Mile High sold prices of interest

[Stonepony]

Originally Posted by aconte

What did everyone think of the price on the 1953 Stahl Meyer Psa 2 MK?
Great card for sure!

I was underbidder. I really wanted that card but couldn't press it up another increment. The hammer price was not crazy IMO. That's a really nice 2

[aconte]

Originally Posted by Stonepony

I was underbidder. I really wanted that card but couldn't press it up another increment. The hammer price was not crazy IMO. That's a really nice 2

I agree Dave. I wanted to take a shot at it but could not do it right now.
It was a clean card for sure.

[pokerplyr80]

That's a great start to your run Kendall. Mantles with centering like that are few and far between.

[KendallCat]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

That's a great start to your run Kendall. Mantles with centering like that are few and far between.

Thank you for the nice comments. I tried to find examples with nice eye appeal and centering - Matty C has taught me a lot in regards to centering and things to look for when selecting cards. I have included a few more close ups of cards in the run.

1952 Mantle rookie



1956 PSA 8



1956 PSA 6.5 - might be as nice as the 8



1960 Mantle PSA 8

[mintonlyplz]

KC...Exceptional 52 Mantle for the grade. Color pops...and near dead centered side to side w/o a tilt! Quite an accomplishment. Your '60 is one of the best I have seen in term of registration. I am first in line if and when you want to sell it. The 56 6.5 is not as nice as the 56 8...due to corners and coloration...but still beautiful for the grade. Thx for closeup!

[mintonlyplz]

KC...Have you tried to bump the '60?

[MattyC]

That 1960 Mantle is exceptional. The main image is focused, and the batting image has great registration, thus avoiding the "caved in" look to one side of his face that many examples have. Also, great print quality— no print defects in the red, the yellow, along the top of the main image pane, or even around the black team logo circle.

All those attributes in one specimen make it quite rare as compared to all the others that were printed. Must look great in hand, because blown up scans always exaggerate flaws, and even blown up on a screen, it looks great.

[irv]

Originally Posted by KendallCat

Thank you for the nice comments. I tried to find examples with nice eye appeal and centering - Matty C has taught me a lot in regards to centering and things to look for when selecting cards. I have included a few more close ups of cards in the run.

1952 Mantle rookie

Beautiful cards, KC.

Can you see/tell why your 52 graded only a 3? It looks way nicer than that to me but I likely can't see the reason(s) why in the scan?

[KendallCat]

Originally Posted by irv

Beautiful cards, KC.

Can you see/tell why your 52 graded only a 3? It looks way nicer than that to me but I likely can't see the reason(s) why in the scan?

Irv

Thank you for the note on the Mantle rookie. I am biased and think it would be hard to find one nicer under a 4.5 - Matt has a 4.5 that smokes most 5's and 6's out there. Mine has an almost invisible surface crease on the upper right portion going towards his hat. Without it I would say it grades a 5/5.5.

The thing I like about the card is that at first glance it looks like it is in the wrong holder - too many Mantle rookie cards are horrificly off center even as 6's and 7's. I would say 70/30 to 80/20 is more common than 60/40.

[irv]

Originally Posted by KendallCat

Irv

Thank you for the note on the Mantle rookie. I am biased and think it would be hard to find one nicer under a 4.5 - Matt has a 4.5 that smokes most 5's and 6's out there. Mine has an almost invisible surface crease on the upper right portion going towards his hat. Without it I would say it grades a 5/5.5.

The thing I like about the card is that at first glance it looks like it is in the wrong holder - too many Mantle rookie cards are horrificly off center even as 6's and 7's. I would say 70/30 to 80/20 is more common than 60/40.

Thanks, KC.

I agree with you a 100%. Definitely not a 3, imo.

Very nice card!

[Neal]

Originally Posted by aconte

I agree Dave. I wanted to take a shot at it but could not do it right now.
It was a clean card for sure.

no doubt

[brian1961]

For Dave, Tony, and Michael:

I devoted two chapters to my book, NEVER CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, on the 1953-55 Stahl-Meyer Franks cards. There's extensive coverage on the Mickey Mantle cards of 1953-54. While I cannot say if there will be any information you do not already know, I honestly believe you would find what is presented very worth your time to read and the $30 I charge.

Mind you, it is an E-book on a CD. Works great. Simply put, you insert the CD into your disc drive of your computer or laptop. You'll enjoy it as you would enjoy reading and relishing the threads on Net54baseball.com.

PM me if you are interested in pursuing the matter. In my heart of hearts, I think you'll be very glad you did. Our hobby is not known for producing a nice wealth of reading material beyond price guides; my book offers something most worthwhile about the 1947 - 1971 regional / food "free" prizes.

If you wish to consult someone else about what THEY think of NEVER CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN before considering buying my book, contact Net54's Chris De Bono. Several weeks ago, our Rich Klein wrote on the board Dr. Jim Beckett really enjoyed my book.

My first customer is a huge Pirates card collector. He said he loved my book, and furthermore, it helped him quickly with two matters regarding Buc cards.

Should you wish to read the press release of NEVER CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN that my editor, former SCD editor Tom Bartsch, wrote, simple Google search the book's title--comes right up!

Food for thought!

Best regards, guys. Oh, and serious condolences on losing out on the Stahl-Meyer Mickey. A tough loss, for sure. Heartiest of congrats to you, Mike, the winner.

I am EXTREMELY FORTUNATE to own two of them, and if you went by the Beckett and SCD guides of 1988-89, I seriously overpaid for them both. However, when I was tenaciously hunting for the tough Mickey Mantles, I was NOT looking for a good deal. I was looking for a good card that was very, very tough to find in pleasing condition, and on this one, I expected to pay accordingly. When the phrase was coined, "you can throw the price guide out the window on this one", a Stahl-Meyer Franks Mantle could easily have been the catalyst. Furthermore, on each of the two occasions I got a Stahl-Meyer Mickey Mantle, when I saw the card, and it met my approval, I NEVER felt I had overpaid. I was just so happy with the card, both times, that they were such vibrant, fulfilling achievements for me as a raving "Mantle maniac".

I am very picky, looking closely at the picture clarity, the brilliance of the color chroma, print spots, corners, and centering. When you find something that's very scarce and rare X 10 to the third power, and it fulfills all you cherish in a card you love, you had better watch yourself so you don't do something stupid and louse up the opportunity. If it costs a few hundred more, you must remember, you may not get another chance in your lifetime again. Most of the time when you get a badly-wanted acquisition, you overpay, and just so relieved you got the card! That's how it was for me, at least. But then, when I was seriously buying, it was the late 1980s. This is late 2016, and the good cards cost a good fortune. Distilling the motivational feelings, aggression, and desires---nothing has changed. Those cards are still as elusive as ever, but the price to own them has most assuredly skyrocketed. Anyway, Mike, nice going. I looked at the card closely on Mile High's site---a regal beauty.

Seriously, when you get your Stahl-Meyer Mantle, please convey to us your feelings when you first hold it in your hand. From personal experience, I found holding this card profoundly moving, and quite above the 1952 Topps Mantle, much as I loved that card. Please don't underestimate how absolutely thrilling it was when I got my own 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, back in early 1973. Yes, I remember it well. The ONLY card that moved me more was the Stahl-Meyer Franks, a card for years and years I honestly thought I would never own.

---Brian Powell at bfpowell2003@yahoo.com

[AustinMike]

Dave, Tony, and Brian,

Thanks for the kind words. The problem with the Stahl-Meyers and the Briggs Meat is that there aren't too many decent ones that come up for sale. There was a real nice Briggs Meat that was auctioned two or three or four months ago. There was way too much interest in that and I don't think I was even the under bidder on it. I wish everyone would stop collecting Mantle cards until I get what I need.

Brian, you really want to use Chris as a reference for your book? Seriously though, if Chris likes it, that's a good reference. Chris and I have been exchanging notes on Mantles for over a year now and he is a good source on all things Mantle. I have actually thought about getting your book in the past. There are also some books on the Post cereal cards from the early '60s I want to get at some point (although I think at least one of the years is out of print). But right now, I need all my cash for Mantle cards and Post panels.

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by AustinMike

Dave, Tony, and Brian,

Thanks for the kind words. The problem with the Stahl-Meyers and the Briggs Meat is that there aren't too many decent ones that come up for sale. There was a real nice Briggs Meat that was auctioned two or three or four months ago. There was way too much interest in that and I don't think I was even the under bidder on it. I wish everyone would stop collecting Mantle cards until I get what I need.

Brian, you really want to use Chris as a reference for your book? Seriously though, if Chris likes it, that's a good reference. Chris and I have been exchanging notes on Mantles for over a year now and he is a good source on all things Mantle. I have actually thought about getting your book in the past. There are also some books on the Post cereal cards from the early '60s I want to get at some point (although I think at least one of the years is out of print). But right now, I need all my cash for Mantle cards and Post panels.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Austin Mike,

Yes, Chris De Bono is a good friend and a terrific guy. I am very happy and relieved he seems to enjoy my book. Furthermore, he willingly shares what he knows when he is able; I admire that. However, I also respect, to a point, the chap that must keep his knowledge "locked" due to the fact he is still striving to hunt down some of the scarce and / or rare regionals. I was the same way.

My book is a tell-all in the respect that since the cards are now exceedingly "over my head" price-wise, I might as well share everything I have gleaned on my subject from the years I collected, off and on since 1961. Furthermore, I was blessed with numerous key hobby people sharing with me some of their knowledge and riveting sea stories that were integral to a given chapter. Off the top of my head, I am speaking of the likes of Larry Fritsch, Bill Zimpleman, Lionel Carter, Dick Reuss, Doak Ewing, Mr. Mint Alan Rosen, Jim Cumpton, George Husby, Bob Solon (second hand, but most reliable source), Clay Hill (recently retired from Sports Cards Plus in CA), Bill Mastro, Rob Lifson, and Jack Urban.

You wrote correctly about the oh-so-true fact that there is an absolute paucity of decent Stahl-Meyer Franks and Briggs Franks specimens that come up for auction or sale. After your Mile High Auction dogfight that you so beautifully won, I did a quick check of the PSA POP REPORT on what they've graded of the 1953 Stahl-Meyer Franks Mantle. Of the 45 submitted to them, a hair over two-thirds of them---31 mind you, came out as PSA 1 POOR. For such an elegant, beautiful, and regal Mickey Mantle king-sized ruby, that is one depressing but telling stat. As poor as many wound up being, having been imprisoned for a time between two rows of four fatty, wet, red juicy stain-inducing hot dogs; well, what would you expect? On top of that, as you gents discussed, cards as this one, serving as a "free prize" and performing double duty as a package stiffener, were given the bluish-purple stamp lot inventory number on the front of the card. At least the stamp was not applied to a player's face; that would have been intolerable!

With such a damaging original environment for most of the cards, as I wrote, low high-grade on THIS ISSUE commences with PSA 2 GOOD. If you're particularly sharp, in my last sentence you might have noticed I used the word, 'most'. If you're curious, and studious, you had better buy my book! Really, Mike, you did very well. The hot dog stain streaks are very mild, while the stamped numbers do not jump out at my eyes.

As for saving your bucks to buy Mantle cards and Post panels; obviously, you have good taste. Still, me bucko, an educated collector is a knowing collector. The measly thirty dollars I charge, relatively speaking of course, will reward you with a wealth of knowledge, entertainment, and inspiration of the Stahl-Meyer Franks, and several other tough Mickey Mantles as well, since we're on the subject of The Commerce Comet, than you ever thought existed. Puts a lot of the tougher pieces in their proper perspective. I have to stop---my wife just told me it's time to eat!

Take care, Mike. I wish you the best, my fellow collecting warrior!

---Brian Powell

PS--Supper is over. Besides my own CD E-book, please do avail yourself of the opportunity to purchase Dan Mabey's Post Cereal books. I hope they are still available. I believe they were traditional paper books. Worth every penny, I am certain of that. There's two of them I want to buy THIS SECOND. Even if I cannot afford more of the Post / JELL-O cards, I heartily enjoy reading about the Post Cereal; after all, I have memories of all four years! Certainly I enjoy my childhood collection, as well as the few prime specimens I was blessed with hunting down during my active years as an adult collector. They are superb cards--each of them! Currently, Dan's gunning for the fascinating 1962 JELL-O baseball card promotion. Being a 54-year old regional that was only available in the Chicago and Milwaukee area, that will be a daunting task, to say the least. All I can contribute is a good story involving a refused opportunity to get a box of JELL-O with a Mickey Mantle "free prize" card on the backside during the late summer of 1962; I hope Dan asks me for it, because it's an excellent story that paints a picture of the limitations and vulnerability of an 8-year-old kid collector. A couple years ago, Dan got on Net54 and announced his planned '62 JELL-O book, and asked for contributions. I hope he got "a full case" of them!

[AustinMike]

Originally Posted by Stonepony

I was underbidder. I really wanted that card but couldn't press it up another increment. The hammer price was not crazy IMO. That's a really nice 2

Dave, I'm really glad you couldn't press it up another increment. I only wish you had stopped a few increments earlier.

As you might have guessed by now, I was the high bidder for that card. I really didn't want to pay that much for it, but it is a really nice 2 and the mark on it is small and not too noticeable. Now I just have to be patient and wait for it to come to its new home.

[toppcat]

That 53 Stahl Meyer Mantle is pretty nice--I have to say a mark like that from the original intended use of a redemption would not bother me. Put a modern day pen mark on it though and I'd hate it.

[aconte]

Originally Posted by AustinMike

Dave, I'm really glad you couldn't press it up another increment. I only wish you had stopped a few increments earlier.

As you might have guessed by now, I was the high bidder for that card. I really didn't want to pay that much for it, but it is a really nice 2 and the mark on it is small and not too noticeable. Now I just have to be patient and wait for it to come to its new home.

Great pickup Mike!

I don't mind the mark and I think it is part of the charm of the Stahl Meyer
cards. I still wish I could have tried to go after that one.

Don't blame Dave...lol...if the bids would have stayed low, I would have
pushed it some.