collective round of applause.

Congratulations! I know many that wanted this card and it doesn't get any better centering. Great eye appeal! Just a beautiful card....

DanBessette · March 28, 2014 12:47AM

I'm sorry, how much??

mattyc_collection · March 28, 2014 12:54AM

Todd,

36.4k, don't give me a heart attack!

Seriously guys, THANKS A TON. My collecting dream has always been to own a perfectly centered #311 and Ruth RC. I honestly feel like I can chill now, and get hammered for breakfast.

I could not believe this card when I first laid eyes on it. Ironically I owe the same buddy who found me the Ruth for spotting this one.

After scouring VCP, both TPG Registries, HA.com, even Google, I could only find one 6, one 7, one 8, one 8.5, then the 9s and 10s that had equal centering and thus eye appeal. It's just amazing how many of the extant 1952 Mantles have poor centering. And I just could never pony up for say an 8 that had bad centering. To me, what makes a 52 Mantle unique from its brethren is decent centering.

I then asked myself, "What will any of those other centered specimens go for if they ever hit the market, especially after this 4.5 hammers?"

The obvious answer to that question was, "More than I could afford."

So that meant if I ever wanted to own a dream centered version of the icon, I had to win this freakish 4.5, or forever hold my peace.

DanBessette · March 28, 2014 1:00AM

Oh, only $36,400? Nevermind, that's pocket change.

ClockworkAngel · March 28, 2014 1:01AM

<< Todd,

36.4k, don't give me a heart attack!

Seriously guys, THANKS A TON. My collecting dream has always been to own a perfectly centered #311 and Ruth RC. I honestly feel like I can chill now, and get hammered for breakfast.

I could not believe this card when I first laid eyes on it. Ironically I owe the same buddy who found me the Ruth for spotting this one.

After scouring VCP, both TPG Registries, HA.com, even Google, I could only find one 6, one 7, one 8, one 8.5, then the 9s and 10s that had equal centering and thus eye appeal. It's just amazing how many of the extant 1952 Mantles have poor centering. And I just could never pony up for say an 8 that had bad centering. To me, what makes a 52 Mantle unique from its brethren is decent centering.

I then asked myself, "What will any of those other centered specimens go for if they ever hit the market, especially after this 4.5 hammers?"

The obvious answer to that question was, "More than I could afford."

So that meant if I ever wanted to own a dream centered version of the icon, I had to win this freakish 4.5, or forever hold my peace. >>

Yup my bad...I read it as without BP, but the 36K includes it. Regardless of 36 or 42K, it's a great card

hockeycrazy · March 28, 2014 1:01AM

Congratulations! That's a beauty!

hyperchipper09 · March 28, 2014 1:04AM

<< Congratulations! That's a beauty! >>

Agreed. Top of the line 4.5

esquiresports · March 28, 2014 1:05AM

It's a gorgeous card. Congratulations. That bid held for more than a week, right? The only thing that gave me pause when I first saw it was possible scan manipulation. Can the card, particularly the corners, be so bright white, etc.? Regardless, it is pretty amazing and, like you said, one of the few centered ones out there.

mattyc_collection · March 28, 2014 1:06AM

Card Country/Jeff can vouch-- he saw it in person. Yup-- me and a couple other guys went at it like mad in the opening 45 seconds. Literally. It was all inside the opening minute. Made for a nerve-wracking three weeks!

cardcountry · March 28, 2014 1:07AM

I saw it in person at the sun times show. It actually looked nicer in person than it does on the scan IMO. My buddy craig thought so too.

Jeff

perkdog · March 28, 2014 1:12AM

Congratulations!

grote15 · March 28, 2014 1:12AM

<< Oh, only $36,400? Nevermind, that's pocket change. >>

Or the cost of a 1978 Topps baseball wax box in about 5 years..

Sweet card, Matty!

mrmint23 · March 28, 2014 1:17AM

Congrats...did not realize you were back.

mattyc_collection · March 28, 2014 1:19AM

I occasionally commandeer my cousin's macbook when we are hanging out. He's a math professor and not much for long posts, as I am prone to, so it's easy to tell when I'm at the helm

ThoseBackPages · March 28, 2014 1:29AM

What becomes of the PSA 3?

mattyc_collection · March 28, 2014 1:32AM

It's gotta get sold now. Thought of keeping both versions but wanna have some variety in the collection. Giving one collector friend I know first crack at it for his Mick collection.

Dnice · March 28, 2014 2:42AM

That sure is a beauty. Crazy to own that card in any condition I feel.

esquiresports · March 28, 2014 5:21AM

It really is stunning. Between that and the Ruth RC, it doesn't get much better - literally. And that Ruth - such a stunner and undervalued card (to me) right now. Probably not for long. What's next on the to-do list? Cracker Jack, maybe?

cpamike · March 28, 2014 5:27AM

Congrats Matty!! I know how you feel about that card so it is awesome that you were able to upgrade to such a nicely centered example.

bobbyw8469 · March 28, 2014 5:28AM

I'm dumbfounded that card is only a 4.5. I doubt seriously you are gonna crack it out, but you've got to tell us exactly what you think made it a 4.5 when you get it in hand. To my amateur eyes, it looks like an easy '6' all day long!

BLUEJAYWAY · March 28, 2014 5:36AM

Always nice to see a "homer" on the forum make such a score to bolster their collection.

MisterBungle · March 28, 2014 5:40AM

Wow!! Such an iconic card, and with great eye appeal.

Congratulations!!

~

Dboneesq · March 28, 2014 6:08AM

Matt M?????

Wow, that is a GORGEOUS card! Congrats and enjoy. Presents AMAZINGLY well for the grade.

neildown · March 28, 2014 6:41AM

Oh hell yeah.

vladguerrero · March 28, 2014 6:42AM

Im with Bobby... I dont even see it as a 5... maybe a 5.5 I suppose.

TNP777 · March 28, 2014 6:52AM

<< Im with Bobby... I dont even see it as a 5... maybe a 5.5 I suppose. >>

As a hobby light flyweight, I don't know how to go about getting a bump on such a card. Can't you send it in for review while still in the slab, and if it won't bump they send it back as is?

itzagoner · March 28, 2014 6:55AM

that could be the ultimo feast-r-famine.

imagine: a bumped up Mickey to make your collecting achievement list explode.........or a Post-It note with an arrow on it.

mattyc_collection · March 28, 2014 7:22AM

Thx for feeling it; according to Bill, there's a very short micro-wrinkle not readily visible to the naked eye along the upper left border which accounts for the rather harsh grade. It was raw and graded by the owner-family just prior to being consigned. I've been advised to seek a review forthwith, but cool either way; this card will be with me until I'm a very, very old man; can't ever see paying for a higher graded one-- which would essentially mean just paying for corners. Definitely content to let the cardboard speak for itself in this case, versus higher numerical grades with poor centering. 'Card not holder,' as the sage mantra goes. Next time me and Clockwork are grabbing some eats down by Newport might roll the review dice for fun, as it technically still should merit 5 to 6 and looks like it got the infamous Grader O' Death, but it's all good.

vettfanatic · March 28, 2014 7:27AM

I saw this card in person this weekend also and have to say it looked better in person then in the scan. I can't believe it is only a PSA 4.5 Congrats on the pickup.

Jeff

mattyc_collection · March 30, 2014 1:37AM

<< What becomes of the PSA 3?

>>

Thosebackpages,

My beloved and longtime centerpiece 3 officially sold yesterday, to a very passionate longtime Mantle collector. Really wanted to find a way to hold onto it, but would then have had to part with too many other favorites. Was a tough call for sure, brother.

Cubby · March 30, 2014 1:42AM

OMG..what a beautiful card!

akuracy503 · April 1, 2014 12:27PM

The Cadillac of 1950's baseball cards, congratulations!

yankeesman · April 2, 2014 2:39AM

....Wow. That is a stunning example of arguably the most iconic card in the hobby. Definitely a potential bump there for sure as I don't think it would look out of place at all in a 6 holder. Stunning pickup.

I like your screen name too. My email address is donybasblhof23@aol.com.

The Charlie Murphy is hilarious too! Nice touch.

Congratulations on a once in a lifetime pickup. Enjoy!

stown · April 2, 2014 5:39AM

: standing ovation :

mattyc_collection · April 3, 2014 3:22AM

Here is a proper scan just taken by me. The centering and color in hand are simply staggering. The scan atop this thread may have also been updated because of how the scans link to collector focus.

God bless egregiously under-graded cards

I feel compelled on a cellular level to add a new GIF below, to express my feelings in this moment.

All I Gots To Say This Morning Is... HE HAS ARRIVED.

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