REA bids - health of the hobby

[Huck]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

but why????? they didnt see him play...and chances are their dad didnt either!!!!

A few years back a book was penned titled "The Last Boy Mickey Mantle and the end of America's childhood" (I have not read the book). I think there is quite a bit of truth in that title. Think about it. Mantle was the postwar Super Star and played in the biggest city for a perennial championship team. As another member wrote, "there was just something about Mantle". Since 1952, things have drastically changed, perhaps even how we view our sports heroes. We have all grown up. Mantle is deceased and yet he still holds sway in the hobby.

I don't recall seeing Mantle play, definitely not live perhaps on tv. When I returned to the hobby in 1980, Mantle cards were the holy grail. Wagner was a lottery ticket. At the time, reports were that there were less than 10 Wagner cards in existence, that card was a pipe dream. Frankly, any pre 1950 card was Siberia, the card craze of the 80's was just starting to rev up with Fleer and Donruss getting back into the card game in 81. At my first card show at the VFW in Dale City, VA, I came across some T206's and found them interesting, a novelty of sorts and I purchased a card (still have) Hanifan, NJ. Mantle cards were far more attainable but I was not interested in vintage cards. Vintage cards were not readily available, new material was available at just about every store. At the time, in my area, card shows were few and card stores were even fewer. Had I known then what I know now I would have went the other way the pack was headed (new material) and concentrated on 50's and pre-war cards!

Fans have always liked the power hitters. Back then there were 10 players who had hit 50 or more home runs in a season (now there are 43). There were 14 (11 living) players who had hit more than 500 career home runs (now there are 27). Ruth, Foxx, Mays and Mantle made both lists.

In 1993, I drove 9 hours to Louisville, KY to obtain Mantle's autograph in person at a card show. What possesses a man in his thirties to drive 9 hours one way to obtain the signature of a player whose last game was in 1968? The Mantle aura.