Does anyone actually like the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle?

[skelly423]

Does anyone actually like the 1952 Mantle?
Every few weeks there's another thread where people jump at the chance to call the 1952 Mantle as ugly, overrated (card and/or player), "just a second year card", etc., and declare they'd never want one for their collection. Very seldom do I see a defence of the card.

Everyone understands the hobby narrative around this card, but it feels a bit like someone decided 50+ years ago that the 1952 set -- also widely panned as overrated and ugly -- is iconic, and that status has been carved into stone ever since. The Mantle is the crown jewel of the set and as such is given iconic status. The argument for owning a Mantle seems to be based on the circular reasoning that the prices for the Mantle will always go up because "they've always gone up".

Why do we accept the 1952 Mantle as a pillar of the hobby when the a clear majority of collectors (on this board anyway) seem to dislike both the card and the set? Why do we take it as a given that the price will move straight up forever? Will this card still hold its hobby status after the generation that has living memory of the Mick dies off and we're left with just the numbers and a few grainy videos?