What did everyone think about Memory Lane’s strong Mickey Mantle on card autograph s

[Brian]

I really love the signed exhibit.

I am probably alone in liking these photo pack issues picked up last year. They are the best of all possible worlds for me--a cross between a card and a photo, with an auto. And from what I can tell, pretty low pops.

[bleeckerstreetcards]

As a 31 yr old vintage collector who grew up surrounded by and loving game used relic and autographed modern cards because both, in a way, brought me “closer” to the player, I think the interest (not sure on prices, as these are all discretionary/luxury goods subject to macro conditions) in these signed vintage cards are here to stay. As the average modern collector graduates to vintage over the coming 5, 10, 25 years, that collector has an expectation of being able to get autographed cards of their favorite players to collect.. and comparatively less of a need for “pack fresh” / high grade cards than previous generations. Curious of others thoughts

[Schlesinj]

Considering they have been beaten down with the concept of 1/1 patch autos it will be an easy transition.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Brian

I am probably alone in liking these photo pack issues picked up last year. They are the best of all possible worlds for me--a cross between a card and a photo, with an auto. And from what I can tell, pretty low pops.

Those are fabulous. Who didn't love picture packs as a kid?

[Vintageclout]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Those are fabulous. Who didn't love picture packs as a kid?

My passion for signed vintage cards stems from the fact that the player actually held the card in their hands. Such a neat aspect, especially when you find one with brilliant eye appeal (both autograph & card). For those who think the Memory Lane prices were significantly “over the top”….think again. Look at the population reports of high grade unsigned examples vs. signed subjects. There’s your answer. For the nicest signed examples, today’s retail will be tomorrow’s wholesale.

[irv]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I was certainly bummed to part with them, yet sometimes as collectors— akin to being GM of a team— we have to give up the very, very good to get the great in our clubhouse. For me, a longtime collecting goal which I never thought possible was to create this quartet pictured below and so when the chance arose I made the moves to make it happen.

I don't blame you one bit for what you chose to do. It's a goal/dream not many of us get to see to fruition.

Originally Posted by bleeckerstreetcards

As a 31 yr old vintage collector who grew up surrounded by and loving game used relic and autographed modern cards because both, in a way, brought me “closer” to the player, I think the interest (not sure on prices, as these are all discretionary/luxury goods subject to macro conditions) in these signed vintage cards are here to stay. As the average modern collector graduates to vintage over the coming 5, 10, 25 years, that collector has an expectation of being able to get autographed cards of their favorite players to collect.. and comparatively less of a need for “pack fresh” / high grade cards than previous generations. Curious of others thoughts

I agree, and I have noticed this a lot lately with modern hockey cards which now seem to be the favorites to acquire.

Originally Posted by Vintageclout

My passion for signed vintage cards stems from the fact that the player actually held the card in their hands. Such a neat aspect, especially when you find one with brilliant eye appeal (both autograph & card). For those who think the Memory Lane prices were significantly “over the top”….think again. Look at the population reports of high grade unsigned examples vs. signed subjects. There’s your answer. For the nicest signed examples, today’s retail will be tomorrow’s wholesale.

I agree. I currently only have a couple/few signed cards/photos with my Bobby Orr card being my favorite. Knowing he personally held it and signed it is just extra special to me.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Vintageclout

My passion for signed vintage cards stems from the fact that the player actually held the card in their hands. Such a neat aspect, especially when you find one with brilliant eye appeal (both autograph & card).

That's pretty much the thing with autographs in general, right? Whatever the medium, that person actually held it while he or she penned their name.

[Brian]

I agree--for many of us, it is the closest we will come to a "connection" with these guys.

Still, those were pretty stratospheric prices.......

[Snapolit1]

Yeah, you could buy an index card that Mickey also held (for 10 seconds) for $700. Just sayin.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Yeah, you could buy an index card that Mickey also held (for 10 seconds) for $700. Just sayin.

Honestly, by comparison to the shiny stuff he signed, Mantle index cards are extremely rare and severely undervalued. Same for Mays. Now, if you want a fake one of either guy, or a rubber-stamped Mantle or a wife-signed Mays, then sure, those abound. From my decades of observation, I'd put the population of signed Mantle 3X5s under that of signed vintage cards. With Mays, exponentially less than even Mantle!

The reasons are simple:

Both Mantle and Mays were superstars early on and were done with fan mail after their first few seasons. Even prior to that, they certainly weren't answering every letter that came their way. When they stopped responding, there was a lull for some time. Then, shortly following their retirements, you started seeing the classic red/orange rubber stamped Mantle replies and Mae Mays signing everything that came to Willie's Atherton mailbox. Later on, the card show era started up. People had to pay for the autographs, so just as they weren't interested in "ruining" their baseball cards with autographs, they wouldn't dream of "wasting money" on having an index card signed when they could get a ball or photo instead.

You do see a lot of 3X5 sized Mantles in slabs, but these are just cut down from his signed books which were autographed by the thousands. They're not true index cards, nor are they on the proper stock.

[Golfpro10]

Originally Posted by Vintageclout

My passion for signed vintage cards stems from the fact that the player actually held the card in their hands. Such a neat aspect, especially when you find one with brilliant eye appeal (both autograph & card). For those who think the Memory Lane prices were significantly “over the top”….think again. Look at the population reports of high grade unsigned examples vs. signed subjects. There’s your answer. For the nicest signed examples, today’s retail will be tomorrow’s wholesale.

I took the 1958 topps Mantle as an example. The data below is similar for just about any vintage card when comparing signed vs unsigned

1958 Topps Mantle
I didnt count qualifiers in any of these.

Unsigned
7600 in the total pop
Psa 9. Pop 28. Last sold around 80k
Psa 8. Pop 212 last sold around 11-12k

Signed
53 in the total pop
Psa 4 with 10 auto. Only 6 higher and highest graded is a PSA 5. The PSA 4 with 10 auto sold for 15k.

If you gave me the option of the PSA 8 with a 212 pop or that psa 4 with a 10 auto with a pop of 8 and only 6 higher. Give me the auto all day long. Just my opinion.

[Vintageclout]

Exactly! Furthermore, I personally prefer the low pop PSA 4/AUTO 10 versus any of the 28 unsigned PSA 9s that sell for up to $80K. That is my point. From a pure “Pop” perspective, the signed PSA 4 at $15K is an absolute STEAL versus the $80K collectors are paying for PSA 9s, with huge upside for these aesthetically pleasing low-pop signed Mantle cards (or any iconic Hall of Famer). Autographed cards for baseballs legendary players are super investment collectibles. Scripted cards for Ruth, Gehrig, Cobb (very tough to find), Johnson, DiMaggio, Ted Williams (severely undervalued), Jackie Robinson, and Mantle are the best of the best, with Aaron, Mays, and Koufax also gaining ground.

[Seven]

I wanted to chime in with this as well.

I would label myself a card collector first, and an autograph collector second. That being said, one thing that I definitely prefer from a player, in terms of an autograph, is an early career signature.

What we see from a lot of these guys in terms of signed pieces, is their show signature. Mantle is one of the most prominent examples of this. His Show signature, is like a vintage Cadillac. It's iconic, it looks great, especially when he accompanied it with that small "No.7" inscription.

However there's something about his early career signature, that I just love and is more rare. Before he perfected his show circuit one. I've included it below.

Now chances are, short of me hitting the lottery, I'm not going to be able to afford any signed Mantle Cards. However, if money was no object, I would love to hunt his early issues of cards, with the more classic mantle signature in Ballpoint.

[Golfpro10]

Originally Posted by Vintageclout

Exactly! Furthermore, I personally prefer the low pop PSA 4/AUTO 10 versus any of the 28 unsigned PSA 9s that sell for up to $80K. That is my point. From a pure “Pop” perspective, the signed PSA 4 at $15K is an absolute STEAL versus the $80K collectors are paying for PSA 9s, with huge upside for these aesthetically pleasing low-pop signed Mantle cards (or any iconic Hall of Famer). Autographed cards for baseballs legendary players are super investment collectibles. Scripted cards for Ruth, Gehrig, Cobb (very tough to find), Johnson, DiMaggio, Ted Williams (severely undervalued), Jackie Robinson, and Mantle are the best of the best, with Aaron, Mays, and Koufax also gaining ground.

I 100% agree with everything you said. I also like your comparison that these legendary players are super investment collectibles. Autographed vintage is obviously incredibly rare and is a category that has fought the negative stigma for decades. If vintage auto's ever become more accepted within the hobby, values for quality vintage autographs could absolutely explode towards the unsigned PSA 9 prices mentioned above in my opinion.