This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/7/2018
Though it doesn't carry the unprecedented swagger of his Topps debut in the inaugural '52 series, the 1951 Bowman card of Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle is instantly recognized by any advanced baseball card enthusiast as the premier rookie card of the post-war era. Yankees fans had every reason to believe that Mantle would be next in line as the anchor to carry on the New York dynasty, following Ruth, Gehrig and DiMaggio in succession as early as his first full season in the minors. Playing for the class C Joplin Minors, Mantle led the championship team with 26 homers and a .383 batting average despite joining future major league Lou Skizas as the only 18-year olds on the squad. A horizontal stunner that offers a clean look at the teen from Commerce, Oklahoma during spring training (you can actually see a hint of the jersey #6 on his back, which he wore that year before switching to #7 following his demotion to and recall from the minors), the featured card is graded SGC 60 EX 5 with centering that is clearly shifted to the horizontal southeast though the corners display as superior to the grade. The color as well as the registration are outstanding, with a clean, bright surface that contributes to making this a thoroughly pleasing icon of the hobby. The reverse is problem-free and devoid of the common toning exhibited on so many other examples. If you're building a mid-grade set or always wanted to treat yourself to a strong, mid-grade Mantle RC, here it is.