MOST DESIRABLE MANTLE CARD, NOT TOPPS OR BOWMAN

judgebuck · August 19, 2009 9:33AM

I am a Mantle collector and have all Topps and Bowman cards of Mantle except the 1952 Topps card. I am interested in expanding my collection into Mantle cards from other companies. What, in your opinion, are the top three most desirable Mantle cards that are not Topps or Bowman?

WinPitcher · August 19, 2009 9:34AM

Probably the Jello and Post cereal issues.

Steve

Dboneesq · August 19, 2009 9:38AM

I always thought the '54 Red Heart was a GREAT looking card.

bobbyw8469 · August 19, 2009 9:41AM

Yes...I vote for the Red Heart issue......awesome card!

PS - Dont forget about the Dan Dee Potato Chip card!

jimrad · August 19, 2009 9:45AM

<< <i>Yes...I vote for the Red Heart issue......awesome card!

PS - Dont forget about the Dan Dee Potato Chip card! >>

on the Red Heart & Dan Dee Potato Chip!

WinPitcher · August 19, 2009 9:52AM

The red heart could still be had well into the 70's from the company.

Guess it depends on what you think desirable means.

Dan Dee I can see.

What about the Berk Ross Issue? Does the Mick have a 1951 or 52 Berk Ross?

Steve

jimq112 · August 19, 2009 10:08AM

Love the smile on the dan-dee card

Bosox1976 · August 19, 2009 10:27AM

What, you don't like all of the cool new Upper Deck Mantles?

TNP777 · August 19, 2009 10:30AM

<< <i>The red heart could still be had well into the 70's from the company.

Guess it depends on what you think desirable means.

Dan Dee I can see.

What about the Berk Ross Issue? Does the Mick have a 1951 or 52 Berk Ross?

Steve >>

I'm pretty sure he's looking for Mantle cards, not Berk Ross (whoever he is).

WinPitcher · August 19, 2009 10:32AM

lol Geordie I knew I was setting that one up for someone!

Steve

Griffins · August 19, 2009 10:41AM

Stahl-Meyer is a nice one, as is '59 Bazooka.

My vote goes to Red Heart though, with Dan Dee runner up.

WinPitcher · August 19, 2009 10:56AM

Ahhh yes! 59 Bazooka is what I was thinking of, Thanks Anthony.

I was thinking that card, cuz recently someone showed one here and it was said

it was a very scarce card.

Steve

iamthegreatcornholio · August 19, 2009 10:58AM

dan dee

bobbyw8469 · August 19, 2009 11:13AM

I dont know if these count or not, but those Perez Steele artist rendention cards are really sweet!

RedHeart54 · August 19, 2009 11:33AM

I agree with this one.

CDsNuts · August 19, 2009 11:36AM

1992 Nobody Beats The Wiz Yankees of the 60's.

judgebuck · August 19, 2009 11:42AM

judgebuck · August 19, 2009 11:43AM

Stone193 · August 19, 2009 11:44AM

Don't forget and this is not a joke - the Berk Ross card

mike

judgebuck · August 19, 2009 11:46AM

Personally, I like the 1954 Dan Dee and the 1959 Bazooka. Are there any 1959 Bazooka Mantles still on the box in existence? Also, what does the 1959 Bazooka sell for? SMR seems too low to me.

Stone193 · August 19, 2009 11:57AM

Here's a really nice comprehensive checklist of Mantle cards.

mike

RedHeart54 · August 19, 2009 12:01PM

<< <i>Are there any 1959 Bazooka Mantles still on the box in existence? >>

The picture I posted was from a Lelands auction in December 2005. It sold for $2,843.50 with buyer's premium.

judgebuck · August 19, 2009 12:10PM

Stone193 - Thanks for the checklist. I've already made a copy.

RedHeart54 - Thanks for the info on the Bazooka box Mantle.

I would love to have a 1959 Bazooka Mantle. SMR guide seems too low, but those listed on eBay seem too high.

Mickey71 · August 19, 2009 12:38PM

My 54 Red Heart.

Karb · August 19, 2009 12:58PM

Dan Dee or Red Heart. Red Heart being my favorite "oddball issue"

ElToroLoco · August 19, 2009 1:05PM

1992 Score Franchise Triple Auto with Yaz and Musial.

Allen · August 19, 2009 2:48PM

1961 Topps Dice.

judgebuck · August 20, 2009 11:19AM

1961 Topps Dice as most desirable Mantle card that is not a Topps or Bowman? Never heard of this card. I've now looked it up in the SCD 2008 Standard Catalog and see that it lists for $45,000 in NM!!! I understand now why it is so desirable.

Anyone else have an opinion on the top three most desirable Mantle cards that are not Topps or Bowman? Seems like several favor the 1954 Red Heart and the 1954 Dan Dee and the 1959 Bazooka.

PoppaJ · August 20, 2009 2:12PM

Hi Dave,

I personally love all the Bazooka cards ('59-'68), and just about any cards that had to be cut from boxes etc. One can only appreciate how special these cards are now, in high grades, knowing that kids were the primary "cutters" back then. I remember when my friends and I would buy a box of Bazooka Bubble Gum, mainly for the gum of course, and waited until the box was empty before we attempted to cut the cards off the backs.

We didn't care about cutting around the dotted lines or how straight we cut them; we only cared about getting the cards off, period!

One other card, that is noteworthy to me, is the card that was on the back of a 1969 Transogram Mickey Mantle Toy Statue. My wife cut the card off for me only because my right arm was in a cast that year. She did a great job! I sent it in to PSA last year and it was granted a 9!

I've collected nothing but vintage Mantle cards for over 50 years now! There are so many other interesting Mantle cards out there like the '64 and '65 Challenge the Yankees cards, the 1959 Home Run Derby, the 1947-66 Exhibits, the 1959-62 Holiday Inns, the '68 Atlantic Oils, the '54 American Journal, and countless others.

Good luck with your collection!
PoppaJ

schr1st · August 20, 2009 8:38PM

I'd go with the Red Heart Mantle. The 52 Berk Ross is nice because it's early, but since it's basically just his 51 Bowman card with a lack of focus, I'd pass on it being his "most desirable". After that, I'd have to say the 53 Stahl-Meyer.

Has anyone ever seen a 1952 Star Cal Mantle ? I did an image search on google, but couldn't find one for Mantle.

judgebuck · August 21, 2009 11:21AM

Thanks for all your opinions on the most desirable Mantle cards as I begin to add those cards (that are not Topps and Bowman) to my collection. By desirable, I meant both due to their appearance as well as their monetary value. Here is my top ten:

1. 1959 Bazooka

2. 1953, 1954, or 1955 Stahl Meyer (I've only seen two or three in auctions)

3. 1954 Dan Dee

4. 1960 Post Cereal (I've only seen one on eBay)

5. 1954 Red Heart

6. 1959 Home Run Derby (I've only seen one - 707))

7. 1952 Berk Ross

8. 1968 Bazooka (I've only seen one on eBay)

9. 1964 Topps Standup

10. 1961 Topps Dice (big money) (I've never seen one)

Some were included for their great appearance and others for their value and some for both.

Any thoughts or comments??

RedHeart54 · August 21, 2009 2:11PM

I definitely think the 1967 Topps Stand Up test deserves a mention.

Here's the '61 Dice. I knew about it but had also never seen it until I found this pic.

PoppaJ · August 21, 2009 2:24PM

<< <i>Thanks for all your opinions on the most desirable Mantle cards as I begin to add those cards (that are not Topps and Bowman) to my collection. By desirable, I meant both due to their appearance as well as their monetary value. Here is my top ten:

1. 1959 Bazooka

2. 1953, 1954, or 1955 Stahl Meyer (I've only seen two or three in auctions)

3. 1954 Dan Dee

4. 1960 Post Cereal (I've only seen one on eBay)

5. 1954 Red Heart

6. 1959 Home Run Derby (I've only seen one - 707))

7. 1952 Berk Ross

8. 1968 Bazooka (I've only seen one on eBay)

9. 1964 Topps Standup

10. 1961 Topps Dice (big money) (I've never seen one)

Some were included for their great appearance and others for their value and some for both.

Any thoughts or comments?? >>

////////////////////////////////

I've never actually seen a 1960 Post Mantle, but I remember that the 1960 set only included 5 baseball players: Don Drysdale, Al Kaline, Harmon Killebrew, Ed Mathews and Mickey Mantle. The rest of the set included basketball's Bob Cousy and Bob Petit and football's Frank Gifford and John Unitas to name a few.

PoppaJ

fkw · August 21, 2009 2:26PM

Go for the tough ones... The truly RARE Mantles! w/ under 20 examples known of ea.

ie.

1952 Tip Top Labels
1953 Stahl-Meyers
1953 Briggs
1954 Stahl-Meyers
1955 Stahl-Meyers

all these are 100's of times rarer than some extremely overrated 2nd year double printed 1952 Topps card.

PS. On the 1959 Bazooka, be wary of fakes, there are many floating around.
& Red Hearts should be called 1954-1970s Red Heart as the cards could be obtained from the Co. for over 15 years if you wrote them asking for them.... so are very very common especially in higher grade... DanDee's are better, but still common.

Topps test Issues are too tough, but if thats what you want then they are great too.

NickM · August 21, 2009 2:57PM

Don't forget the Topps Venezuelans and O-Pee-Chees.

Nick

dtkk49a · August 23, 2009 4:20AM

I always pick this one up when I see it. Its not expensive. Nice foil card with a action shot of Mantle.

Here's one for sale (not mine) Link

fmclaug11 · August 23, 2009 7:21AM

I wasn't aware of fake 59' Bazooka Mantles...How do you spot one? I recently picked one up and have posted pictures of it previously. Any chance it's not real?

MOST DESIRABLE MANTLE CARD, NOT TOPPS OR BOWMAN

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