(LOT 38)
1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle PSA 8 NM-MT
No one will argue that Mantle's 1952 Topps image will forever be embedded in hobby folklore, with the unparalleled mystique of his inaugural Topps card permanently etched in hobby folklore. Unfortunately, a considerable number of advanced collectors simply cannot afford the current stratospheric price tags of a high grade 1952 Topps Mantle rookie card. While not the hallowed Topps rookie card, the Mick's second-year 1953 Topps subject has gained considerable prestige over the years with its incredible stoic lithographic Mantle portrait image as well as being the 1952 Topps rookie card's successor. Presented here just happens to be a spectacular 1953 Topps 2nd-year Mantle in a PSA 8 holder; with only 15 or 0.3% of the 4,500+ PSA encapsulated copies graded higher! No baseball player could possibly equal Mickey Mantle's post-WWII popularity. Without question, his immense mystique remains unparalleled in the card market, yet considering that his lifetime batting statistics were not overwhelming, you sometimes ponder as to the root of Mantle's unequivocal fame. Characteristics such as his inconceivable power, long tape-measure home runs and overall charisma have, undoubtedly, elevated his godly stature. He was Davy Crockett, Goliath, John Wayne and Joe DiMaggio all rolled up into one super icon, the ultimate embodiment of a National hero.

Worshiped by millions of young American boys, Mantle's legacy continues to steamroll ahead, and it is no secret that his early-1950s cards continue to realize staggering pricing points. This outstanding 2nd-year Topps specimen portrays a nearly flawless lithographic pose of the "Mick", bursting with vitality and a pristine array of colored hues that are synonymous with "pack-fresh" quality. The image has decent centering, revealing an approximate 45/55 "left to right" positioning between bright white borders. Additional features include pack-fresh surfaces, right-angled corners, a clean verso and only some negligible/microscopic surface loss along the lower left's red hued edging (the area along the lower left edges typically reflects some degree of "white" surfacing even for high-grade examples). Regarding historical pricing, two PSA 8 examples have already breached the $100K mark in 2021, with Memory Lane achieving a record-breaking $114K sale in our Spring '21 auction. Indeed, early-1950s Mantle cards appear to know no boundaries with regard to their unlimited investment potential, and considering a PSA 8 '52 Topps specimen just fetched a record-breaking $2.1 million in the iconic Dr. Newman auction, we highly advise you to capture this magnificent PSA 8 second-year Topps Mantle marvel that likewise knows no pricing limits!

MIN BID $20,000
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