1952 Topps Eddie Mathews, which one do you like better?

PSASAP · May 25, 2015 5:07AM

If you were to choose between the higher grade card or the better centered card, which card would you choose? I'll add the additional info that the 3.5 has a small paper wrinkle, and that the cost difference between the two was around $400. Can you guess which one was the more expensive of the two?

TNP777 · May 25, 2015 5:13AM

I like the 45 better. Nicer coloring and centering and better registration under the stars at the bottom.

Counselor · May 25, 2015 5:25AM

45

begsu1013 · May 25, 2015 5:40AM

<< <i>45 >>

+1

bounce · May 25, 2015 5:51AM

i like the 50 but it's close. Initial look I went with the 45, but then when I look at corners that top right turned me off.

It's close though - either one would be great cards

Stingray · May 25, 2015 5:55AM

<< <i>

<< <i>45 >>

+1 >>

+2

vintagefun · May 25, 2015 6:07AM

Huge fan of your 3.5

begsu1013 · May 25, 2015 6:22AM

...but by looking at your post in the may pick ups thread, is that a crease on the top right of the 45? may just be that scan as it doesn't seem in the scan above, but if it is, I might switch to the 50. if not, i'd stay w/ the 45 but may get it re-cased as the scratches (right temple, left nostril, one that may look like a crease) deter a little bit of the overall eye appeal...which this one has!

Brandon554 · May 25, 2015 6:22AM

Braves logo and centering, easy win

Dboneesq · May 25, 2015 6:34AM

I'd take the 3.5. I think that with that centering, it presents much better than the other card. In addition, that "smudge" on the logo on the higher graded card would bother the heck out of me.

PSASAP · May 25, 2015 6:35AM

Just want to add that there's nothing wrong with the Braves logo on the 50, somehow the iPhone camera picked up a scratch on the case and made it appear to be a flaw on the card. Thanks for your opinions!

DanBessette · May 25, 2015 7:15AM

The 50 because it has much better corners.

mattyc_collection · May 25, 2015 7:20AM

I would pay more for the lower graded card, the 45. Both the registration (under the stars) and the centering make it the one I'd want to look at in my collection. I would love to own that card.

ThoseBackPages · May 25, 2015 7:29AM

45 all day

cincyredlegs · May 25, 2015 7:30AM

<< <i>45 all day >>

Agree!!!!

GDM67 · May 25, 2015 8:39AM

Beautiful cards. The corners are a bit better on the 50, the centering on the 45. Those pretty much offset each other. Can't go wrong either way. That card is going to keep me from ever completing my Mathews Basic Set.

PSASAP · May 25, 2015 8:57AM

One other thing I wanted to add: the pop report lists 588 cards graded of the Mathews rookie, compared to 1246 Mantle rookies. I doubt there are many Mathews rookies that haven't been graded, so I feel safe to assume that there are twice as many Mantles that exist today compared to Mathews. While the overwhelming majority of collectors would prefer to own the Mantle card, it seems, to me, that the Mathews is a decent deal selling for about 10% of what the Mantle currently sells for.

ThoseBackPages · May 25, 2015 9:08AM

The Mantle is also DP'd, while the Mathews is the last card in the set, leading to a bunch of other condition issues all those years ago

kingnascar · May 25, 2015 1:07PM

45 for sure

PSASAP · May 29, 2015 8:54AM

Here's a really well centered one on eBay, too bad it's got a crease running right through the middle of the card. Still, not a bad price for a card with nice eye appeal:

link to eBay