This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/10/2010
If you've always wanted a 1953 Topps Mickey Mantle but don't have thousands of dollars to shell out on a high-grade specimen, consider this one, graded SGC 70 EX+ 5.5 but with the eye appeal of far more costly examples. The sharp EX/MT to EX/MT+ corners, minimal chipping on the red border, and brilliant registration on the spot-free surface are more characteristic of specimens grading at least one full point higher. The heavy centering shift toward the top is the determinant in dropping the final assessment to 5.5 by SGC. However, since the border blends in with the cloud-laden backdrop, the centering flaw is not abundantly obvious to the casual observer, and the extra red print on the bottom edge provides more color and stronger eye appeal. If you're a budget-conscious Mantle collector, there's great value here!