Rate your top 8 Mantle cards from the 50's

[almostdone]

The way most true collectors look at card is a form of art. Some also see an investment oportunity (which is fine) but even then one cannot deny the pure art in the way card were designed in the old days, specifically the 50's.

Before high gloss, UV coating, gold leaf, holograms and many other flashy modern day techniques company relied on picking the right pose and truly gifter artist to give life to the photos in art form.

This being said I thought it might be interesting to see others top eight choices for Mantle cards of the fifties. I figure we can rate them with the following issues: Bowman 1951 - 1955 and Topps 1952, 1953 and 1956. I know there are other issues of him that are great cards but I fiugure these a re typically the more well know versions of the Mick. I wanted to leave 1957 and on out because this was getting into the true color photos not just art design.

Now the hard part. I would like to rate only the image of Mantle chosen for the card. So somehow you have to try and put away value, set design, back design and other factors. Just the pose chosen by Topps or Bowman and the way his image comes across of the card.

Here goes my humble (and debatable) opinion

1. 1952 Bowman - I love the reflective pose looking off in the distance. Something way on his mind that day. Maybe the recent passing of his father or the shoes he is supposed to be filling (DiMaggio)

2. 1953 Bowman - Just pretty with a great pose of that super swing.

3. 1952 Topps - Another great pose with a hint of what the future might hold

4. 1951 Bowman - Hard not to think about his rookie but a great picture

5. 1953 Topps - I 'm not typically a fan of large head shots but the artist was able to capture him very well and accuratly.

6. 1955 Bowman - I really am not a fan of this set but Again a great pose of MAntle with bat in hand

7. 1954 Bowman - A good picture but comes accross more two dimentianally IMO.

8. 1956 Topps - I know he was MVP and Triple Crown winner thais year but unlike other examples I son't think the large head shot captures Mantle ( but the small jumping shot is pretty cool)

This list is not the be all end all by any means but just thought it might be interesting to see how others look at these cards.

Thanks for reading,

Drew