Trading Trout for Mantle - My Biggest Trade Yet!
 

Last year, I was on a kick to discover various parts of the hobby, one of which included PSA graded rookies of the newer guys. On April 8th, 2019, I got in a card that I just couldn't get out of my head: A 2011 Topps Update Mike Trout Diamond Anniversary PSA 10. Like many, I have several "I wish I didn't sell" Mike Trout horror stories, and worried I was buying at its peak, but thought it still had quite a bit of room to grow - I was right!

Eventually, I sold all my modern PSA stuff, except for the Trout, because it was doing very well.

Recently, I decided to trade/sell my Trout, because it just didn't fit in with what I was passionate about. A week or so ago, I started talking to someone who had a '52 Topps Mantle, and I was talking to him about trading it for one of my Cracker Jack Cobbs. He wasn't interested, and in an off the cuff remark, I mentioned my Trout. As it turns out, that intrigued him!

This is what came in: I had to give up my Trout plus quite a bit of cash. This is probably the nicest "1" I've ever seen of Mantle (seriously - check what is out there...it is crazy!)

https://tanmanbaseballfan.com/wp-con...4/52Mantle.jpg

The corners, color and clarity are all amazing, with the centering being acceptable. The paper loss on the white border in the bottom left largely accounts for the low grade. Now that's my kind of "1"! As a bonus, the back is super clean, too. (not that I care about backs all that much - ha!)

The Trout was a super card - maybe *the* card of this generation. While it may have leveled off, it very well could hit $10,000 and beyond, which - to those of you who have one, I'm rooting for that to happen! I'm just happy I was able to do well with it and hop off the Trout train at the right time to pick up this beauty. As crazy as it is, the deal was completed exactly one year to the day of when I got the Trout in! I already had a '52 Topps Mantle up until last year before I sold it. While it was an amazing card, the eye appeal of this one is just absolutely off the charts - a true pleasure to look/stare at, which is what I really look for in any cardboard. This marks the biggest trade I have ever done, and is everything I love about this hobby!

A while back, I created the graph below, and interestingly enough, this card is the exception to the rule for me. I was happy to do the deal and looking forward to it coming in, but my excitement for this card skyrocketed once I had it in hand ... I guess that's when you know you have the right piece for your collection! Not that it will stay here forever by any means, but while it is here, I will happily enjoy it for however long it is in my care.

https://tanmanbaseballfan.com/wp-con...0/04/chart.jpg

Great trade Tanner, that is a beautiful Mantle. Post a pic of the back.

Thanks!

Here it is:

http://mycollectionofcards.com/baseb...412_091723.jpg

Trout is an ATG or will be but a 52 Mantle is the one to have.

Wow. That is a fantastic Mantle. Congrats!

Also, I loved your graph! :D

AGREED!!!!! Nice

Outstanding
 

Outstanding! You now have an iconic card, one of the 2 or 3 most famous in the Hobby! I don't see that Trout card ever reaching that status.

Awesome Mantle, pretty much exactly what one looks for in a low grade card. 95% happy for you 5% jealous ;)

Tanner

Magnificent Mantle and a great story.

You can shake off that..... "Bored & Want More Cards" .....feeling if you continue to collect the
remaining 406 cards in the 1952 TOPPS set. Now you're "home-free", having the Mantle card.

It's a fun set to assemble, and you'll have that..... "Can't Stop Thinking About It"....feeling for
quite a long time.


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

Anytime you can trade something for a 52 Mantle, you WIN!
Congrats!

That graph is hilarious!

Beautiful Mantle Tanner... and I LOVE the graph!!

Love the chart and congrats on a trade that both parties felt good about.

great trade!!

Glad to see it is still possible to have fun and get totally geeked over a trade. Congrats!

wowwwwwwww... congrats... what a beautiful card... :D

Great card and trade and love the graph!

Guys thank you for all of the kind words! Sharing the deals is half the fun in this hobby :)

It is interesting you say that - I had a fleeting moment where I thought about this, and it was probably thanks to The Monster Podcast. They were talking about the "do-ability" of putting together the T206. I debated on whether or not to even listen because I didn't want to stoke a fire to get started on it.

I remember having some 52 Topps commons as a kid - they were beat up, but many did I love them because they were old and from the same set the iconic Mantle was from.

Awesome card. Congrats!

Very nice Mantle, and the graph is spot on!

Very nice Mantle, Mouschi.

Congrats. :)

Amazing trade!

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