(LOT 6)
1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle PSA 8 NM-MT
PACK-FRESH '53 MICK!!! The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle subject will forever be embedded in hobby folklore, with the unparalleled mystique of his inaugural Topps card permanently etched in the minds and hearts of the most passionate collectors. Unfortunately, a considerable number of advanced collectors simply cannot afford the current stratospheric price tags of a high-grade 1952 Topps Mantle rookie card, with an SGC 9.5 Gem Mint example fetching a record-high $12.6 million price for ANY sports card in August 2022 as well as PSA 8 examples realizing seven-figure+ pricing. While not the "Holy Grail" Topps rookie card, The Mick's second-year 1953 Topps subject is arguably the "Mona Lisa", gaining considerable prestige over the years via its incredible stoic lithographic Mantle portrait image.

While a significant number of PSA 7s and lower graded examples have flooded the market, seldom does an outstanding PSA 8 example surface for the taking, with this extraordinary Commerce Comet collectible representing a fractional 2% of the approximate 4,300 PSA encapsulated examples with only 16 specimens (0.37%) graded higher! No wonder advanced collectors jump at the opportunity to seize any aesthetically brilliant PSA 8 offering, for 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. Worldly attributes 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.

His mammoth home runs tested the confines of any ballpark, and he still holds the record for MLB's longest all-time homer when his 565-foot blast off of the Senators southpaw hurler Chuck Stobbs sailed out of Griffith's Stadium into a neighboring backyard. Add the fact that the Commerce Comet twice hit the Yankee Stadium façade as well as blasting a minimum of ten 500+-foot documented round-trippers, and you can surely comprehend why he was worshiped by millions of young American boys who were mesmerized by his godly feats. This remarkable second-year marvel reveals a nearly flawless lithographic pose of The Mick, bursting with vitality and a pristine array of colored hues that portray pack-fresh quality. The sanctified image reveals relatively fine centering, exhibiting only a modest favoritism towards the right edge between four bright white borders.

Furthermore, the lower left quadrant's bold red text box appears to have eluded any glaring surface wear (only the slightest touching near the outermost corner tip), with the stigma of general surface wear within the edging of this box consistently plaguing advanced enthusiasts. Other highlights include impeccable surfaces, dazzling white borders, crystal-clear clarity, and strong square corners. Over the past several years, at least nine PSA 8s have fetched in excess of six figures, with Memory Lane realizing a staggering $118K for one particular example in September 2022. History has surely proven that as the 1952 Topps Mantle card skyrockets in value, the remaining Mickey issues follow suit, especially the second-year '53 Topps card that has unlimited investment potential. All early 1950s Mantle cards appear to know no bounds with regard to their definitive value, with the aforementioned $12.6 million sale of the '52 Topps Mick paving the way for this tsunami uptick!

MIN BID $25,000

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