Imagine baseball cards without Mantle

KendallCat

My son and I were walking to school today and he asked me which year would have the most HOF players, so the conversation turned into what would be the best year to collect. Got to thinking about baseball cards, and pretty much any year before 1952 without Cracker Jack or Goudey or after (post 1969) would be a downer. Got to thinking just how much of an impact he had on the baseball card market overall, and if you take him out of a lot of sets it gets interesting. 1954 and 55 were saved because of Ted Williams, Banks, Aaron, Clemente, and Koufax rookies.

If you take away 52 and 53 Topps what would be the 2-3 most desired Mantle cards for collectors and why?

vintagefun

56 would become a no-brainer. It would be his first Topps card and his triple crown year.

Next for me would be 57, love the pic/pose.

I'm torn on #3. Probably the 63, followed closely by the 60, those more a factor of card design.

Interested to see how others feel.

Edit to add: assuming you're talking Topps. Otherwise the answer is Bowman.

LarkinCollector

Personally, it's the 1960 #350. Love the design and it happens to be the last card I need to complete that set.

garnettstyle

His rookie card. 51 Bowman. Also like 54 red heart and 53 Bowman.

DanBessette

I don't understand why Mantle is the holy grail. I understand he was great, one of the greatest ever. But so were Ted Williams, Aaron, Mays and Clemente, among others. Why are Mantle cards more valuable/sought after? Is it the Yankees connection?

lightningboy

Is it the Yankees connection? Of course, that was a big piece, mainly because the team he played on was so dominant. Not to mention the big market of New York.

ashabby

Good question with no clear answer. That is the human part of collecting. Just like art, music and many other things. One person can love and the next person has no interest.

DanBessette

I don't have "no interest." I just don't find the Mick to be peerless.

Nathaniel1960

<< <i>Personally, it's the 1960 #350. Love the design and it happens to be the last card I need to complete that set. >>



I second 1960 #350. Like the back cartoon too.

KendallCat

Interesting comments and I agree with the 56 and also like 57 and 60. I think what makes Mantle appealing are several things - power, speed, looks, played in NY, won World Series titles, and appealed to both big city as well as small towns being from Oklahoma.

JoeBanzai

First of all, the guy had a great smile.

Most importantly to me, was his total dominance in offensive production from 1954 to 1964, he could have won the MVP in about 8 of those seasons and should have won AT LEAST two more in 1960 and 1961 (sorry Roger Micky was better BOTH years). Look at his OPS/OPS+ numbers absolutely amazing!

Add to the fact that he was both the fastest runner and the most powerful hitter while being banged up a lot adds to his popularity.

His off-field behavior was covered up so no one knew about his drinking and womanizing.

Being on the winning team in the World Series 7 times out of 12 appearances helps too!

Terrible husband and father but what a ballplayer.

bishop

Some other tough Topps Mantles

itzagoner

he melts in your mouth. not in your hands.

personally, the '61 Topps pose strikes me as vintage Mick. like he's about to conquer Planet Earth with a fat wooden stick. bad ass, he was.

mattyc_collection

I think the 51B rookie is actually more sought after and has far more status than the 53T.

When it comes to why the Mick holds the place he does in the hobby, it's a confluence of many factors. The stage on which he played was the grandest-- and he had many heroic moments on that stage. His name and his looks-- coming at a time after the war when a generation needed and wanted an All-American hero, a celebrity in a way. And he fit that bill tremendously. Some men just have that magic that vaults them to an exalted place, even though peers are worthy-- look at the Mick Jaggers, the Joe Montanas, the Brad Pitts of the world. They have had many worthy peers but these men, these names, just become "the" guy to more people. They simply have that "je ne sais quoi." When it comes to Mantle, his 52T card also became the standard-bearer for the hobby for those reasons and more, and this stuck. If he was black and played in a small town I doubt he'd be the icon he is, but that's moot and as the saying goes, "If the queen had...she'd be the king." Lastly, one cannot forgot how the hero and icon was so empathetically humanized when his body deteriorated at the end of his life due to his hard-drinking lifestyle; his public urges for kids not to be like him further endeared him to so many, and in a new way. When an icon shows that kind of heart, humility, and vulnerability, it can enhance the passion his fans have for him.

miwlvrn

<< <i>My son and I were walking to school today and he asked me which year would have the most HOF players, so the conversation turned into what would be the best year to collect. Got to thinking about baseball cards, and pretty much any year before 1952 without Cracker Jack or Goudey or after (post 1969) would be a downer. Got to thinking just how much of an impact he had on the baseball card market overall, and if you take him out of a lot of sets it gets interesting. 1954 and 55 were saved because of Ted Williams, Banks, Aaron, Clemente, and Koufax rookies.

If you take away 52 and 53 Topps what would be the 2-3 most desired Mantle cards for collectors and why? >>



Whoa there, not so fast... Where's the love for the Kaline RC?

gemint

I wish there were more action cards of Mantle than the '56. The '62 HR action card is pretty cool so I'd nominate that one.

Regarding iconic status, I think Clemente is making a move. His RC has sold for close to $20k in PSA 8 condition. One of the first great latin ballplayers and a great humanitarian. The only thing missing is he didn't play for a big market team. However, neither did Honus Wagner, so that isn't necessarily a show stopper.