Birthday dilemma regarding a choice between a couple of Mantles.
 

Have about 7 or 8 hundred to spend.

Both are on ebay.

Mickey Mantle

Can't decide on:

1954 Red Heart PSA 6

1954 Dan Dee SGC 40 (3)


I guess I'm looking for a long term card and figured either one of these are the best choice considering my budget.


Thoughts? Opinions?

Other options within my budget better than these?

Thanks!

David

Can't go wrong with a Dan Dee. Possibly the best image of Mickey Mantle on a card. Also, my most recent Mick purchase.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ps5afauwoh.jpg

Of those 2 choices I also like the DAN DEE the best.

Personally I really like the looks of his 53 Topps or his 54 or 55 Bowman the best.

I love both those cards and images!! When I started collecting Mantles, both were a priority. If you can get a nice looking Dan-Dee you'll treasure it for s long time!

Leaning towards the Dee. The Red Heart though has that beautiful blue background though. Ugh...

Beautiful PSA 4.5!

My Mantle Red Heart. Colors are incredible with this issue
Attachment 242026

Talk about a WIN WIN!

I would probably take the Dan Dee. Love that photo.

I'll vote Red Heart....LOVE that card! I have never owned either, and would like too...

Dan dee. Not even close.

I absolutely love the Red Heart set including the Mantle but it sounds like this type of money for a purchase doesn't come up often for you. That being said I think the Red Hearts in nice shape seem to be more readily available so personally I would go for the Dan Dee now and keep the Red Heart in mind for a future purchase. Keep your eyes open and I bet you can find a nice example of a Red Heart with great eye appeal for less money down the road.
Drew

David,

Happy birthday, bro. Congratulations on having that much moolah to spend on a baseball card. Do not feel too rushed, in spite of the eBay end times.

They're both exceptional cards aesthetically. The Dan-Dee is much less common, however, and therefore will hold its value more readily. Still, it depends on the quality of each particular card. The central focus is Mickey's head---is it focused nicely? Are there ANY print spots or marks that mar his head---AT ALL WHATSOEVER? Overall, is there anything that bothers you about the appearance of either card? Be dead honest with yourself, which can be harder than it seems. Once you buy it, the annoyances magnify, trust me. Naturally, the centering is important, but for mid-grade, who cares? It's the appearance of Mickey that matters, period. His radiant smile graces both cards. However, the Dan-Dee is extra special, 'cause he's lookin' right atcha, kid.

Make extra sure YOU are happy with what you buy. If there are serious drawbacks to either card, wait, add money if you can, and keep on the look-out for a specimen that really does it for you.

Both are good choices. Personally, I have ALWAYS BEEN MESMERIZED BY THAT PHOTO OF MICKEY MANTLE WHENEVER IT GRACES A TRADING CARD, BE IT DAN-DEE, BRIGGS FRANKS, AND ESPECIALLY THE STAHL-MEYER FRANKS. CAN YOU SAY, "PERFECTION"?

Wishing you the best in your decision, David, and again, happy birthday, bro. Don't let your birth date dictate when you must buy. Whenever you do, you'll be associating your acquisition with your birthday anyway. ---Brian Powell

Dan Dee
 

Absolutely the Dan Dee

Thanks for the feedback gentlemen. Means a lot to me sharing your thoughts and the time you guys took to respond.

For whatever it's worth (more to me obviously), I think I'm gonna go with my "Heart" on this one for now. The Red Heart just has that "umph" to me and for that reason I'm going with the PSA 6 online for now.

It's true what they say...COLLECT WHAT YOU LIKE! lol.

Great! Post it in the Mantle thread when you get it!

Congratulations on your selection!

That's a very big variance in grade between the Dan Dee, and Red Heart. Given the two, I also would go with the Red Heart.

Well done.

I recently land my 54 heart mantle sgc 8 as well. i think i overpay but i don't plan to resell, always want to get this card

Hey David. I did wish to qualify what I said. Even though the Dan-Dee is the scarcer of the two, they are both very beautiful and attractive. Now, to be sure, I already said that. However, I commend you for narrowing down your choices to two gorgeous Micks. There are Mantles that are pretty tough to downright rare, but unfortunately, some of those rarities are kinda ugly. I don't care if it's rare; if it's ugly and I were to get it, I'd be having to console myself how rare it is every time I looked at it.

Both your choices were beautiful cards. Ok then, you choose the Red Heart. It's great-looking ALL DAY LONG. As the brave knight sagely commended to Indiana Jones in the Last Crusade movie, "You have chosen ...wisely".

Get it!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

Best regards, Brian Powell

dio----Ok, so you overpaid. With collecting choice Mickey Mantle cards, it is precisely as the old saying goes, "Quality never comes with a discount."

You know your heart, in that you're not planning to re-sell, anyway. I can relate, bro. Back in the late 80s, BEFORE THIRD PARTY GRADING, I won a priceless, ultra tough Mickey in a Mr. Mint auction. I wasn't worried that I'd over-pay. I was ultra-concerned I wouldn't be able to bid enough to win it. Long to short, by the grace of God I won it, I still own it, and still love it. The very next year, I bought a similar Commerce Comet killer card. I over-paid by 20-40%, depending on the show and the dealer. He would not budge on his price. The piper was paid, the card's condition was true to his word, and over 25 years later, not only do I still have the card, it wound up on the cover of my book on post-war regional / food issues, NEVER CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN.

Though there is not a Red Heart chapter, I devoted two pages to the Red Hearts in my book. A flat-out beautiful set---every player's portrait is stunning. One of my favorites is Billy Martin. Coming as it did on the heels of his brilliant '53 World Series, he has this expression that says, "I don't care how good you are, you're goin' down bloody and bruised, while we win the game!"

Congratulations on landing a NrMt/Mt '54 Red Heart Mickey Mantle.;)

---Brian Powell

Thanks brian.
I do notice a lot of cards jump up a lot in price during last year. fortunately this particular mantle hasn't move up a lot. I especially likes the cards from 51-56 portrait cards. and this one if the 4th mantle i like the most. 52 topps(can't afford), 53 topps, 51 bowman, then this redheart. Now i need to save money to get back the 51 and 53.

Here's mine, notice some damage on the case, seller willing to pay for the cost including shipping to reholder. I think overpaying a little is worth the customer service.

http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/s...mantle_8F.jpeg