This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/11/2020
During his brief call-up in 1951, Mickey Mantle struggled to live up to the almost unrealistic expectations bestowed upon a player who would be handed jersey #6 as the "next in line" for Yankee greatness, and was sent back to the minors. But during that time, he performed well enough to elicit accolades from teammates who witnessed his seemingly unlimited potential. Playing in his final season in 1951, Joe DiMaggio called his successor in center field "the greatest prospect I can remember," while manager Casey Stengel remarked, "He's got more natural power from both sides than anybody I ever saw." "The Ole Perfessor" and "The Yankee Clipper" were proven correct over time, and Mantle's exceptional skill and leadership made him one of the most beloved athletes in all of American sports history. Presented is a pristine example of Mickey Mantle's 1953 Topps card, an issue that many collectors feel is the most attractive of all Mickey Mantle cards. Sure the high-numbered card from Topps' inaugural issue is an icon within the hobby, but this second-year Topps card does not lag far behind, exchanging his "golden bat on shoulder" pose for a more detailed image of the up and coming Oklahoma native. The pleasing red nameplate and deep blue pigment of the Yankees cap play well against the white jersey while the even brighter white borders help to spotlight the almost perfect centering, a trait that wasn't given a high priority in the quality control department when Topps first started producing baseball cards. Each corner and edge upholds the high standards of the NM/MT grade, and you just know that a high-profile card such as this likely had to bear a little extra scrutiny before receiving its lofty assessment. With clean surfaces and a hearty layer of protective gloss, it's about as close to "pack-fresh" as you can expect of a card nearly 70 years old. Noticeably sharper and cleaner than most other examples in the grade, this gem comes very strongly recommended.