(LOT 47)
Outstanding 1954 Red Heart Mickey Mantle PSA 9 MINT - Only 2 PSA Examples Graded Higher!
One of the most eye pleasing post-WWII sets is the magnificent 1954 Red Heart 33-subject issue distributed by the John Morrell & Co. manufacturer and regionally distributed with their Red Heart brand dog food. Ultra-desirable to collectors due to their robust fire-engine red, bold blue and green colored backgrounds, 11 subjects were issued for each of the three colored series that were evenly distributed in 1954. Most significantly, the rich hued backgrounds project the visual appealing player images to an unprecedented plateau. As is the case with virtually all of the post-WWII sets, the most valuable and coveted subject is Mickey Charles Mantle, presented here in an absolutely remarkable PSA Mint 9 holder. Of the 1,400+ PSA encapsulated examples, only two examples have managed to achieve the perfect "Gem Mint 10" grade, with only 2.8% of the total Mantle specimens residing in a hallowed "Mint 9" holder. What makes the '54 Mantle Red Heart issue so special is that similar to Stan Musial, no Mantle subject was issued by Topps in their 1954 set due to contractual issues with the Bowman Gum Company.

Fresh off the heels of the Yankee's record-setting fifth consecutive World Championship, Mantle would once again enjoy an outstanding '54 campaign, walloping 27 round-trippers and knocking in over 100 runs (102) for the first time of his illustrious career. "The Mick's" playing excellence and mammoth tape-measure home runs electrified the baseball community, ultimately earning him "Big-Apple" icon stature similar to Ruth, Gehrig and DiMaggio. Of all his classic cards, none could possibly boast the awe-inspiring aesthetics of a high-grade Mantle Red Heart, ably assisted by the imposing blue background that literally projects his "bat over shoulder" image in a 3D-like manner. The half-body pose appears as pristine as the original factory issued date some 67 years ago, with his candid smile a sheer reminder of Mantle's good-natured persona. Fine centering only reveals a modest favoritism towards the right edge, the corners depict super sharp tips, and the only noteworthy flaws are two diminutive surface "specs" situated between Mantle's cap and the upper frame. We have seen and handled a myriad of '54 Red Heart Mantle's throughout the years, and can safely say that only a handful of them compare to the imposing aesthetics emanating from this miraculous "Mint 9" keepsake!

MIN BID $3,000
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