PSA 9 52 Topps Mantle sells for $5.2M

[Hxcmilkshake]

Originally Posted by packs

The problem with this card is that it has two lives. There is the public life among outsiders who view this card as an iconic "grail" (which is a status I don't think many advanced collectors would agree with) and then there is the collector view who still see the card as iconic but also vastly over priced.

As Mantle-age fans exit the hobby there may be a reckoning ahead for the 52 Mantle.

If I didn't already have one I'd start making plans to buy the 51 Bowman instead. It is Mantle's actual rookie card and in my opinion a far superior image. The value seems stable as well or perhaps even primed to rise being it's an actual rookie card.

What age would that be? If you were a kid and watched Mantles peak you are likely dead or in a nursing home.

The guy who bought this 9 surely never saw him play...I never saw him play yet it's my grail card.

I think it will forever be hobby iconic.

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[packs]

The guy who bought the card strikes me as the kind of guy who buys anything that's expensive to say he bought it. The hobby is not ripe with people like that.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Hxcmilkshake

What age would that be? If you were a kid and watched Mantles peak you are likely dead or in a nursing home.

The guy who bought this 9 surely never saw him play...I never saw him play yet it's my grail card.

I think it will forever be hobby iconic.

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Um my dad is 74 and far from dead or in need of a nursing home. He was a Dodger fan so he hated Mantle, but he's definitely of an age to remember Mantle's prime as a kid.

[packs]

The thing that never makes sense to me about this side of the board is that it can't imagine a version of the hobby where nobody cares about a 52 Mantle. And at the same time, it is baffled when someone spends millions on a Trout.

The hobby takes on a different passion for different people. If modern is the future and Trout is king, you have to consider that Mantle may not have as much cache among people who chase Trout, Jasson Dominguez, Fernando Tatis Jr. etc.

[Hxcmilkshake]

Originally Posted by packs

The thing that never makes sense to me about this side of the board is that it can't imagine a version of the hobby where nobody cares about a 52 Mantle. And at the same time, it is baffled when someone spends millions on a Trout.



The hobby takes on a different passion for different people. If modern is the future and Trout is king, you have to consider that Mantle may not have as much cache among people who chase Trout, Jasson Dominguez, Fernando Tatis Jr. etc.

I'm just baffled at the market--- tons of money on unproven guys....that's crazy to me. 5k for some Dominguez? Ok but I'll go get an early Mantle or 2.

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[packs]

Originally Posted by Hxcmilkshake

I'm just baffled at the market--- tons of money on unproven guys....that's crazy to me. 5k for some Dominguez? Ok but I'll go get an early Mantle or 2.

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Well, that's exactly my point. If the preference is to spend the money on Dominguez you have to consider that the money might not be there for Mantle in the future.

[Hxcmilkshake]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Um my dad is 74 and far from dead or in need of a nursing home. He was a Dodger fan so he hated Mantle, but he's definitely of an age to remember Mantle's prime as a kid.

Point is people always say "when so and so's fans die off the market for them will correct"

Almost never happens. Especially with the all time greats. That's why they are all time greats.

Its harder than ever to get into the market for these cards.

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[Natswin2019]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Um my dad is 74 and far from dead or in need of a nursing home. He was a Dodger fan so he hated Mantle, but he's definitely of an age to remember Mantle's prime as a kid.

Same thing here, my dad is only 59 and remembers watching Mantle in the second half/ end of his career as kid in the NYC area.

[irv]

Imagine how much attention this has brought to his clothing line/company name.
In very short order, if he hasn't already, he will make his money back in spades.

I also like what it has done for the hobby. Any exposure is good exposure, imo.

[MVSNYC]

Dale, I thought of the same thing (regarding the exposure for his company), and wouldn't be surprised if he writes it off as a marketing/advertising/PR expense.

All around, smart move to acquire it.

[yomass]

Would it be impolite to point out that the 52 Mantle is a double print?

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by yomass

Would it be impolite to point out that the 52 Mantle is a double print?

like the 52 jackie robinson...like the 33 goudey ruth batting...like the red t206 cobb. It seems to help!!!!

[oldjudge]

Originally Posted by yomass

Would it be impolite to point out that the 52 Mantle is a double print?

Yes, it is very impolite to say that the market will not skyrocket forever, that the Mantle was not a steal at that price, or in any other way question these investments. Perhaps after you gain some experience in this arena you will realize this.

[GaryPassamonte]

Originally Posted by yomass

Would it be impolite to point out that the 52 Mantle is a double print?

Yes, the card is a double print, but what is the total population of the card as compared to the current demand? I think there are something like 2000-3000 graded. Let's say the total population is 10000 cards and that may be a stretch. Obviously that is a very small amount of cards to supply such a huge demand and I don't see the demand going down. The 1952 Mantle is not just a baseball card. It is a piece of Americana and is pursued by both collectors and noncollectors alike.

[chriskim]

So that Mantle was brokered by a company call PWCC Vault Marketplace, I looked up the company and that company would store cards for collectors in their vault?

..... What??? this is something I don't understand... Who would do that? I think I would worry the honesty of that company more than I would worry the safe deposit box of my bank go underwater.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by chriskim

So that Mantle was brokered by a company call PWCC Vault Marketplace, I looked up the company and that company would store cards for collectors in their vault?

..... What??? this is something I don't understand... Who would do that? I think I would worry the honesty of that company more than I would worry the safe deposit box of my bank go underwater.

PWCC? Never heard of em?

[samosa4u]

Originally Posted by irv

Imagine how much attention this has brought to his clothing line/company name.
In very short order, if he hasn't already, he will make his money back in spades.

This is exactly what I was thinking! Most rich guys buy these big cards and want things to be hush-hush. Not this dude. He knows that the market is on fire now and the media has been taking a lot of interest in these big sales, and so he used this as an opportunity to promote his clothing brand - very smart!

[darwinbulldog]

I agree that Mantle prices aren't going to tank just because his old fans won't be alive anymore, but once they're gone the relative prices will more closely reflect the assessment of impartial younger generations who will regard Mays as the better player.

[campyfan39]

Respectfully diagree. The Yankees are the premiere franchise and he was the face of them for two decades. There is also the "what if" factor. What if he would not have been so injured and what if he would have taken better care of himself. There is some mystique around him that adds to the value of his stuff.
He was also 3x MVP in the golden era so many would argue about who is better between he and Mays.

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

I agree that Mantle prices aren't going to tank just because his old fans won't be alive anymore, but once they're gone the relative prices will more closely reflect the assessment of impartial younger generations who will regard Mays as the better player.