MAGNIFICENT MANTLE!!!...With every subject, competition or, more specifically, competitor, there is always a list. Top 3! Top 5! Top 10! And so on. The hobby is no different, as the hierarchy of collectability begins with Babe Ruth, the unquestionable #1 most collectible figure in the industry. But then who’s next? Gehrig, Cobb, Foxx, DiMaggio, Williams or Mantle? It is hard to imagine a #2 other than The Mighty Mick. Maybe Jackie Robinson. Mickey Mantle was a hero to an entire generation. No matter the differences that set children apart from one another, the one thing that was constant was the skill, power and heroic playing ability that Mickey Mantle brought to the field every day. And that is not to diminish the playing ability of his contemporaries like Jackie, Willie Mays, Ernie Banks or Stan Musial. The mystique that Mantle had when he arrived at training camp in 1951 was virtually unmatched as he was to unseat Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio to become the next Yankee champion. Mickey stepped into Joe’s shoes as if they were his own, and he went from being a strong and stocky kid from Oklahoma to the greatest ballplayer of the 1950s.

Over 18 seasons, Mickey clouted 536 home runs, won three American League MVPs, seven World Series titles and the Triple Crown in 1956 after hitting .353 with 52 homers and 130 RBIs. He mounted an assault on Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record in 1961 with teammate Roger Maris, but fell off the pace late in the season while Maris hit 61 on the last day of the year. So, with all of these accolades and accomplishments, it is no wonder that Mickey Mantle likely holds his place as the second most collectible athlete in the hobby. His 1952 Topps issue is one of the most valuable, followed closely by the artistic 1953 Topps issue offered here. The WAGNER remains a cornerstone of the hobby, but for most collectors it is unattainable, much like the 1952 Topps Mick, but the 1953 presents absolutely stunning artistry with Mantle capped in this Yankees navy blue looking over his left shoulder with a picturesque stadium in the background. This PSA 7 NM Short Print displays incredibly sharp edging and corners, breathtaking colors, and super clean surfaces. Save for the minor OC favoring the right edge, this example would surely garner a higher assessment. This is one of the finest PSA 7 NM issues we have ever offered, and it should be atop every bidder’s list to win. A sensational Commerce Comet is a Top 3 issue with which to upgrade your collection.