The future of Mickey Mantle collectibles?

[39special]

I think his stuff will still be popular.Ruth,Cobb,Gerhig are still popular today and I don't think there are to many people left that saw them play.They were
legends and IMO Mantle fits in to legend status.

[GoldenAge50s]

As long as there is baseball & people writing & filming & televising it, the Legends will remain Legends & always in the forefront.

[MattyC]

Originally Posted by GoldenAge50s

As long as there is baseball & people writing & filming & televising it, the Legends will remain Legends & always in the forefront.

Yup. I'm 37, and never saw Mick, Babe, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Shoeless, Cobb, etc., but because I love the game, love playing it, and love cards, all those legends and their cards are desirable to me. I know many other guys into the history and collecting, and they feel the same.

Also, there is something about revered iconic imagery-- and Mantle images and cards are just exalted in the baseball card hobby. That reverence and stature is just there to stay, it does not fade as long as the game occupies a large place in our culture-- not unlike appreciating art made centuries ago.

[Bestdj777]

I cannot picture a decline in the market. I have not seen him play either, and have no personal connection to him, but he is all I collect. He has some of the most visually appealing cards. And, his 52 Topps card is iconic.

[ALR-bishop]

Folks who do not now own Mantles always contend they are over priced...wishful thinking on their part

[Rich Klein]

WIllie Mays, who was the better player, will be relegated to 2nd tier status long term.

BTW, Derek Jeter will end up being the next real Yankees legend as the years go by. He may actually be undervalued in today's world

[brian1961]

You are right and you are wrong. The cream will remain highly desirable and expensive; the kitsch will probably continue to cool down.

If there's one thing that the many-part SCD Guide to Mickey Mantle items did for sure, it underscored how many Mantle items were made. Many superlatives come to mind. One would be "kazillion". Funny, a few important ones were not mentioned. Anyway, identifying what the creme of the creme would be is not the subject. However, some have already alluded to one of Mick's strong points--he was very, very photogenic. His smile melted your heart and made you a kid again. Many of us also love his cards with his "waiting for the pitch intensity". I could go on and on--Mr. Mantle knew how to "strike a pose." Lots of variety, which is important for us collectors.

When I was a child, other kids asked if I had a card of Babe Ruth. Today the name I hear from kids to adults is Mickey Mantle.

Also, the kids who went with their dads to the big conventions during the 70s through the early 90s where Mickey Mantle was an autograph guest got an unforgettable eye-full--at how meeting Mantle affected their Dads! I've read of some very touching stories. The strong connection to Mickey Mantle was passed down from father to son.

Further, seeing some of Mantle's great cards and again, how much their Dad wanted one or was thrilled to get one back he had lost long ago, would move some of those kids now grown up to collect Mickey Mantle cards and items. 'Cause they like Mantle, and because of the connection to their father.

I think the higher grade Mantle mainstream items will be strong, and that's in part attributed to Bowman and Topps almost always giving us kids a swell-looking card of Mick each year. Also, there continues to be result-proven demand for especially visually appealing scarcities and rarities. They may not be as rare as prewar, though some are actually tougher. However, the desirability has not gone away. The respect and admiration for Mickey Mantle and his cards remains very,very strong.

He always wanted to be known as a great teammate. He was. He was an excellent autograph guest. He had a few bad days and the woman who worked with him really got in his face if he dry-drunk dissed an autograph customer. He listened to her. We can all agree many other athletes did themselves and their legacy a major disservice by their attitude and manner with their adoring fans during a WELL-PAID autograph session. Some of them hurt the future value of their collectibles. Willie Mays was mentioned, and he is a well-known example of this poor behavior to which I referred. I feel the treasured experiences autograph collectors had with Mickey had a way of pouring gasoline on his already hot card market.

Keeping to the subject. Mantle collecting will continue to remain a strong niche in our hobby. He humbly outed the skeletons in his closet, and took his alcohol treatment very seriously. There will be no upsetting news forthcoming. Of the generation of athletes over the past 25 years--no comment. My response is already too long.

Cheers. --Brian Powell

[KCRfan1]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Folks who do not now own Mantles always contend they are over priced...wishful thinking on their part

I agree. In my opinion, Mantle is the last great Yankee and link to Yankee lore with Ruth, Gehrig, ect. He is an iconic baseball figure who's interest surpasses better players. My mom even knows the name Mickey Mantle, but has no clue who Walter Johnson or Hank Aaron is.