1952 Mantle purchase question
 

Like a lot of us a 52 Mantle would be on our wish list. I'm considering a PSA3. To say I've owned one and thinking that I. or a family member in the future, could recover at least the cost.
If you were considering this what would your thoughts be ?
Thanks.

It will always be a very top tier card IMO, and I think a lower grade is probably a safer purchase than a higher grade.

Eye appeal, eye appeal, eye appeal. Good print registration and good color would be what I would look for. Personally I would also want it to have a major flaw that did not bother you. The flaw would make it much cheaper. That is what i done with my 52 Topps Mathews.

Things I would not pay a premium for is being in a PSA slab. There is no way i would pay any premium for the centering hype that has lasted way longer than normal this time around.

Or for almost the same price and condition you could get all 4 Goudey Ruth’s.

Wow, I never thought of it like that. :eek:

Why would you want 4 cards of a guy who is in the top 3 all time when you could have a second year Mantle card? It makes sense as long as you don't really think about it.;)

In my opinion I would have a difficult time paying the current prices seeing what the 52 Mantles sold for just going back to the 2013-2014 time frame.

You could have purchased a PSA 3 for less than $10k I believe.
There are far too many copies of this card to support the prices long term.
You would fair better if you waited. That's just my 2 cents.

People said the same when I bought my midgrade in 2014. It's probably doubled since then. It's very hard to time any market or to buy at next year's prices.

I mean wait a decade if you need to :D
I'd take my chances. There are enough copies floating around that it will never be unattainable.

I have been saying the same thing since the 80's. I wish I would have bought one then because the card seems to defy logic.

Well you have not waited long enough then. Stay patient my friend...
The baby boomer fanatics will sell off eventually.

I think the chances of this card decreasing in value much at all are not great, especially if you find a nice high eye appeal 3. There will always be haters on this board, but the 52 Mantle is the most iconic card in the hobby. Go for it if that's what you want. You won't be disappointed with the card.

Being a variations guy I had to have both versions. Glad I did not wait. Seems like folks who say wait are usually the ones still waiting :)

If you have your heart set on owning one, I would consider it a safe investment for the kids.

Though the 51 Bowman is also a good choice.

Simple, buy one now. If the price drastically decreases down the road, buy another one.... and so on. Just keep lowering your average!

Hard to disagree with this strategy. I certainly wouldn't mind a couple more 52 Mantles in the collection.

:D
Does anyone know where I can find a PSA 4.5 at a deep discount?

Sounds like the precious metal stackers. Keep stacking at all price levels.

You and me both, Ben. I passed when it was below $1000 because it had fallen from above $3000 and I didn't think it would go back up to those levels! Duh!:p

Lol, exactly! My father was a coin dealer so I grew up with this mentality on gold and silver.

The demand will always exceed the number of 52 Topps Mantles available. It is not a rare card, but the supply is only in the low thousands, I believe. It has become an iconic piece of Americana and is collected by non-sports collectors, also. Call it the poor man's T206 Wagner.

Here's your PSA 4.5

'52 Mantle
 

I had one before I went back to only pre war stuff. I looked for great aesthetics much more than the grade. If you can find a good buy on a 1-3 grade level, you should be fine in the future. I would focus on the card more than the TPG or flip, but that is just me. The hunt is always a lot of the fun so good luck if you go for it! (and let us know when and if you do)

You really can't go wrong either way.

And the best part is that chances are whether you buy a bowman...or a topps...there's a good chance the card has been to the doctor!!!!!

I did the exact same thing a few years ago, bought the nicest PSA 3 I could find. You won’t regret it.