OT: Who Determined That Mantle's Rookie Card was the 52 Topps

[rats60]

Originally Posted by vansaad

How is this even an argument? The proof is right there on the card.

Why doesn't it have the 1st Bowman logo?

[MattyC]

Haven't read this whole thing, but it would seem any longtime collector knows what's up:

The 1952 Topps Mantle is "the" card. Most popular of the two. Sort of the standard bearer of the Post War card hobby to the public.

The 1951 Bowman is Mantle's rookie card.

Though beauty is entirely subjective, I'd venture many collectors would say both are appealing to the eye.

For Mantle or Post War collectors, both are big cards to own.

And both present the collector with unique challenges, in terms of finding an eye appealing specimen. The 51B has endemic centering and focus issues. The 52T has endemic centering and tilt issues.

[Buythatcard]

Well as expected the majority of us believe that the 51 Bowman is the Rookie card. Since popular votes do not count, it appears that the 52 Topps is still the Rookie card.

Can you imagine if the grading companies started to label these cards correctly? Would the value of the Mantle 51 Bowmans jump while the Mantle 52 Topps decline?

[MattyC]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

Can you imagine if the grading companies started to label these cards correctly? Would the value of the Mantle 51 Bowmans jump while the Mantle 52 Topps decline?

Nothing would change, in terms of values. For one, most people buying the two cards know that the 51B is his rookie. Also, the dominance of the 52 Topps in regards to value is not a product of the grading companies' labels.