Put all your eggs in one basket. 52 Mantle or ..........

[Tomi]

Just curious about what vintage "investors" on this board would do. I know some do invest and some just collect, but this is just a question for the investors. Lets just say you have $50,000 to spend. Do you buy the 1952 Topps Mantle in the highest grade for the $50K or do you focus on the nicest centered rookies of the biggest names in baseball in the highest grade you can get. Mantle, Mays,Aaron,Clemente etc. Would you go after the "big one" or go after many different choices? I'm not in this situation (would love to be) but I'm just curious as to what people here would choose. I think long term you can't go wrong either way but I think I would choose multiple perfectly centered rookies over the 52 Mantle. Would love to have the Mantle even in a PSA 1 but the card is just getting out of reach for most even in that grade. How about you guys.

[butchie_t]

Diversify, diversify, diversify.

If I ever buy a 52 Mantle it would be for a personal set.

Butch…

[bnorth]

If Mantle I would go with the best 51 Bowman you could get for that amount as an investment.

[Tomi]

Originally Posted by bnorth

If Mantle I would go with the best 51 Bowman you could get for that amount as an investment.

Insanely undervalued compared to the 52 Topps.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Tomi

Insanely undervalued compared to the 52 Topps.

I agree, but on the other hand we've said the same thing for decades. It's kind of like Spahn and Musial being undervalued.

[Carter08]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I agree, but on the other hand we've said the same thing for decades. It's kind of like Spahn and Musial being undervalued.

Agree. In a Spahn man and it won’t change. I’m not even a Mantle fan but I see 52 Topps Mantle as about as sure fire as it gets.

[rdwyer]

I believe the Mantle would increase more than other rookies. Mantle for me.

[wondo]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I agree, but on the other hand we've said the same thing for decades. It's kind of like Spahn and Musial being undervalued.

This

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I agree, but on the other hand we've said the same thing for decades. It's kind of like Spahn and Musial being undervalued.

People said the same thing about Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson and look what has happened to their RCs over the past few years. Mantle is the top name in post war vintage His RC will always be a great investment. Diversifying with multiple RCs of the biggest names is better than betting on one card.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I agree, but on the other hand we've said the same thing for decades. It's kind of like Spahn and Musial being undervalued.

And that's why as much as the card doesn't impress me, I'd probably go with the 52 Mantle.
The upper grades are pricy enough to get lots of PR when they sell, and their high prices bring all the lower grades up.

If only I'd considered this back in the late 70's/early 80's when I might have been able to afford one or maybe even a few.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by Tomi

...but this is just a question for the investors...

I'm not an investor, so this is just an answer for the collectors:

Buy what you like and like what you buy.

[Rhotchkiss]

You have $2mm. For investment, would you rather own a t206 Wagner or a bunch of different cards. Hands down the Wagner. The same is true with the 52 mantle. It is the 2nd most iconic card. It’s safe and durable, and always in demand. Plus, it’s so much cooler to own and show friends. Buy the Mantle.

[Casey2296]

I'm not an investor and don't particularly like the card but I would say the Mantle. As a collector with 50K I would be buying Cobb's, 14CJ, 07 rookies, etc., which is not a bad investment imo.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

You have $2mm. For investment, would you rather own a t206 Wagner or a bunch of different cards. Hands down the Wagner. The same is true with the 52 mantle. It is the 2nd most iconic card. It’s safe and durable, and always in demand. Plus, it’s so much cooler to own and show friends. Buy the Mantle.

A bunch of different cards. For 2 million you are getting half a Wagner. I would rather have multiple Ruths starting with all 4 Goudeys and a M101-4/5 in nice condition. If I had 3.5 million and I could get a whole Wagner in PSA 1, that would be different.

Likewise, I am not paying 50k for any beat up 1.5 postwar with a pop in the thousands. I am buying nice grade RCs of Mantle and what I can afford of Clemente, Mays, Jackie Robinson or Aaron. If it was 200k for a PSA 6-7 Mantle, then the answer is different. I don't see low grade Mantles as good long term investments.

[mrreality68]

This has several levels.
1.The biggest being are you an investor or collector. Or a Combo. I am a collector but long long term my collection will turn into an investment(as my kids are not into collecting)

1. 1952 Mantle Iconic and sought after by both collectors and investors.
2. many great cards in that era of players that have spiked in value over last few years like Mays, Aaron, Jackie, etc. Is the market going to give them more long term upside than the 52 Mantle.
3. Who are the investors/collectors of the future. Will they buy vintage or be more focused on the Modern Market.
4. As some mentioned what are you able to get for the $50K in a 52 Mantle vs other cards for the same money
5. Is your comfort level is to diversify (to minimum risk or to have more) or not.

But in the end it is more a matter of preference and no choice is a bad choice

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

You have $2mm. For investment, would you rather own a t206 Wagner or a bunch of different cards. Hands down the Wagner. The same is true with the 52 mantle. It is the 2nd most iconic card. It’s safe and durable, and always in demand. Plus, it’s so much cooler to own and show friends. Buy the Mantle.

AND it takes up less room. Almost like having a 20-shaker container of 1 oz gold coins vs. silver.

[joshuanip]

From an investment perspective, always go higher ticket and higher quality versus value. Higher risk but you will get higher slugging and lower transaction costs.

[Rare Stuff]

52 Mantle
Iconic card Holy Grail of any collection

[Exhibitman]

It's a really interesting love-hate dynamic with the Mantle. As many people think it's ugly, overvalued, etc., as those who say it is the last card they'd ever part with. I wonder what the Venn Diagram of that would look like. Are there 1952 T Mantle owners who are also 1952 T Mantle haters?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

It's a really interesting love-hate dynamic with the Mantle. As many people think it's ugly, overvalued, etc., as those who say it is the last card they'd ever part with. I wonder what the Venn Diagram of that would look like. Are there 1952 T Mantle owners who are also 1952 T Mantle haters?

Not sure if this qualifies, but I don't love the card aesthetically, it's a rather poor rendition of the photo it's copying, to the point it doesn't really look like Mantle very much. And the high number mantra for scarcity is somewhat offset by it being a double print. I do like the colors. The iconic status is beyond attack though.

[Snowman]

Definitely the Mantle. But I wouldn't just get the highest grade you can buy. That strategy would probably result in you getting one that is severely off-centered. I would go after the nicest looking Mantle you can afford, regardless of the grade. Eye appeal is everything. It is the ocean front property of this hobby. The gap in pricing between centered and off-centered cards is diverging faster and faster seemingly every month. I'd much rather have a 3 with strong eye appeal than a 4, 5 or even a 6 that is off-centered.

[T206Fanatics]

52 Topps Mantle....