X2!

Beautiful looking Micks.

56 grey back arrived todayhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c9f1cde4d3.jpg


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Wow! Very nice!


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eBay purchase!

Strong 56 and 51 Micks; congrats.

Beautiful 56 and 51 Mantles. Congrats to you both on those pickups.

That’s a great looking collection of Mantles KC. Thanks for taking the time to share them. I love looking at everyone’s cards.

Centered Mantles look great in any grade. I often prefer lower grade centered examples as well, especially considering the money you save compared to an 8 that may not be centered as well.

If you don’t mind my asking, what grade is this? It looks fantastic.


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Great cards Matt!!

Thank you for the nice comments Matt and glad you liked the cards.

KC

Very excited about these two new additions to my Mantle set. They have kicked my 1914 CJ Cobb out the house, though, LOL. Mick's Bowman cards are among my favorites.

Always felt the 1952 Bowman is the biggest steal of all his basic issues. Registration/image focus is always a challenge on these two.

https://www.collectorfocus.com/image...-bowman-mantle

https://www.collectorfocus.com/image...-bowman-mantle

When centered and in that condition, the 54B may well be my favorite regular issue of Mick

Nice additions! Congratulations

Just got this cool card graded (and have since tapped on the holder to straighten it out)...

Attachment 330817

Thx, Matt! Hope all is well with you, brother.

Anyone else see the centered 52T Mick PSA 6 at REA cracking 100,000 already? Wow.

Its an sgc 8.5. Im very pleased with it.


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Congrats. That sure is a beauty, I just wanted to make sure my eye was well calibrated [emoji16].


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Stahl Meyer Mantle run complete
 

The 1954 is the final piece. Very humbled.
Attachment 333442

So nice. The 54 is a bear to find. Congrats!

Wow those Stahl-Meyer beauties!!! Congrats!

Mr. Berg, truly a tour de force trio you have there, my fellow collecting warrior! After all, since you're the gentleman who initiated this extremely popular thread, precisely 2 1/2 years ago this Saturday, I think it's most fitting.

There are few cards whereby a PSA 3 would definitely, and defiantly, be considered high-grade, but regarding any 1953-55 Stahl-Meyer Franks, when a studious collector discovers how these precious cards were issued, and ponders the ramifications...; I mean---the gorgeous paraffin-coated card was inserted between two rows of wet franks, then wrapped in cellophane, hurriedly packed in crates to be taken by company deliverymen to grocers, meat markets, delis and a few of the new supermarkets where they were packed in ice coolers. There they would languish for a few hours to a few days, until purchased by a customer, taken home, and at some point prepared for supper. Once the package was opened, and the free prize cum package stiffener was freed from its frankfurter prison, the prize now looked more than a little worse for wear----smished to creases! There's more-----after marinating in watery, greasy, and colorful red frankfurter juice du jour, a fresh and PERMANENT stain streak from each frankfurter would bare witness of the free prize's future as a PSA 1 POOR specimen! Juice du jour... da jerk that thunk that one up should have been drawn and quarter-pounded! Your exquisite 1954 has particularly strong bluish-purple background color, and the way it highlights Mickey's elegant portrait is truly perfection!!!!! Studying your 1954 beauty, I believe it was well taken cared of, and likely purchased shortly after delivery to a market by Stahl-Meyer.

Methinks this gem will be one of those acquisitions you will always remember. In fact, why not consider writing up your thoughts and feelings about your auction experience in an article for SPORTS MARKET REPORT, with scans of your card courtesy REA, and submit it to them. Granted, PSA's mag featured the Stahl-Meyers directly after the 2016 National Convention; the Kevin Glew article was decent, with substantiation of some of my original research findings from early in this millennium. Nevertheless, with your latest Stahl-Meyer Mickey Mantle achievement fresh in your mind, your personal anecdotes, feelings, observations, and valuations as a Mantle connoisseur would be noteworthy, I should think. Let's face it, this isn't some hum-drum gum ...; rather, a piece de resistance.

From all I have read and studied, the Stahl-Meyer all-beef frankfurters were spectacular hot dogs. No wonder they were granted a contract to serve them at Ebbets Field, the Polo Grounds, and Yankee Stadium!

Just an idea to help you savor them, Dave, why not go on You Tube and watch the original telecast of the 1952 World Series, Game 7 (in its entirety no less!), or if you want to enjoy a much shorter magical moment, type 1953 World Series Mickey Mantle grand slam. The black 'n white quality is super. No doubt a bunch of Yankee fans were enjoying a Stahl-Meyer hot dog just as Mickey slugged Monk Meyer's pitch.

Again, heartiest of congratulations, friend. ---- Brian Powell

Looks like October was quite a month. Tremendous pick ups. Matty’s 8s are ridiculously nice and those Stahls are quite an achievement. Congrats.
I’m definitely not in the same league but slowly working my way through the 60s. Picked up a psa 4 69 white letter. Centering is ok (for my budget) but registration is clean.

Nice '69 Topps, Tony. Honestly, I have always loved Mick's swan song card. Yours is a real beauty; the centering is good, and as you said, the vital print registration is excellent. Furthermore, it seems to have escaped having the snow effect that was prevalent back then with all too many Topps cards. Their business was good, and they really cranked out the production, but in so doing their quality suffered at times.

Again, congratulations, bro. ----Brian Powell

Bazooka box anyone?
 

1967 - One of the tougher Mantle boxes out there.

Major congrats, such cool cards.

Mantle related letters
 

Here are three letters related to Mickey Mantle. The first one is a questionnaire filled out by Jim Lonborg about Mick's final at bat. The second is from Randy Gumpert who surrendered Mickey's first homer, and the third is from Mantle's teammate Bobby Brown. Have lots of letters and autographs on CooperstownExpert.com

Love the bazooka box Howard. Doesn't get any better.
Scott

So, I’ve started working on a ‘67 set. Ever do that thing where you can’t decide which card to buy, so you buy them both? [emoji15]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...168d19d9a6.jpg


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Very nice '54. I was the under bidder on that. :mad: :( :)

Glad it's in the Net54 family.

Also, very nice Bazooka box, Howard.

Plus, gorgeous '52 Bowman, Matty.

In addition, many other great Mantles (as if there were any other kind of Mantle card - not counting the hideous '65 Bancroft ;)).

Finally :) So happy to have found the ideal example.

https://www.collectorfocus.com/image...3-topps-mantle

Also couldn't resist this 63 since it had absolutely zero PD in the green or the blue areas.

https://www.collectorfocus.com/image...3-topps-mantle

And a well centered White Letter was also too good to pass up...

https://www.collectorfocus.com/image...9-topps-mantle

Congrats Matt, I especially admire the ‘53!

Mantles
 

Matt, that 53 is stunning. Great pick up.

Awesome pickups as always Matt. Been looking for a white letter like that for a while.

Thanks so much, fellas.

I may have shown this one before, but spending some time with my Mantles in hand for the holiday and this is in some ways my best Mantle and should be shared with fellow Mantle enthusiasts (for some reason foreign relatives and young children don't seem to share my level of excitement for cards, lol— though my son is getting there!)

To be centered and to be signed in the right spot with the perfect pen thickness, just gets me every time I look at it. Crossed it to a red flip card grade as well now so the red really pops.

https://www.collectorfocus.com/image...9-topps-mantle

That's gorgeous...congrats.

The centered, signed Mantle is definitely a rare breed. Nice one.

That 59 is fantastic !

Great Mantles especially the signed 1959 Topps! Sweet!

After selling off most of my Mantles, I'm taking the first steps to purchasing them again (Anyone else do that from time to time?):

Attachment 334751Attachment 334752Attachment 334753

[QUOTE=clydepepper;1828610]After selling off most of my Mantles, I'm taking the first steps to purchasing them again (Anyone else do that from time to time?):


Been there done that!!! Regretted it so started right back up collecting Mick again. Good luck with your Mantle collection.

I've been there and am still doing it lol. Slowly but surely.

Mantles
 

Been Mantle shopping the past couple weeks. Just got the '56 in today...

Outstanding as always— dead centered Micks yagot there :)

For a 5, that 56 is sharp! Tell us about the 53. What's going on that grades the card a 2?

Appreciate it Matt! Looking at your Mantle collection inspired me to get a few of my own. :D

Thanks Lou! The '53 has a couple light wrinkles. One across "Mantle" on the bottom front and also the bottom right corner. Have to tilt the card at a certain angle to see them. Otherwise, probably one of the nicest "2's" I've come across.

That’s a really nice 56! Very strong for the grade!


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Sweet Mantles. That 56 is very nice for a 5. Congrats.

You can never have enough Mantles.

Jerry, outstanding eye appeal as usual!

Hey! I forgot I can post this here as well. In addition to the ‘62 woody set, I love the history of the timeframe in general. Mickey in the World Series, and the Cuban Missile crisis...

I’ve been on a roll with higher-end 5’s lately, and think this is no exception...

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...69f21007dd.jpg


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Appreciate it Sam!

Very nice Mantle's guys! :)

My latest addition. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...6556d12e49.jpg


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Good grief, that's nice. Or as I once heard someone say referring to the Mike Payne book, cards in "ridiculously high grade." Or further still, as Smokey & Craig would say...

DAYYYYYYYYUM!

I don't know why you guys get so hyped up about Mantle. I have heard his cards are over hyped, over rated and over valued

http://jpninfo.com/wp-content/upload...thquakes-2.jpg

Yeah I saw that other thread. No disrepect to someone who is honestly posing "Why is Mantle..." type questions, but...really? I can understand that being asked in 1988, maybe - but not now for folks that have been around the hobby and especially collecting vintage for a while. Mantle is an anomaly, if you like - but it is what it is. I think he's going to be as blue chip as they come for the forseeable future...

Arm Twisting...
 

I wish someone would twist my arm on a '51!!!!

Any arm twisters email django7975@gmail.com

Put mantle in the title so Ill look at it

Mick Mantle
 

Picked up this raw '53 Mantle recently. My oldest Mick.

Congrats Tom, Nice looking 53

Love that card! Nice P/U! :)

Nice card, Tom! Iconic.

looking back on this page, I guess the same could be said for Jerry's sweet PSA 2 and Johnny's PSA 7. Something about that '53 Topps.

Grabbed these on COMC during the Black Friday sale in November:
Had to reload some cash onto COMC when I saw this pop up (cost $260); paid $2 for them to give it a condition review and they consider it Near Mint. RECEIVED PSA 4 VG-EX; ARGH!
https://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/1964...&size=original
1964 Hasbro Challenge the Yankees - [Base] #MIMA - Mickey Mantle [Near*Mint]
Courtesy of COMC.com
Exhibits batting - should be an upgrade RECEIVED PSA 5 EX
https://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/1947...0921&size=zoom
EX+ Bronx Bombers - might be an upgrade?
https://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/1963...1337&size=zoom
1963 Exhibit with red stats on back RECEIVED GOOD 2
https://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/1947...e90f&size=zoomhttps://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/1947...zoom&side=back
1952 Exhibits Yankees Team card RECEIVED PSA 4 VG-EX?
https://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/1947...aad7&size=zoom

The official Mickey Mantle Pickup Thread. All Mick, all the time!
 

Don’t know a ton about this other than my father owned it in the 60s. He never hung it up, and it remained rolled until we unearthed it from his childhood home. There is some staining, but it’s a really awesome piece. It measures 44 inches tall and 30 inches wide. If anyone has more info, I’d love to hear anything about it.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...47f00ef376.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f82a01ce86.jpg

That’s a fantastic piece. I have the same poster as does another member of the board. You know the photographer, obviously, but other than that I’ve never learned much in the way of details on it. I may have heard at some point that they were sold at Manny’s, but can’t recall for certain whether that was about this one and, even if so, don’t know if there is any truth to it.

A non-mainstream Mickey Mantle of significance
 

I just thought a few of you Mickey Mantle connoisseurs might enjoy seeing this.

1) The original Sports Collectors Digest ad from the January 15, 1988 issue, when Mr. Mint announced the purchase of the Barbara Grossman collection of New York Yankee cards and all sorts of other items devoted to her beloved Bronx Bombers. Mr. Mint devoted two photo arrangements of some of the marquee items, among which was a mint 1962 JELL-O unfolded box of Mickey Mantle.

2) I devoted chapter 1 of my book on immediate post-war regional / food issues, Never Cheaper By the Dozen, to this intriguing set, the few, BUT STRONG, childhood memories I have of them, and the occasion when I purchased this very same box from Mr. Rosen at the fall 1988 Philly Show. Back in the spring of 2016, Sports Collectors Daily editor Rich Mueller kindly ran the chapter in his fine net hobby magazine. Here is the link.

3) I present to you the image of the '62 JELL-O Mantle box from my book. In preparing for the photo-shoot, I will always remember when my dear wife beautifully recreated how the apple JELL-O would have looked. Doesn't it make your stomach ah... turn for the worse?

Anyway, Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for the many things you all have shown and taught me. Happy new year. ---- Brian Powell



https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.co...ey-mantle-box/

I picked up these two in the last couple weeks.

That’s awesome Brian. Always knew you had that beauty but awesome to know a bit more of the history of it. The photo is a bit difficult to see but looks like a 1960 Post and a 1959 Home Run Derby. Can anyone make out the others?

Ps. I’ve enjoyed hearing your collecting stories, both buy phone and through your terrific book. Your knowledge is an asset to the hobby. And, I would have loved to see your collection back in the day.

Chris, you may have heard that from me. I remember looking through an old baseball magazine a year or so ago and seeing a Manny's ad with that poster being offered. I've looked through a few old magazines with Mantle on the cover this morning hoping I could find it again, but I haven't found it. As you know, I've moved recently and have stuffed a bunch of items in a closet. I'm hoping that's where my non-Mantle old magazines are at. I did get rid of my Street and Smith magazines (at least the non-Mantle covers) and am hoping it wasn't in one of them. I'll keep looking.

Maybe....
 

61 Dice Game
48 Leaf Ruth
38 Heads up Dimaggio
69 Topps Super Mantle?
67 Maris proof

To confirm and identify the other tantalizing cards The Mint Man chose to photo, I believe that Howard has indeed nailed the 1969 Topps Super Baseball Mantle. The others are an O-Pee-Chee "Baseball Stars" Set A 1937 Joe DiMaggio, 1941 Play Ball DiMag, and a 1960 Home Run Derby Mickey Mantle. The year I've given for the latter is not a misprint on my part; rather, the conclusion of my research into this amazing black 'n white set. I devoted chapter 8 to the Derby set, and this happens to be the other set that Rich Mueller ran on Sports Collectors Daily. I'm rather certain those adroit among us can Google it, and find the saved article/chapter. Rich was rather taken with my findings, and he and I were hoping to drum up a little business. Didn't work, but he gave it the old college try, for which I am grateful to him.

By the way, there was one major card the Mint Man chose not to include in the photos, the Piece de Resistance of Barbara's collection. When Alan Rosen had the celebratory photo snapped of buying Barbara Grossman's massive Yankee collection, a smiling Barbara was holding thick wads of hundred-dollar bills, while Mr. Rosen had one arm at his chest holding three of the cards, and, with his other arm around Barbara, he held up one card, the crown jewel---the subject of chapter 13 of my book, a Mickey Mantle card so beautiful, so fascinating, and so profoundly rare in high grade, I gave it the deserving name, THE MALTESE FALCON OF BASEBALL CARDS. If you're fortunate to own a copy of Mr. Rosen's second and last book, TRUE MINT, you will find this celebratory photo on page 63. Not to be flagrantly coy, but if someone wishes to load up a scan of the photo, I'd be grateful. My tech expert is away, and I figured Mr. Rosen won't mind anymore, and there might be a few curious Mantle connoisseurs out there who might enjoy this photo from the fall of 1987...... ---Brian Powell

Thanks for posting, Brian. That's an incredible Jello box.

No disrespect, but how cheesy is the bottom of that ad where Mr. Mint does himself up a la Mantle's '53 Topps card? I've never seen that before. He was an um...interesting guy.

John, you are quite right about the cheesy caricature of Alan Rosen appearing as Mickey Mantle's '53 Topps. However, this was really an attractive self-indulgence, and at this time, Mickey Mantle mania had exploded in the hobby. Alan knew a thing or two about timing.

Also John, prior to the "'53 Topps Alan Rosen", The Mint Man used a rather hideous caricature of himself in his bi-weekly SCD ads(when the hobby's premier periodical was bi-weekly). It was a side profile drawing of his head, with Alan sporting an over-the-top gargantuan nose. I chuckle and wince at the same time. During this era of the hobby, nobody, and I mean NOBODY, did as much grandiose self-promoting as Mr. Rosen. Just as I wrote in the '62 JELL-O chapter I linked, those flashy expensive ads desiring to buy your cards, showed up in nearly every issue SCD, and they most assuredly got every collector's attention. Anybody wanting to cash in their cards would inevitably think of contacting "the Marquis de Wad", "the crowned head of lettuce", to see how many $100 bills they would soon be holding!

Yeah, John, an interesting guy...... But you know, many of the crown jewels in my collection may be traced directly, or indirectly, to Alan "Mr. Mint" Rosen. Again, as I wrote, I try to keep an attitude of gratitude. I have my own Rosen horror stories, and it's better for my health that I dwell on the ups, rather than the downs.

Oh yes, I'm glad you liked the Mantle JELL-O box.;) Take care, friend. Have a swell day. --- Brian Powell

Was hoping for a PSA 6, but oh well.

Great stuff in this thread!!!!

https://i.postimg.cc/JhwK0k9N/20190105-184013.jpg

Mantle’s Allure
 

Wow, this thread was started back in 2016! It’s probably not a Net54baseball record — but still - wow!

I have a somewhat humorous story to tell about this 1960 Mantle card. A former New Yorker lived a few doors down from me in my previous mid-Michigan neighborhood. I never saw any visitors at his house — so I don’t think he had many friends. He had also recently gone through a sad divorce. He’d often wander down to my house when he saw me working in the front yard. I enjoyed chatting with him because I loved hearing his Bronx accent.

One day our conversation turned to sports — and then to baseball cards. I brought out this 1960 Mantle card, and, of course, his eyes light up. He proceeded to tell me about his great childhood collection (that included this card) that, alas, his mom threw out when he went off to college.

The funny thing is, as he continued to watched me do my front yard work, and we continued to talk baseball, he slipped the card into his shirt pocket. I noticed it — but didn’t say anything. But, when my wife called me in for lunch, and he started to head for home, I had to tactfully remind him to return the card. For a moment I thought that maybe I had somehow conveyed to him the false impression that I was giving him the card. But the sheepish look on his face told a different story.

I’ve since moved to a different Michigan city, but when I see this card, I often think of him. Sometimes I wish I had just given the card to him — rounded corners, severe creases and all.

Here's my new pick up


https://i.postimg.cc/7htLKgKs/20190116-080330.jpg

Mantle
 

Picked up another mantel color that had not been seen before. I now have every color mantel (coin on right..color is solid like the rese..bad picture)
Known to exist except 2..another weird green and silver
And mantel in gold that's never been seen
19 colors

Mantle
 

Picked up another mantel color that had not been seen before. I now have every color mantel
Known to exist except 2..another weird green and silver
And mantel in gold that's never been seen
19 colors

He spelled it "Mantle."

Mantel
 

He spelled it mantle
But armour spelled it mantel
Do your homework