Awesome centering on the Mantle rookie - hardest aspect to find when buying a 1952 Mantle is finding one with centering and eye appeal. Lots of "ugly" 6's and 7's that are tilted and 80/20.

I like how you laid out your original photo, and seeing a few other collections done like this is what inspired me to go after a Mantle run as well. Since funds are not unlimited for most of us it helps to provide focus on one's collection and eliminates the desire to collect everything. My goal is to do the run first from 1952-1960 and then slowly work on the 60's - not as fun as the 50's but have to pick up these cards for a complete run. I do not plan on upgrading the 52 and 53 due to $$ for these two cards and I like the ones I have to date. Will do 1956-1960 in PSA 8 and above and have most of them already with a few additions hopefully on the way. Here are a few photos of my run to date laid out.

http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/...svnq3ot9h.jpeg

Since this photo was taken I have added a PSA 8 1956 Mantle, sold one of the 1960 PSA 8's, and picked up a PSA 8 1968 Mantle - both the 1956 and 1968 were PWCC HE.

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That centering is very special on the '57. I own one w/similar centering 52/48 both ways on the front w/o a tilt...and I can appreciate how difficult that card is in terms of centering and tilt.

Awesome cards. Funds are definitely not unlimited for me either. Unfortunately I had to sell quite a few cards recently, and will probably sell a few more to go after something else I want. Let me know if you want to sell one of those 1960s, assuming you still have both.

Edit: And thanks to everyone else again for the kind words.

Agreed on the 52 Topps. So few are even close to centered, let alone almost dead centered. Even at higher grade levels. Look at that 8.5 up at heritage. An awesome card that someone is about to spend a million bucks on, or more, but centering is way off and it has pretty bad tilt.

Wow !!! Love all of your cards ! I have a very nice Mantle run, but not as sweet as yours !

Congrats! Beautiful layout.

I call BS on this. You threw that in for OCD symmetry. And for that, I thank you.

I made the decision to complete every Topps set from 1952 to 1973 in EX-MT to NM a couple months ago, which forces a Mantle run on me. Hey, it could happen!

I'm a little closer now as I won a four card Mantle lot on REA this weekend. So, I will have 1961, 1963, 1966, and 1967 in PSA 7 soon. I already have the 66 so I'll be looking to trade for one of the years I don't have. My mentality is to knock out the Mantles now as they aren't going down in value any time some soon and I don't want to pay more later. :D

I guess I should have said I bought the Mantle/Aaron for sentimental reasons. I included it in the picture because I own it and wanted a shot of all of my Mantle cards. I never thought about leaving it out, and the shot would have been symmetrical either way as the 62 could have went up a row.

Good luck with your project. Sounds like quite the undertaking, especially if you're buying them one or a few at a time.

Very nice cards as well!!

Actually sold one of them already to help fund some future purchases along with a Ruth and a Gehrig. Bought several things at the National and just trying to focus on the Mantle run first. Here is the recent replacement for the 1956 Mantle - current run shows a 6.5 and this one is the PWCC HE from last month. Funny thing is the 6.5 that just sold in REA is about like my 6.5 - I would say my 6.5 is pretty close to an 8 as they come with centering, color, and focus.

http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/...sv3bvm7lp.jpeg

PSA 6.5 and PSA 8

http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/...sbc6ioqwb.jpeg

I'm just playing with ya. I love that card, too. And 1962 Manager's Dream with Hank and Ernie in the background looking at the Green Monster.

I'm buying large lots of raw cards and key cards graded so it is a mix of big pick-ups and one or two at a time. Ran out of money so time to catalog!