Put all your eggs in one basket. 52 Mantle or ..........

[butchie_t]

Diversify, diversify, diversify.

If I ever buy a 52 Mantle it would be for a personal set.

Butch…

[bnorth]

If Mantle I would go with the best 51 Bowman you could get for that amount as an investment.

[Tomi]

Originally Posted by bnorth

If Mantle I would go with the best 51 Bowman you could get for that amount as an investment.

Insanely undervalued compared to the 52 Topps.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Tomi

Insanely undervalued compared to the 52 Topps.

I agree, but on the other hand we've said the same thing for decades. It's kind of like Spahn and Musial being undervalued.

[Carter08]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I agree, but on the other hand we've said the same thing for decades. It's kind of like Spahn and Musial being undervalued.

Agree. In a Spahn man and it won’t change. I’m not even a Mantle fan but I see 52 Topps Mantle as about as sure fire as it gets.

[rdwyer]

I believe the Mantle would increase more than other rookies. Mantle for me.

[Rhotchkiss]

52 Topps Mantle

[Rad_Hazard]

I would definitely diversity. I've been collecting for 30 years and that has always been the best method. I wouldn't bother with the 52 Topps Mantle, get the 51 Bowman instead and use the extra cash to snag a 33 Goudey Ruth 144, a 51 Bowman Mays, a 54 Topps Aaron, and a 39 Play Ball Ted Williams. You may even have some cash left over at that point.

[Johnny630]

If you have $50,000 to Invest and you want to do it on cards. Instead of spending on one 52 Topps Mantle in a PSA 1.5 or 2 Suggest buying 5-10 of following cards, All In this 5,000 to 10,00 ballpark value. Reason I say this is due to a wider audience of people who will have the ability to pay in person at a major card show for one of these cards vs having to use an auction house for liquidity. Nothing wrong with that but if you’re investing you want to limit your fees just like using a etf over mutual fund or major brokerage house with adviser vers low cost Etrade type account.

Stick with a Regular Issue Of the nicest eye Appealing highest grade to stay $8,000 and under cards, pre war prefer killer Centered 2-3’s. Prefer 7’s in 50’s 8’s in 60’s. No oddball no scarce rarities, not as many collect these. Stick with the ones everyone knows and loves. I prefer grade and eye appearance vs low grade and rookie...don’t get caught up in say a 49 Bowman Jackie in a 3 or 4 plenty out there get yourself a nice Centered killer eye appeal 53 Topps in a 7.

T206 Cobb any version
144 Ruth Centered
53 Topps Satchel Paige
53 Topps Jackie Robinson
56 Topps Roberto Clemente
56 Topps Willie Mays
57 Topps Mickey Mantle
57 Topps Sandy Koufax
59 Topps Bob Gibson
63 Topps Pete Rose
65 Topps Mickey Mantle
67 Topps Tom Seaver
68 Topps Nolan Ryan

Do this tactfully preferably buying from private collectors vs chasing in auction unless the card is killer.

Just my take, either way have fun a enjoy the chase.

[mrreality68]

52 Mantle

People with money always seem to have money to spend.
And a 52 Mantle is the top of the mountain of those type of cards and always have a market and always seem to just go up

[wondo]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I agree, but on the other hand we've said the same thing for decades. It's kind of like Spahn and Musial being undervalued.

This

[glynparson]

Originally Posted by wondo

This

I agree

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I agree, but on the other hand we've said the same thing for decades. It's kind of like Spahn and Musial being undervalued.

People said the same thing about Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson and look what has happened to their RCs over the past few years. Mantle is the top name in post war vintage His RC will always be a great investment. Diversifying with multiple RCs of the biggest names is better than betting on one card.

[darwinbulldog]

I'd diversify. Pre-war rookies (with the exception of the ones unavailable for $50,000) seem to have more growth potential.

[Exhibitman]

I'd go after more of the big fella.



We are passing through history but Babe Ruth is history.

If postwar, I would go with the Mantle. Most iconic card of the postwar period in any sport.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by rats60

People said the same thing about Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson and look what has happened to their RCs over the past few years. Mantle is the top name in post war vintage His RC will always be a great investment. Diversifying with multiple RCs of the biggest names is better than betting on one card.

I would think every other card is riskier than the Mantle. I don't know why one would diversify into riskier cards.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I agree, but on the other hand we've said the same thing for decades. It's kind of like Spahn and Musial being undervalued.

And that's why as much as the card doesn't impress me, I'd probably go with the 52 Mantle.
The upper grades are pricy enough to get lots of PR when they sell, and their high prices bring all the lower grades up.

If only I'd considered this back in the late 70's/early 80's when I might have been able to afford one or maybe even a few.

[Exhibitman]

FWIW (which ain't much) I know several non-collectors or newbie collectors who are 'meh' as to a Mays or Aaron RC but absolutely freak out when they see a 1952 T Mantle in person. As Ryan says, it is the 2nd most iconic card.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

FWIW (which ain't much) I know several non-collectors or newbie collectors who are 'meh' as to a Mays or Aaron RC but absolutely freak out when they see a 1952 T Mantle in person. As Ryan says, it is the 2nd most iconic card.

I think you could argue it's the first. Not everyone is into prewar and Mantle played for the Yankees in their greatest era, and was a folk hero in a way Wagner never was.