Which card?

[Rhotchkiss]

AJ, hoping to get a different response from a different site?! Keep the Mantle, the massive overwhelming majority of responses are mantle, and here you are getting it from a bunch of prewar peeps!!

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

AJ, hoping to get a different response from a different site?! Keep the Mantle, the massive overwhelming majority of responses are mantle, and here you are getting it from a bunch of prewar peeps!!

Totally fascinated by people's choices between the two cards. Never thought it would be so one sided towards Mantle given how hot the Goudey Ruth's are.

[scooter729]

I'm going the other direction and saying Ruth. I get that the '51 Mantle is his rookie, but there are way more '51 Mantles than '33 Ruths. As time goes on, Ruth remains one of the top players of all time (if not #1). Mantle is high up there as well, but Ruth is king. And I want an iconic card of his, from an iconic set.

The Mantle is his rookie, but the '52T obviously is more in demand.

Put it to the sniff test - ask 100 people with no baseball knowledge if they've heard of Babe Ruth, and then Mickey Mantle. Guarantee more have heard of the Babe, and that will only increase over time. So long term, give me Ruth.

[JohnnyKilroy]

Originally Posted by scooter729

I'm going the other direction and saying Ruth. I get that the '51 Mantle is his rookie, but there are way more '51 Mantles than '33 Ruths.

There’s roughly double the pop count of the 51 Mantle vs #53 Ruth… BUT, if you take into account there’s 4 different 33 Goudey Ruth’s, it’s closer to 3 or 4 times as many Ruths! So I guess it’s just how you look at it.

Those 2 particular cards, put me another vote for Mantle.

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by ajjohnsonsoxfan

Totally fascinated by people's choices between the two cards. Never thought it would be so one sided towards Mantle given how hot the Goudey Ruth's are.

I dont think people are picking a 51 mantle over a yellow Ruth. Instead, I think people are picking THAT particular Mantle (which is great looking) over that particular Ruth (which is nice bit not exceptional for the grade like the Mantle)

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I dont think people are picking a 51 mantle over a yellow Ruth. Instead, I think people are picking THAT particular Mantle (which is great looking) over that particular Ruth (which is nice bit not exceptional for the grade like the Mantle)

+1

[Jstottlemire1]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I dont think people are picking a 51 mantle over a yellow Ruth. Instead, I think people are picking THAT particular Mantle (which is great looking) over that particular Ruth (which is nice bit not exceptional for the grade like the Mantle)

+2

[Leon]

Originally Posted by rhotchkiss

i dont think people are picking a 51 mantle over a yellow ruth. Instead, i think people are picking that particular mantle (which is great looking) over that particular ruth (which is nice bit not exceptional for the grade like the mantle)

+3
.

[mrreality68]

+4

[LincolnVT]

Which card? Imagine yourself having one or the other...which ever one makes you the happiest is the right card. The Mantle does have really nice centering.

[Luke]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I dont think people are picking a 51 mantle over a yellow Ruth. Instead, I think people are picking THAT particular Mantle (which is great looking) over that particular Ruth (which is nice bit not exceptional for the grade like the Mantle)

This is where I'm at. I personally have no real desire to own any Mantles, but that one is stunning and I'd rather have it than the Ruth.

[h2oya311]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I dont think people are picking a 51 mantle over a yellow Ruth. Instead, I think people are picking THAT particular Mantle (which is great looking) over that particular Ruth (which is nice bit not exceptional for the grade like the Mantle)

This! Wow, that Mantle looks like an "8". Insane! Keeper for sure!

[egri]

Agree with everyone who said Mantle.

[Bpm0014]

Mantle all day

[mouschi]

Super sharp cards. Tough call - I think I'd prefer the Ruth, but I would want to see as clear of a pic on the Ruth as I see the Mantle. Gosh that's a toughie!

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I dont think people are picking a 51 mantle over a yellow Ruth. Instead, I think people are picking THAT particular Mantle (which is great looking) over that particular Ruth (which is nice bit not exceptional for the grade like the Mantle)

If both cards were centered with excellent color and registration all things being equal. Which do you choose?

[egri]

Originally Posted by ajjohnsonsoxfan

If both cards were centered with excellent color and registration all things being equal. Which do you choose?

Personally, I'd still go with Mantle. But if it was Mantle or #144 Ruth, then Ruth.

[yanksfan09]

I’m a Ruth guy. The mantle is awesome. However the Ruth is a blurry screenshot photo, we can’t accurately assess how nice this particular Ruth is I’d say.

[chadeast]

Originally Posted by yanksfan09

I’m a Ruth guy. The mantle is awesome. However the Ruth is a blurry screenshot photo, we can’t accurately assess how nice this particular Ruth is I’d say.

This. A good example of the usual problem with buying online. If you scanned the Ruth cleanly like the Mantle (and assuming it's got the same eye appeal) and took the grainy photo of the Mantle card, you would have likely seen very different responses. That being said, I'm not a Mantle collector but the '51 Mantle is a beautiful card, and I'd love to own this particular one.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by ajjohnsonsoxfan

If both cards were centered with excellent color and registration all things being equal. Which do you choose?

now this is a hypothetical?

[3-2-count]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I dont think people are picking a 51 mantle over a yellow Ruth. Instead, I think people are picking THAT particular Mantle (which is great looking) over that particular Ruth (which is nice bit not exceptional for the grade like the Mantle)

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding… Yep!

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Originally Posted by 3-2-count

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding… Yep!

Tony if both were equal (centering, registration, color etc) which one you go with?

[3-2-count]

Originally Posted by ajjohnsonsoxfan

Tony if both were equal (centering, registration, color etc) which one you go with?

Hi AJ. If this Ruth were as nice as this particular Mick (corners, centering, color, registration, etc) I would probably change my vote over to the Babe.

In this case though since the Mick is so damn nice, Mick wins in my opinion.

[brianp-beme]

I have a feeling that the Ruth is much nicer than that blurry image conveys.

Brian (My pick no matter what is Ruth...because if Mickey had a 1933 Goudey issued it would have pictured him as a two year old).