(LOT 178)
1954 Red Heart Mickey Mantle PSA 9 MINT - Only 2 PSA Examples Graded Higher!

MINT MICK!!! Like virtually all post-WWII gatherings, the most valuable and coveted subject of the 1954 Red Heart set is Mickey Charles Mantle, presented here in a remarkable PSA 9 MINT holder. Of the 1,500+ PSA-encapsulated examples, only two examples have managed to achieve the perfect GEM MINT 10 grade, with only 2.6% of the total Mantle specimens residing in a hallowed 9 MINT holder. What makes the '54 Mantle Red Heart issue so special is that, like 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 Yankees' 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 in his illustrious career. The awe-inspiring aesthetics include a heart-stopping blue background projecting Mickey's "bat over shoulder" image in a 3D manner. The half-body pose appears as pristine as the original factory issue date some 69 years ago, with the Mick's candid smile a sheer reminder of his good-natured persona. Superb centering reveals only the slightest trace of partiality towards the right edge; the corner tips are super sharp; and no notable surface flaws are evident on either side. We have seen and handled a myriad of '54 Red Heart Mantles throughout the years, and only a handful of them possibly compare to the imposing aesthetics emanating from this PSA 9 Mint keepsake that miraculously presents itself in its original pack-fresh state!

MIN BID $3,000
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