What are your top 5 Mickey Mantle cards?

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

I too am disappointed Topps did not create a position for an historian that would have had access to and be commissioned to document and write about all Topps issues over the years, including the test stuff. I agree that it is not likely to happen now. Whatever Woody G knows or remembers, he does not seem to want to talk about it in detail anyway.

I have 20 of the 24 Stand Ups from 1967. There are at least two full sets represented on the Board. They are tough, but the Dice, 70 Cloth, 55 Stamps and 71 Artist's Proofs are, I think, tougher.

I think the 3 rare Current All Stars were pulled due to the ongoing early contract disputes with Bowman. I doubt they ever were actually distributed....so since I have the other 8, I prefer to consider that set complete ....out of desperation....sort of like I hope my 68 Plaq and 67 Punch Out sets are complete because the SCD checklists are wrong

You obviously have a lot of knowledge about old Topps stuff ( I am still collecting Topps to this day and think there are some interesting issues in the 70s and 80s too ), so it is great to make your acquaintance . Another poster here, Dave Hornish ( dsh) is a great resource about such stuff. He would be a great man for the Topps historical job. Have you seen his blog ?

Congrats on all your amazing rare Topps stuff. No Al, I have not seen Dave's blog. It's probably pretty good.

As for the 3 ultra rare Current All-Stars, you hit the nail on the head---they were never issued. Problem is, they definitely belong. Be that as it may, you should count your set complete. Acquiring any of the three is just icing on the cake.

I did a check on the three players once, but forget what I came up with. Compare who was in the Bowman set, Al, as well as who was in the Topps Red and Blue backs. I thought I remember a surprise finding. I think Bowman had two pay levels, just as Topps did--exclusive and non-exclusive. Now that all three of those guys are dead, we may never know. I recall thinking about that when Robin Roberts died.

Woody Gelman did send out some of those 3 Current All-Stars to very selected friends or traders. As I recall, some were die-cut, and some did not have the cut. Sounds similar to the variations in the Giant Stand-up. Either one is valuable. I like them without the die-cut; this way, they will not come apart. However, the cut produced what the designer intended for in the first place. We collectors would rather just have the card, period, fully intact.

Thanks for the encouragement. It helps our hobby to share info.

Take care and keep cool down there in San Antone. Respectfully, Brian Powell