Best: Going regular issue only... #1) 55 Bowman - I don't understand why prople don't appreciate this card more. Great color; Iconic card design; Mick looks like a teenager; and look at that upper body strength. This is the one card where Mick looks like a guy that can hit 500 foot HRs. #2) 1965 - Assuming the card in question is centered. Great color; Clean, crisp photo; Great card design; Mick looks like a beast following through with his swing. #3) I'd list 1956 #1, but the portrait doesn't really look like Mantle (he looks kinda goofy). Everything else about '56 is spectacular.
Ugliest: #1) 1967, by far; #2) 1959 - Mick looks kinda whimpy in this one. #3) 1968 - looks too much like 1966 (which I think is one of the better looking Mantles). '66 is cool because of the Yankee Stadium backdrop; '68 is flat out boring.
Most Overrated: #1) 1957 Topps - Everybody loves the '57 set, but boy, that Mantle card is dark, drab, and virtually colorless. Ugly as heck. #2) 1953 Bowman - I think the 53B gets so many votes for "Best Mick Card" because everybody loves the 53B set. But Mick is one of the uglier cards in that set. Picture is cropped poorly. Little color; Picture is kinda drab compared to the other 53B's. #3) 1961 - Picture always seems kind of fuzzy; color isn't great; Ugly card design; People love this card for the year it represents, but it is kinda ugly.
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