Mickey Mantle Rookie Card Value
We may get compensated by the businesses featured in this post, and we encourage you to do the same. We’re going to go into the card’s worth in this post.
Mickey Mantle Rookie Card Value
Mickey Mantle’s rookie card is one of the most often asked things I see in the card collecting community. Unfortunately, a straightforward response isn’t possible here, but we’ll do our best to provide you with the information you need.
The short answer is: it’s complicated. There are various elements to consider before you can estimate the worth of a Mickey Mantle rookie card, such as:
- The card’s condition will be discussed in further depth later on.
- The total number of cards that may be purchased
- The number of bids
- To put it simply, the overall look and feel of the card.
A Mickey Mantle rookie card, in any condition, should fetch at the very least several thousand dollars. But, of course, some cards may cost millions of dollars if they’re well-kept and in excellent condition! In any case, if you have one, you’re having a good time.
Another thing to remember is that it’s not simple to pick a price and go on. As you can see, the price of a card will continually change. As with newer cards, older ones might also have variable pricing. Finally, you have to consider the quality of your card, whether an expert has graded it, and how many potential buyers you have.
When it comes to collecting Mickey Mantle rookie cards, there are two primary options:
- 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle (his genuine rookie card) – $2000 – $1 million or more.
- 1952 Topps #311 Mantle, Mickey – $2,500 – almost $2 million
With older cars, you’ll see that the pricing ranges are extensive. This section will explore why some cards are so popular and how to estimate their current market value.
1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle Value
The 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle rookie card is widely regarded as Mickey’s actual rookie card. Many people are familiar with, and hence willing to pay more for, a 1952 Topps card than with any other.
You might expect to receive anything from $2000 to $1 million for the 1951 card. Even if the card is in bad shape, it will still sell for a high price. In reality, you’ll nearly never be able to locate one on the market.
A PSA 3 card with an asking price of $39.975 is currently listed on eBay. This means that even if you manage to locate a card in good condition, you may expect to make a tidy sum. Unfortunately, it’s the 253rd card in the 1951 collection; therefore, it’s even more challenging to come by than the previous cards. This serves to raise the price.
Regarding the Cards
The 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle rookie card is unquestionably one of the most revered cards in baseball history. Because the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card is so well-known and well-liked, it is often compared to this one.
The face of the card depicts a large portrait of Mickey Mantle holding his bat, with white square frames around the shot. The reverse of the card was printed vertically and had a brief description of the athlete.
Here’s the back of the card:
The back of the card’s explanation is fascinating. It tells the storey of a young Mickey Mantle, who at the time was still considered a potential talent.
What Makes It So Important?
- He got this card while he was still a minor leaguer with the New York Yankees in his debut season when he wasn’t even a professional yet.
- He’s still got the number 6 embroidered on the back of his tee-shirt (which he shortly changed to 7)
- Because of the rarity of finding it in fine shape (most have centring issues, print lines, wax stains, etc.)
- As a result, collectors will retain the vast majority of these cards for their use, while only a small number will be exchanged.
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle
Collecting cards is all about finding the elusive one-of-a-kind card. Although it isn’t his official rookie card, it is the most valuable in this player’s collection. Why is this the case? In addition to being the first Topps card to feature Mantle, this is regarded as an iconic card because of its significance. However, it’s also because of the card’s futuristic-looking design that it’s the winner.
Because of this, the card’s worth is enormous. There is no way around that it will cost at least $5,000 even if it’s in bad shape. On the other hand, this card may attract a price of $1 million to $2 million or more at the bare minimum in delicate or immaculate condition.
The most expensive MT 9-rated card sold for $2.880.000 in 2018! Priced at $26.599, the card is seen here is graded PR 1. Although the card has obvious centring and surface imperfections, it still costs much. Even at the top end, it isn’t easy to discern all small elements influencing the price. ‘
The VG-EX 4 appears as follows:
Take a look at the card’s surface and notice the change. Even if the centring is still horrendously incorrect, this card seems to improve over the PSA 1 graded counterpart vastly.
You can see what a PSA 10 (the one that sold for about $2.900.000 and is expected to fetch even higher prices when relisted) looks like here:
Here are the expected prices for the 1952 Mickey Mantle card. Even for a poorly-kept card, it’s almost hard to find a reasonable price, but if one becomes available, you can anticipate a flurry of demand.
Regarding the Cards
The 1952 Topps collection, which included this card, was the company’s first significant release. Even though the inaugural Topps baseball collection had just 52 cards, this set featured 407 cards in total. In 1952, they shifted their approach to design as well. The front of the card showed a picture of the player, while the reverse had biographical data and statistics.
Even though this isn’t Mantle’s rookie card, it’s more popular than the 1951 version. In the realm of card collecting, that’s rather unusual. However, if you take a closer look at the card itself, you’ll see why. One of the most recognisable cars of all time, because of its unique design and famous picture, is the Playboy.
Card collectors nowadays often compare it to the 1951 Bowman card, which is frequently chosen as the best option. To begin with, this card’s design is much more refined than the one from 1951. With additional graphical features, Topps’ new appearance has been highly successful.
It’s a lot like the 1951 card in terms of the reverse of the card. There’s some background on the player, some numbers from his first season, and a few more details included. In this context, Mantle is “Joe DiMaggio’s successor”. It’s always fascinating to read about athletes who achieved legendary status.
Why is it so Important?
- A piece from Topps’ first large-scale release in 1952 featured the company’s now-iconic new design.
- Even though it isn’t his official rookie card, this is from Mantle’s first season as a professional baseball player.
- One of Topps’ most recognisable designs, the revamped style set the tone for subsequent card collections.
- If the card is maintained in good condition, the picture of Mantle is quite clear.
- It’s an uncommon occurrence.
How can you tell whether a Mickey Mantle Rookie Card is in good condition?
One of the essential aspects of deciding a card’s price and worth is its condition. Professional grading services are available; however, you may also rapidly appraise the card’s value by yourself.
This is what you’ll want to keep an eye on:
- With older cards, centring may be a significant problem. As a result, card collectors need to know whether the card is perfectly centred on all sides. In addition, borders shouldn’t differ in thickness between the two sides. To grade cards, both BGS and PSA regard this as one of the most critical factors.
- It’s essential to consider the card’s corners. You’re unlikely to come across many with sharp edges in terms of vintage cards. The greater the card’s rating, the stronger the edges must be.
- The surface is a criterion for evaluating how appealing the card’s character is. Is the surface damaged in any way, shape, or form? You’re looking for a clean, smooth surface and probably the most vibrant colours you can get. Unfortunately, old cards, like the Mantle cards, are almost challenging to have a flawless surface unless they are well maintained and concealed.
- Clean edges, free of cuts, are what you’re after. Of course, it’s a significant factor for graders as well, but they don’t apply it as sternly as some others, particularly for older cards.
- When it comes to these older cards, nuances may make or break a whole collection. Things like markings on cards or even tiny dots produced throughout the years are the kind of thing we’re talking about.
FAQ
Mickey Mantle Rookie Cards: How many are there?
There is no doubt that the Mickey Mantle rookie card from 1951 Bowman is the real deal. Around 1500 of these cards have been graded by PSA, whereas only about 1200 1952 Topps cards have been graded. Because of this, they are getting a card in excellent condition will be very difficult. This may need a significant outlay of funds.
Others contend that his rookie card is from 1952 Topps. It’s because Mantle appeared on this card first in the Topps series. However, even though the 1952 Bowman card is more popular and valuable, the 1951 Bowman card will always be remembered as his actual rookie card.
Are there any Mickey Mantle cards worth collecting?
There is a lot of value in all of Mantle’s cards from 1951 until at least 1960. The most valued Mickey Mantle cards are those from 1951 and 1952. Mickey Mantle’s cards, in general, are valuable, mainly if you can find one in good condition. You can only boost the card’s worth if you get it graded and certified by an expert.
Mickey Mantle cards are so pricey for what reason?
Rareness is the primary factor for their high price. The 1952 card is scarce since it was the first Topps set to contain Mantle’s card, there were only a few produced, and the design was spectacular and futuristic.
There were several issues with the printing, and many of these cards were returned or thrown away by shops in 1952. So if you’re looking for a rare baseball card, this is it. The Mantle is a legend in baseball, and this card is regarded as the holy grail of baseball cards.
What is the value of a Mickey Mantle rookie card from 1956?
The value of a 1956 Mickey Mantle card ranges from $1,000 to $111,000 today. As far as I can tell, it all comes down to the state of the card. The value of a well-kept card might rise to as high as $110.000. This PSA 10 graded card sold for $115,000, so that’s probably a reasonable estimate.