More of the Marshall Fogel collection...a little O/T but....

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Posted By: leon

I asked Marshall to see these...so it's my fault they are a little "new" for the board....enjoy...
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Posted By: steve f

Damn, I took excellent care of my cards when I was a kid but could get no better than PSA 6's and those were 1960's era Topps. Did these people live in a plastic bubble?

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Posted By: Andrew Parks

Those cards are just plain gorgeous. Awesome! However, I raise this simply for the sake discussion...

Look at the 1952 card. Notice the yellow that has bled outside of the bottom border where Mantle's name is. The stars are yellow and the yellow is not within the lines. Should not this make it a flawed card and therefore unworthy of Gem Mint status? It has always been my understanding that printing imperfections affect the grade. Or maybe that's how the card was supposed to look...?

Maybe I'm wrong.

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Posted By: Andrew Parks

I got my answer...

"A PSA Gem Mint 10 card is a virtually perfect card. Attributes include four perfectly sharp corners, sharp focus and full original gloss. A PSA Gem Mint 10 card must be free of staining of any kind, but an allowance may be made for a slight printing imperfection, if it doesn't impair the overall appeal of the card. The image must be centered on the card within a tolerance not to exceed approximately 55/45 to 60/40 percent on the front, and 75/25 percent on the reverse."

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Posted By: Sean

Never was a big fan of Mickey Mantle, but Jesus, I don't even have cards that nice that are from my factory sealed 1988 Donruss Set:).

Someday...

Thanks Leon!

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Posted By: jay behrens

The 53 is amazing. The 52 not so much as it's a strong possibility that it came from the cello case find back in late 80s.

Jay

I like to sit outside, drink beer and yell at people. If I did this at home, I would be arrested. So, I go to baseball games and fit right in.

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

Andrew

I just looked at my 52T Mantle and it has the same imperfection that you noted
on name box of the above card.
My Mantle came from a fresh 5-cent pack when I was a kid in the Fall of '52.

My observations on high-grade cards is that the graders are mainly interested
in the corner wear, centering, clean of any dirt or marks; but, they do not
grade the IMAGE. I have seen Hi Grades on cards whose image is out of regis-
tration; and, I find this unacceptable.

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Posted By: Al Crisafulli

That '53 is a stunner. 1953 Topps is my absolute favorite postwar set.

As far as the '52 is concerned, well, I'd be happy to welcome it into my collection, despite the grade.

-Al

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Posted By: JimB

Both of those cards are absolutely stunning! Some others may be more knowledgable than I am on '52 Topps, but the Mantle is a double print and there are actually two slightly different fronts. I think that yellow border brought up before distinguishes the two. I do not believe one is considered any more desirable than the other, just a noted difference. That copy is incredible!
JimB

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Posted By: Brad

Just amazing.... I'm wondering what you guys would think this card would sell for if on the auction block today?

Does any one know how many PSA 52/53 Mantle's have been graded 10?

In the last 5 to 10 years has there ever been a report of anyone actually reserving a 52 Topps Mantle in a sealed GAI slab or from a raw pack?

Ted Zanidakis you have mentioned that you've had a 52 Mantle since you were a kid, could you please post a scan of your card.

Brad

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Posted By: steve f

Hey Boss, I'm thinkin' extending the posts to Pre-Korean War?.. Looking at our '53T Mick PSA 2, way outta this ones' league of course though still mesmerizes and I'm a staunch BoSox fan. Can only imagine the mortgage you'd need to buy that 10 above.

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Posted By: JimB

There has not been a PSA 10 52 Mantle at auction for a long time now - maybe ten years. I believe one sold privately about five year ago for $275,000. There were 3 total last time I checked. The SMR says a '53 Mantle PSA 10 sold for $94,000, but it does not say when that sale took place.
JimB

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Posted By: Richard

..........8 ..8Q.. 9 ..9Q.. 10.. TOTAL
1952..29.. . 8.. .6... 2.. . 3.. . 699
1953..79 .. 19 .. 9 .. 0 ... 1 ... 1383

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

JimB

You are exactly right. I did have both to compare, and the above Mantle has
been referred to as Copy I. Copy II has 2 identifying differences on the front
of it. The yellow (or gold colored) braid that forms the Name Box is somewhat
"ragged" as compared to the above copy (I).

The 2nd front difference on Copy II is a grayish "glaze" in his right arm, instead
of the clear skin tone as on the above copy.

Of course most are familiar with the difference in the backs, when you compare
the stitching on the BB symbol (with # 311 in it) in the Red strip (they are
opposite from each other).

And, JimB you are not quite right on your last comment, the preferred copy is the
one pictured here (Copy I) by really serious Mantle collectors.

T-Rex Ted

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

Brad

I will show it off on this Thread later today as it is off at
a safe place.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

I'm blown away by these cards. Marshall, I hope your kids (or grandkids if you have them) love cards as much as you do - if not, it may be time to sell just those two cards and buy a house on the beach in Anguilla....

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Posted By: Steve Dawson

Awesome cards!!! That '52 beats the crap out of my PSA 3!!!!!

If I remember correctly, all the PSA 10 '52 Mantles came from Al Rosen's "Find" several years ago

Steve

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Posted By: barry arnold

absolutely beautiful!!!!!!!!!
thanks,Leon.

makes me want to take a sabbatical (like lucky JimB)
and just look at cards all day---while doing some research.

barry

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

Brad

Since you asked.....my original Mantle and also my last 1952 Topps card
purchase in the Fall of '52.

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Posted By: Al Crisafulli

Ted, I like yours just as much. It's got some mojo that the pristine one just doesn't have.

-Al

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

AL

You know what....I think you are right. My card has better skin tone on Mantle
and a deeper bluish-green background as compared with Marshall's card. In fact
his card looks sort of "washed-out".....HA!.....maybe someone "soaked" it.

Perhaps, Leon just lighten the picture, or his scanner is running out of ink.
My picture's color fidelity is exactly as my card.

T-Rex Ted

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Posted By: Brad

Ted, Al's right in saying your 52 Mantle is just as nice. I've always liked cards with a little wear on them, it shows the card has some history to it.

Have you ever considered getting the card graded? if so by which company?

Brad

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Posted By: JimB

Barry,
If my Chair and Dean knew the ratio of time spent on baseball cards to time spent writing this book, I would be in trouble. How did you know?
JimB

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

Brad

Just getting around to answering your question.....NO....I do not have graded
cards in my collection. If I buy a graded card to keep I crack open the plastic.

I do not ever intend to sell this card. I paid a penny for it back in the
Fall of '52. I still enjoy the feel of it in my hands. I keep it protected in
one of those "old-fashioned" two-piece plastics that clamp together.

I have promised this Mantle to my Grandson....Ron. When he was only 7 years
old I introduced him to BB card collecting and made him a Yankee fan. At that
young age he already was aware of the significance of this card in the hobby.

So, that he could appreciate the experience we kids had back in '52; I bought
a 1952 Topps Reprint set for him. But, I did not give him all the cards in the
set at once. I initially sent him (he grew up in Maine) the 1st Series of 80 cards
in April. Then every two momths the subsequent series and finally in the Fall
of that year the Hi# Series....just like we collected these cards back in 1952.

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Posted By: jay behrens

Ted, I love that. Not many kids today understand what it means when cards were issued in series.

Jay

I like to sit outside, drink beer and yell at people. If I did this at home, I would be arrested. So, I go to baseball games and fit right in.

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

I went up to Maine that fall and handed Ron the final 92 of the 97 cards in
the Hi# Series. And, I watched him shuffle thru them anxiously looking for
the Mantle card. He looked up at me with a puzzled look. I then handed him
a "wax pack" and he carefully opened it. There was Chapman, Jeffcoat, Spencer,
Herman, and Mickey.

It was a flashback to my youth, seeing my Grandson relive my exact experience
when I opened my last pack of 1952 Topps cards back in the Fall of '52.

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Posted By: jay behrens

Every kid should have a grandpa like you

Jay

I like to sit outside, drink beer and yell at people. If I did this at home, I would be arrested. So, I go to baseball games and fit right in.