Super high end Mantle cards

[timzcardz]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Great post. Totally agree. Popularity is often fickle and downright irrational. I could walk down Fifth Avenue today and find 100 woman I think are more beautiful than Kim Kardashian.

It's interesting to me that Mantle and Jordan were similar dudes in a lot of ways. Sort of aloof, enigmatic, didn't say that much, sometimes even surly to reporters and fans. Not saying bad guys, but both (like Derek Jeter) revealed very little of themselves to the outside world. Maybe when that's your M.O. it's easier for people to project on to you and make you larger than life.

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Only 100?

It's been raining today!

[brooklynbotter]

Most people I know in modern cards (Late teens/early 20s) view Mantle's as the vintage cards to get. They won't dabble in anything else, but either have or want to buy a Mantle as a "flex." Like everyone has been saying, mantle has allure in the collecting world that I doubt goes away even with a generation that hasn't seen him play.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by brooklynbotter

Most people I know in modern cards (Late teens/early 20s) view Mantle's as the vintage cards to get. They won't dabble in anything else, but either have or want to buy a Mantle as a "flex." Like everyone has been saying, mantle has allure in the collecting world that I doubt goes away even with a generation that hasn't seen him play.

Like most luxury goods for rich people who aren't otherwise hard core collectors, buying highly graded Mantle cards can be a status symbol. Obviously for those of us who are hard core collectors, it has a very different meaning.

[ClementeFanOh]

I've now seen multiple recent threads touching on this very topic. I feel
fairly objective here because I don't care for the Yankees as a fan or as a
collecting focus.

The original post seems focused on Mantle card values, not his position on
baseball's Mount Rushmore. Again, this question comes across negatively, as
if his high values are somehow a bad thing. I don't understand the
skeptical/unhappy/whatever term you want to use approach. Mantle's cards
have been "A+" list for decades, and there's no sign of that changing.

Trent King

[gonefishin]

There was one Elvis Presley, one Steve McQueen, one Ronald Reagon, and by the grace of God - one Mickey Mantle!

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by gonefishin

There was one Elvis Presley, one Steve McQueen, one Ronald Reagon, and by the grace of God - one Mickey Mantle!

Well, Elvis memorabilia hasn't appreciated much in value. There is greatly reduced demand for his stuff these days. Don't believe Ronald Reagan stuff is hot exactly hit sh*t either.

I've lived in the NYC area my whole life. Not a Yankee fan, but have no problem with people buying every Mantle card they want for every dollar they want to spend. Just seems to me that even taking account all the great things people have listed above, I have a hard time understanding why his cards outsell any other player of the 60s by multiples.

[gonefishin]

No, but sometimes it's just not about the money. I'm fortunate enough to have been alive at the same time they were. They all have one thing in common - movies!

[AustinMike]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

I have a hard time understanding why his cards outsell any other player of the 60s by multiples.

I was 6 in 1960 when I became a baseball fan. I lived in NW Louisiana. I saw MLB games once a week on Saturday. What team was shown much more than any other team? The NY Yankees. It seems they were on almost every week. I became a Yankee fan and have stayed one ever since. I'm sure there are many more people like me who have never lived in NY and became Yankee fans because they were on TV so much and because they were so good. If Mays had been on TV and been visible to so many people as much as Mantle, maybe he would be as popular (although we all know that skin color would have to be factored in). The same could be said for Aaron. Even though their career stats are better than Mantle's, they were not as visible to the entire American public to the extent that Mantle was.

In regards to Mantle's 1952 Topps card, I have to agree with you. Although I have many, many different Mantle items, I do not have his '52 Topps card. Why? Because I've always thought it was over priced. I have been waiting since 1986, when I got back into cards, for the price to drop to be more in line with where I thought it should be. It never has. And now I feel it never will.

[Yoda]

One of the many alluring characteristics to some collections was Mickey's alcoholism, a fatal flaw that made him seem just human. His liver transplant was front page sports news. Think of the numbers he could have put up if no injuries or problems with the bottle.