This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/16/2015
There's not a single post-war baseball card that sparks the imagination more than an example of a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle. It could have creases throughout, huge swatches of missing paper and even devil horns drawn on Mantle's head with marker and it would still be the absolute pride of most people's collections. Just like Mantle's connection to the game itself, the 1952 Topps card that bears his likeness transcends the conventional wisdom of the sports card community. But with the recent explosion of prices for high-profile issues of Hall of Famers, even a beaten down Mantle at minimal grade has become an enormous investment. You'd think that by the sheer number of examples offered in this incredible auction that '52 Mantles grow on trees, but that's really more due to the incredible participation of our amazing consignors. The featured item is a PSA 5 example of Mickey Mantle's most coveted pasteboard and it possesses many superior qualities that make it a strong example for the grade. Of course, any card in the middle of the grading scale won't be without fault and the obvious centering bias toward the right side and grade-appropriate touches to the endpoints are key elements that factor into PSA's accurate grade. But let's face it, the real attraction that makes this card so elite is the image of Mantle and the blue field that supports it. And the central image of this illustrious pasteboard compares favorably to specimens that grade a level or two higher, which likely would cost tens of thousands of dollars more. The presentation of Mantle is spot-on, offering pinpoint registration with no evidence of stray markings or print dots. His bright yellow bat glows as it gently meets the luscious azure backdrop to the left of Mantle's head, fully saturating the canvas without any unevenness in tone. The reverse is slightly better centered than the front and reveals no intrusive print larger than a pinpoint. At this grade level, should you be fortunate enough that you're in a position to obtain one, there's always going to be a trade-off of the outstanding qualities with the shortcomings. All things considered, we believe this to be a very admirable representative for the grade and a smart acquisition for any collector in the market to add one to their collection.