(LOT 564)
Spectacular 1953 Topps #82 Signed Mickey Mantle (PSA 5.5 Card Grade) - Highest Graded 1953 Topps Card with a Circa 1953 Autograph!
There are a handful of iconic athletes that have separated themselves from the "rest of the pack" via their supernatural feats and one of those hallowed stars just happens to be Mickey Charles Mantle! The undisputed "Babe Ruth" of the Post-WW II card market, values for "The Mick's" highly coveted cardboard heirlooms have soared to stratospheric heights with no end seemingly insight. While his unparalleled mystique is still a profound mystery, one can only assume that his "Goliath-like" un-worldly power was one of the main drivers of his legendary hero stature. Worshiped by millions of fans, Mickey Mantle could hit a baseball further than anyone who ever played the game, and even in lieu of a "steroids driven" environment, no baseball player can wallop a baseball further than Mantle.

Incredibly, the "Commerce Comet" hit two balls off the façade at Yankee Stadium, and his 565-foot home run off Senators hurler Chuck Stobbs at Griffith Stadium in 1953 still stands as the longest official ball ever hit in a Major-League game. Ironically, presented here just happens to be a miraculous signed Mantle 1953 Topps card depicting a 1953/'54 style signature, one of only 29 total signed examples listed on PSA's prestigious "pop" chart! More significant is the fact that PSA has graded this card a "PSA 5.5", placing it as the SOLE and HIGHEST GRADED CARD signed by Mantle on the planet! Scripted in black ball point pen, the 1953/'54 period style signature was signed within a year of this card's release, and while the autograph only reflects approximate "4/5" strength, it is virtually impossible to find a 1953 Topps Mantle signed during the 1953/1954 era.

Further enhancing its appeal are the superb aesthetics including a sparkling central image, no obtrusive surface flaws, relatively square corners and rich hues, all of which justify the "5.5" assessment. It is no secret that early 1950's Mantle cards are achieving record setting prices nearly every week, with his high-grade '51 Bowman, '52/'53 Topps issues paving the way. Furthermore, there are currently 90+ encapsulated PSA 8 1953 Topps Mantle's that are now valued at roughly $40-$50K apiece, with a fraction of the '53 Mantle PSA "pop" count depicting his hallowed autograph.

In our winter auction, a "VG" strength 1953 signed Mantle fetched $15K, and while the autograph was stronger, it was scripted in the 1970's with blue sharpie; a far cry from the period style black pen script on this miraculous offering. Add in the fact that this marvel carries the highest PSA 5.5 card grade, we can only begin to estimate the potential value for this absolutely remarkable 2nd year Mantle Topps card!

MIN BID $2,500