oldjudge

Geezzzz that is a super nice looking 6!!!!

Adrian--Buy the card, not the grade

Oldjudge

I can see that I mean that is probably one of the finest Mantle's I have ever seen. Can't believe it is a 6. To be honest it looks almost just as good as the 8.5 up for sale in the REA auction. Just a little more off centered.

My two..
 

I own neither...

http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps04bc5ec9.jpg

And I hate to be cliche BUT...it sure is pretty..THAT IS(WHEN THE COLOR S STRIMG/DEEP BLUE THROUGHOUT AND CENTERED). :)

It is a beautiful example oldjudge.

Amen Ben. I do own this one, and I really enjoy it!

I just love these two...

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...ewson-piedmonthttp://www.collectorfocus.com/images...satchell-paige

If I can be so bold to offer honorable mention, they would be...

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...-t3-turkey-redhttp://www.collectorfocus.com/images...berto-clemente

margoaepi

Very nice Cobb!!! It sure does bring baseball to life!!!

Pre-War: Congrats to those of you who picked the correct card - the T206 WaJo portrait, of course (although I actually prefer the T204 WaJo).

Post-War: Several of you are close with your Mantle choices, but no cigars! The correct Mantle choice is his 1959 Bazooka card, which blows all the other Mantles away!

Val

Val,
I would agree. The '59 Bazooka is my favorite Mantle card.

I own originals of both, but the images are not of my copies.

Vintage:

http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5332134f.jpg

Post War:

http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/...psac989d4f.jpg

I have to agree with Adrian. My eye is not yet as developed as the longtime collectors of this forum, but if that's a six, it's one of the most beautiful sixes I've ever seen.

By the way, guys, I am really enjoying this thread. Lots of beautiful cards. One day, I will own many of them. :p

my two picks, today

Pre war: 1940 Playball Jimmie Foxx (don't ask me why - it is just a clear photo of one of the great sluggers of all time)

Post war: 1952 Topps Gus Zernial (love the baseball bat covered in baseballs)

Pre and Post
 

Rob---great Musial

The Ruth is actually an ugly card but I am a set collector and it comes from the only pre war set ( 1923 Fleer) that I collect

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...539/img075.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1367846812

I could list too many to count, but just want to make point the sometimes the most beautiful are not HOFers, in fact I think the greater the player the more it seems to swing aesthetics. For example, I can't see any way the Walter Johnson portrait in yellow is the very best t206--at best it's tied with about 50 other portraits and action shots. Is it really more beautiful (beyond value), to cite just one example, than this?
http://www.net54baseball.com/attachm...1&d=1367854827

ALR-bishop

Looks as do Ruth had a sour candy on that picture with the face he is making!!!:D

While I agree the beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I totally agree with this comment above. Thus, I present the most beautiful pre-war card of all time:

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QEoD4Fjw8U3Y1nE30jpZdEbbPrYp6YHrRqcN_cfzkkQ?feat=e mbedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AtyVyMKClD8/UHDpTCDSpcI/AAAAAAAAMc4/70-RO72FPzw/s800/Howard_Del_PSA_5.jpg" height="800" width="481" /></a>

But, even with the "greater the player" bias described above, this post-war card takes the cake:

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IjCL5QNd6WwWmOuS38oFLQqkeaCMs5QvE_4UUJp_Kq8?feat=e mbedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6812gZzSXGg/UGhN_7q1U7I/AAAAAAAAL0A/Pkk5ZtA4FRU/s800/Mantle.jpg" height="476" width="800" /></a>

I would like to add a Gehrig DeLong to the mix. Not my card certainly not in my price range.
http://www.net54baseball.com/attachm...1&d=1367861524

Love the Del Howard. Glad I have it in a PSA 6. If value went on beauty, I guess it would be worth $1200 not $200.

Turkey Red Cobb
53 Bowmen Reese
53 toops Berra (the only time in looked good):)

e92 Christy Mathewson
1956 Ted Williams

Amazed it took so long for someone to mention that Matty. Nice choice!

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...isty-mathewson

That '53 Bowman Color Stan Musial is one of my all-time favorite vintage cards, and will be one of the first ones I own. That's a beauty, can't believe it's not been graded (or was it graded and subsequently freed from it's plastic cell?)

E92 Matty
 

Yes, yes, yes - E92 Mathewson is a beauty

and I love the 1967 Panini Cassius clay

Near perfect centering is a MUST!

Any T3 card & most any 1953 Topps card
 

I agree with Jay on any of the one hundred 1910-11 T3 cards. The Bob Bescher T3 always puts a smile on my face though. I'm also a fan of the 1953 Topps set, and I think the best examples from that set have already been mentioned. I also like the 1958 Topps Batting Foes card with Mantle & Aaron.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psd2f69cfa.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psdbbf9121.jpg

I would pick this Ruth photo. I like the Japanese postcard version because you can see the crowd and newspaper photographers really close to the action right in the background.

Then for postwar I'd pick the 53 Bowman Musial or this card. Since the 53 has already been shown I'll pick the 52 Bowman Musial.

Impossible to pick just one T3, but I'll throw this one into the mix (always loved the pastel colors and the Mushroom Bat).

Also wanted to throw in my favorite of the Topps 3D, though it's definitely an "acquired taste".

I'm usually too undecided on this, but I would lean in this direction any day!!

Love both of these cards for sure-

Sincerely, Clayton

Thanks Bill! It was in a BVG 4.5 (yeah, that company that "overgrades by a full grade" haha) and is now in an 8-pocket sheet in a binder

:)

The nice and the not so nice !

Try as I might...
 

I really cannot pick one card when it comes to aesthetics. If you narrow it down to sets I believe almost any Obak and Diamond Star card would qualify for the most beautiful prewar cards. Postwar is even tougher, but I do like the design of the 1963 & 1965 Topps issues and the photographs on the 1979 TCMAs.

Here are pictures of a few of my favorites.

Best regards,

Joe

Mantle Home Run ?
 

I have always liked that card showing Mantle wiffing on a Gibson fastball. :)

Amen, Brother Al!

:D

Jay,

Sorry to have stumbled upon this so long after you posted.

I agree...this is a work af art.

Best Regards.

Eric

My favorites vintage/postwar
 

Here's a couple........