(LOT 130)
1953 Bowman Color #44 Berra/Bauer/Mantle PSA 9 MINT
In 1953, the Bowman baseball card manufacturer responded to Topps 1952 landmark issue with a significantly impressive 160-card set of their own. Utilizing full-sized colorful images of fan favorite ballplayers, the 1953 Bowman Color set still stands as one of the most highly sought-after issues for avid post-war enthusiasts. is card #44 portraying three Yankee superstars including Mantle, Berra and slugger Hank Bauer. Arguably, one would think Bowman created this virtually three-player card as an additional effort to compete with their Topps rivals, with no 1952 Topps cards featuring multiple player subjects. Regardless of its definitive purpose, the fact remains that this dynamic trio stands tall as one of the 1950s most heralded cardboard relics, with this astonishing PSA 9 MINT example sharing the spotlight with a mere 13 other copies as the finest of its kind!

The 1953 Yankees eventually captured their record fifth consecutive World Championship, 16th overall, by besting the Brooklyn Dodgers (again) in the Fall Classic, and it was the superb contributions from these three legends that ably assisted their unprecedented fifth successive title. Of course, Mantle and Berra would move on to Hall of Fame careers, and while Hank Bauer fell somewhat short of Cooperstown status, his contributions would be critical to the Yankees 1950s dominance as he equally The Mick's seven rings. Berra is in a class by himself with 10 rings. Synonymous with New York's pinnacle success are the world-class aesthetics associated with the truly classic colorful image featuring Berra, Bauer and Mantle from left to right. One of the significant highlights is the near-perfect centering with most examples exhibiting a skewed image. Brilliant hues, razor sharp corner tips, super clean off-white borders, pack-fresh surfaces and the absence of any glaring flaws complete this timeless masterpiece that, similar to the Yankees winning ways, merits the highest hobby accolades!

MIN BID $10,000
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