1954 Topps Hank Aaron vs 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle

[rats60]

The last PSA 9 1954 Topps Hank Aaron sold for 144,000. The last PSA 9 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle sold for 2,880,000. That is a factor of 20 times. I don't see Aaron ever coming close to Mantle. By the way, a PSA 5 MC t206 Honus Wagner sold for more than that PSA 9 Mantle, so Mantle has some ground to make up before it passes Wagner as the most valuable baseball card.

[ullmandds]

No chance aaron rookie ever overtakes mantle rookie...in 50 years I see prices of both cards being lower than today...but I won't be here to see it!!!!

[BearBailey]

Zero chance.

[Stampsfan]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

...in 50 years I see prices of both cards being lower than today...but I won't be here to see it!!!!

That would be an incredible achievement...

[swarmee]

The question wasn't about Hank's card eclipsing Mantle in price, just being as hot or hotter in a timeframe. So yes, when Hank passes away, there will be a window where the 54 Aaron is as hot or hotter than the 52 Mantle. For maybe six months.

[brian1961]

The 3:1 supply ratio is a moot point, this time. Mr. Aaron is a fine gentleman, a quiet man that quietly (without pyrotechnic gyrations of his voice and arms) passed the mighty Babe for lifetime home runs. His home fields were Milwaukee and Atlanta, great baseball towns both, yet even combined do not come close to generating what New York does, and what New York seems to have always done in the minds and hearts of baseball fandom.

There have been many good explanations why Hank's baseball cards do not reach the stratosphere as Mickey Mantle's do. In a nutshell, it comes down to DEMAND, not the supply factor. The demand for Mick overwhelms that for Henry, period.

I won't say much, save that when I collected as a youngster, and I would open my Topps wax and cello packs, I'm sure I smiled when I got Henry Aaron. On the other hand, when I got Mickey Mantle, I inhaled audibly, my eyes got huge, and a great, big smile grew on my face. I usually REMEMBERED the occasion when I got Mickey each year, but I don't recall any given time I got Hank Aaron. Guess it comes down to this----I like and respect Hank Aaron, but I love Mickey Mantle.

---Brian Powell

[Stonepony]

Again, well said Brian!

[ALR-bishop]

The number of people who collect the 52 set itself seems like a factor to me a s well. If you collect the set you need the card even if you are not a Mantle guy. (And in my case I needed both variations :-{ )

Which may be why his 61 Dice and 67 Stand Ups, although extremely scarce do not command even more money than they do when they come up

[KCRfan1]

Originally Posted by brian1961

The 3:1 supply ratio is a moot point, this time. Mr. Aaron is a fine gentleman, a quiet man that quietly (without pyrotechnic gyrations of his voice and arms) passed the mighty Babe for lifetime home runs. His home fields were Milwaukee and Atlanta, great baseball towns both, yet even combined do not come close to generating what New York does, and what New York seems to have always done in the minds and hearts of baseball fandom.

There have been many good explanations why Hank's baseball cards do not reach the stratosphere as Mickey Mantle's do. In a nutshell, it comes down to DEMAND, not the supply factor. The demand for Mick overwhelms that for Henry, period.

I won't say much, save that when I collected as a youngster, and I would open my Topps wax and cello packs, I'm sure I smiled when I got Henry Aaron. On the other hand, when I got Mickey Mantle, I inhaled audibly, my eyes got huge, and a great, big smile grew on my face. I usually REMEMBERED the occasion when I got Mickey each year, but I don't recall any given time I got Hank Aaron. Guess it comes down to this----I like and respect Hank Aaron, but I love Mickey Mantle.

---Brian Powell

Brian,

Do you believe the demand could shift to Aaron as a newer , collecting generation takes over?

I think it can happen, but not with my generation.

Aaron represents excellent value imo.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by KCRfan1

Brian,

Do you believe the demand could shift to Aaron as a newer , collecting generation takes over?

I think it can happen, but not with my generation.

Aaron represents excellent value imo.

No, people have been saying that about Willie Mays for ~30 years. In the early 80s, Mantle and Mays were priced about the same. Then Mantle got hot and his cards jumped in value. Instead of Mays closing the gap, it has just become greater as time has gone by.

I think values and popularity are now set for post war players. If Ted Williams and Willie Mays can't close the gap on Mantle, then Aaron won't either. Williams and Mays were the players we actually chased in the 60s. Aaron was a tier below them. I see no reason for that to ever change.