(LOT 93)
1966 O-Pee-Chee #50 Mickey Mantle PSA 9 MINT - POP 3; Highest PSA Example!
RARE MINT MICK!!! This absolutely breathtaking PSA MINT 9 1966 O-Pee-Chee #50 PSA 9 Mint Mantle joins a paltry two other examples as the finest of its kind! Significantly scarcer than its Topps #50 brethren, at the time this was written, PSA listed only 288 total 1966 O-Pee-Chee Mantles, versus a staggering 13,800+ Topps peers (O-Pee-Chee bring a fractional 2% of the total Topps count). Furthermore, the Topps PSA 9 MINT count stands at 76 (with an additional PSA 10), versus the virtually non-existent three PSA 9 O-Pee-Chee subjects. Safe to say, this sparkling pack-fresh gem offers nearly every possible attribute worthy of the near-impossible 9 assessment including the brilliant Commerce Comet batting image boasting crystal-clear clarity and impeccable contrast.

Additional attributes include scintillating corner tips, blinding white borders, and immaculate surfaces. Yet, its most miraculous feature just may be the near-perfect centering and virtually zero tilt, with most 1966 Topps and O-Pee-Chee subjects revealing significantly skewed images emanating unsightly aesthetics. A clean verso including the critical "P.T.D. IN CANADA" text near the lower right edge indicating its bona fide O-Pee-Chee status is the final superlative for this time-defying masterpiece. It's no secret that The Mick continues to dominate the post-WWII card market with his high-grade examples actively sought after by a myriad of elite enthusiasts. Due to the legendary stature of his iconic 1952 Topps subject, his remaining cardboard issues relentlessly soar in popularity, with record-breaking prices for high-grade examples being realized with nearly each and every passing sale.

The embodiment of courage, The Mick's awe-inspiring power and blazing speed are qualities ultra-consistent with this pristine marvel. You can literally feel his Goliath strength via the legendary batting pose as he awaits the pitch from another hopelessly overmatched hurler, with Mantle blasting at least ten documented 500+ ft. tape measure homers in his illustrious 18-year Big Apple career. Synonymous with Mantle's mammoth dingers surpassing the confines of virtually every ballpark, including his still record 565-foot blast that sailed out of Griffiths Stadium in 1953, this extremely rare and highest graded MINT marvel would be a colossal addition to any sophisticated Oklahoma Kid gathering!

MIN BID $5,000
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