Best Last Active Player Card?

[brian1961]

It might be historically accurate that Mickey Mantle's last playing year was 1968, but to simply dismiss any of his 1969 cards from being included as best last cards is a crock of horse manure.

I quote from page 221 of Tony Castro's marvelous biography, MICKEY MANTLE, AMERICA'S PRODIGAL SON, "Mantle had gone to spring training early that year to see if he could turn back time but knowing deep down that his career was over." He knew in his heart he was all done, but WE did not know, and neither did the people at Topps. In Fort Lauderdale, on March 1, 1969, Mickey Mantle announced his retirement from baseball.

Until that point, for all intents and purposes he was going to suit up and gamely play another season for the Yankees. Topps included Mantle in every single set they possibly could, which was considerable when you take into account their test issues. Topps could have removed Mick from their sets, but wisely chose not to. For the same reasoning as Topps, I nominate two cards as the best of the last---Mickey's 1969 Topps and his flat out beautiful 1969 Topps Super Baseball that Chris nominated.

---Brian Powell

PS--I agree with the choice of that exotic Ernie Lombardi '48 Signal Gasoline. Hey, you know none of us impassioned card collectors could ever choose just one card if our life depended on it. As I remember, in about 1976 Topps led off with a beaute of Hank Aaron, a full length batting pose; it was stunning.