The official Mickey Mantle Pickup Thread. All Mick, all the time!

[AustinMike]

Thanks guys!

Chris, I'll gladly trade you the Mantle Star Cal for the '59 Bazooka box that just sold.

Howard, I'm very disappointed at the "financial recognition" that some of the obscure items are getting. I would rather the recognition come after I've been able to add them to my collection. I would have loved to have gotten the '59 Mantle Bazooka box, but after spending a lot more than I had planned on the Star Cal Mantle, I ended up being a way-under bidder on the Bazooka box.

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by AustinMike

Thanks guys!

Chris, I'll gladly trade you the Mantle Star Cal for the '59 Bazooka box that just sold.

Howard, I'm very disappointed at the "financial recognition" that some of the obscure items are getting. I would rather the recognition come after I've been able to add them to my collection. I would have loved to have gotten the '59 Mantle Bazooka box, but after spending a lot more than I had planned on the Star Cal Mantle, I ended up being a way-under bidder on the Bazooka box.

I have been at this for the better part of 30 years. I have always loved collecting Bazookas, Venezuelan's, food issues, test issues, etc. With rare exception many of those items have had no financial respect compared to regular issue cards. That said - I completely understand about wanting to buy them before they hit the stars. I too was a way under bidder on the box. Just think how upset I was realizing that I was THE under bidder on the very same box back in 2010 at 5K!!

The Star Cal was a great (albeit expensive) pick up!

[aconte]

Great pickups AustinMike!

[Stonepony]

My White Whale and the new centerpiece of my Mantle collection.
Briggs Meats Mantle 2.jpg

[AustinMike]

Originally Posted by Stonepony

My White Whale and the new centerpiece of my Mantle collection.
Attachment 285446

Fantastic pick-up Dave!!!

I agonized over staying in the hunt for that card or going for the '54 Stahl-Meyer or the '52 Star Cal. I kind of thought that might go for a little more so I gave up on it and was surprised it ended as early as it did. Then gave up on the '54 Stahl-Meyer and it closed. I ended up getting in a bidding war for the '52 Star Cal and of the 3 I really wanted, it was the last one to close.

Anyway, a big congratulations on getting the '53 Briggs.

[Stonepony]

Originally Posted by AustinMike

Fantastic pick-up Dave!!!

I agonized over staying in the hunt for that card or going for the '54 Stahl-Meyer or the '52 Star Cal. I kind of thought that might go for a little more so I gave up on it and was surprised it ended as early as it did. Then gave up on the '54 Stahl-Meyer and it closed. I ended up getting in a bidding war for the '52 Star Cal and of the 3 I really wanted, it was the last one to close.

Anyway, a big congratulations on getting the '53 Briggs.

Thanks Mike, those Bazookas are fantastic

[Puckettfan]

Great card, Dave

[brian1961]

[QUOTE=Stonepony;1694525]My White Whale and the new centerpiece of my Mantle collection.


Congratulations, Dave. That is a honey of a Briggs Mickey Mantle!

In my heart of hearts, your specimen deserves an "upper deck" numerical grade from PSA. Briggs made no attempt to define the borders on its cards, except their beautiful deep red background as the basic color of its package. In 1953-54, it wasn't supposed to be that big a deal--just cut the card out, kid!!!!!

Now, the cut IS the big deal.

If the original owner who cut the card did the good job I'm seeing, why just authenticate it?*!@#! I mean, here's an extremely rare and very attractive Mickey Mantle once-free prize now worth 5 figures. You would think PSA would give the card a lot more thought than "AUTHENTIC". As it is, each AUTHENTIC card (involving any set where the cards are "hand-cut") must be meticulously scrutinized on a card-by-card basis. With the advanced scanning technology employed by the better auction houses, this is accomplished.

I can further articulate my irritation, but this is not the time. Dave, your Briggs if flat out beautiful. A dream Mantle due to its regal rarity, having the heart of Bob Olen's perfect rookie portrait of our Mick Charles. Thank you for sharing your joy, bro. Well done.

I hope you enjoy my book, too. It's impossible for me to know if my Briggs chapter will enhance your knowledge of the set, but I know for certain your fondness and respect for the entire promotion should take a quantum leap! Obviously, winning and now receiving Mickey has given you a sigh of relief, and a major rush of happiness and thrill at owning one of those rare Briggs babies. Or, I should say, THE rare Briggs baby! The others are all cool and desirable, but Mick remains the key.

----Brian Powell

[Peter_Spaeth]

Guess the grade (not a trick).

[brian1961]

Peter, Judging only by the front, the grade seems 5.5 to 6.5, with superb color and clarity of image. ---Brian

[irv]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Guess the grade (not a trick).

Remembering, Leon's card and the grade it received, I am guessing this one graded a 4?

As I've stated numerous times, and also playing the same, "Guess the Grade" with 3 purchased cards of my own, just when you think you have this grading thing down somewhat, something comes along and throws everything you have learned right out the window.

[AustinMike]

Originally Posted by aconte

Great pickups AustinMike!

Thanks Tony. I appreciate it.

[AustinMike]

Originally Posted by hcv123

I have been at this for the better part of 30 years. I have always loved collecting Bazookas, Venezuelan's, food issues, test issues, etc. With rare exception many of those items have had no financial respect compared to regular issue cards. That said - I completely understand about wanting to buy them before they hit the stars. I too was a way under bidder on the box. Just think how upset I was realizing that I was THE under bidder on the very same box back in 2010 at 5K!!

The Star Cal was a great (albeit expensive) pick up!

I hear you Howard. I can definitely sympathize with you regarding your near miss on the beautiful '59 Mantle Bazooka box several years back.

I think one of the reasons the oddball cards are doing so well is because of the '52 Topps. It's kind of dragging everything else up with it. But, I would rather have the oddball cards more than the '52 Topps. The '52 Topps can be purchased any day of the week, whereas the oddball cards are available at most a couple of times a year. And ... they still cost less than the '52 Topps.