PSA 9 52 Topps Mantle sells for $5.2M

[pokerplyr80]

This card has been discussed in other threads and it is well known that Evan bought and sold that card in a 9 holder.

[111gecko]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

This card has been discussed in other threads and it is well known that Evan bought and sold that card in a 9 holder.

+1

[Seven]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

This card has been discussed in other threads and it is well known that Evan bought and sold that card in a 9 holder.

If you wouldn't mind linking some of the old threads I would love to take a look.

Also this is absurd price. I fully understand that if you can drop 5.2 Million on a card you can afford probably anything, and don't care about overpaying but that price is staggering. Granted it would be in a lesser grade, but You could buy a signed version of the 52 Topps for less.

Hell if we restricting ourselves to just baseball cards/memrobillia I'm pretty sure you could buy game used uniforms of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and Joe Dimaggio and you would still be at a lower combined price than what this guy paid for this Mantle, which very well could have been trimmed.

[jamest206]

It is a Mantle, and Mantle fans based on my reading "The Last Boy" by Jane Leavy will do what it takes to keep him at the top. I completely respect that.

"The 1952 Topps Mantle is the holy grail of sports cards," Gough said. "As a kid ripping packs in the '90s, I always dreamt of owning one. ... I felt this Mantle was highly underpriced."

I completely get it, as I have game programs from 1956 World Series that I just touch and feel like I am in the presence of him, Jackie Robinson, etc. The aura is real, it was the golden age, and the perception of Mantle will never change. I am glad this overtook Trout.

Now if we can just get T206 Honus Wagner back to the top. I am pretty sure this guy is after one of these, based on his recent purchases.

Props to him as well, as we are both native Indianapolis guys!! I am putting together my measly collection now........just added a nice Joss portrait to sit next to my Young portrait.

[samosa4u]

So, Evan sold this same card back in 2018 for 2.9 million US and within three years it has almost doubled in value, is that correct? If I was Evan, I would feel like crap right now.

[glchen]

Originally Posted by samosa4u

So, Evan sold this same card back in 2018 for 2.9 million US and within three years it has almost doubled in value, is that correct? If I was Evan, I would feel like crap right now.

I think it really depends on how Evan used the proceeds. If I remember correctly, I thought he was willing to be paid in bitcoin for that sale, so if he did invest in bitcoin back then, he'd be laughing all the way to the bank, even given the appreciation for this card.

[irv]

Not surprised to see this at all. Considering it is the highest sought after card in the hobby and considering the grade of this copy, I don't see how this is out of the realms of possibility?

Look what some non sport cards like Pokémon's and others go for. Yes, it is shocking and surprising, but considering the year we just came out of, Imo, this really shouldn't be surprising to anyone.

[MattyC]

Before people on the internet start taking snarky pot shots at some guy's five-plus million dollar purchase, it is well known the card in question was sold in the same grade in which it was originally acquired. In other words, Evan Mathis did not alter or bump this card. There are certainly high dollar trimmed cards out there (one I suspect to be trimmed at auction right now, but because I don't have ironclad proof I won't slander it) but not this one.

[campyfan39]

WOW! I know a man (not very well) who has a PSA 9. He has his and three of his childhood friends' collections. When they started chasing girls he traded things for their boxes of cards.

He had four 52 Mantle's and they were all ungraded. About 10 years ago he met a dealer who said his four cards would grade about 6-7's. He traded two of them for the PSA 9 the dealer had which is his only graded card.

I spoke to him a month ago and he was surprised to hear about the boom in cards as he doesn't collect anymore and has most of them in a safety deposit box to save for his son.

My thoughts seeing this: I bet that dealer regrets that trade and I need to get in touch with this guy and let him know what this just sold for!

Edited to add: I did not personally see the card as he said it was in a bank vault. I did see photos on his phone of a huge gun like safe filled with boxes and boxes of 50’s cards. The stars were simply in top loaders. He had multiples of all of them. I have no reason to doubt him. I will find out!

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by Seven

If you wouldn't mind linking some of the old threads I would love to take a look.

Also this is absurd price. I fully understand that if you can drop 5.2 Million on a card you can afford probably anything, and don't care about overpaying but that price is staggering. Granted it would be in a lesser grade, but You could buy a signed version of the 52 Topps for less.

Hell if we restricting ourselves to just baseball cards/memrobillia I'm pretty sure you could buy game used uniforms of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and Joe Dimaggio and you would still be at a lower combined price than what this guy paid for this Mantle, which very well could have been trimmed.

I dont have links but several board members know who sold this card to Evan. There is no question about it's authenticity. It was a steal in 2018 at 3M, and it was today at 5.2. The market has changed.

[yanksfan09]

Makes me wonder what a 1914 Baltimore News Ruth would bring with this current market? I don't think there's been any public sales in quite some time. I heard one person owns a number of them despite it's very low total pop.

IMO, this should be the most valuable card in existence. It's just so rare and being hoarded. Who knows when or if an example may surface?

[One 'ol Cat]

Originally Posted by yanksfan09

Makes me wonder what a 1914 Baltimore News Ruth would bring with this current market? I don't think there's been any public sales in quite some time. I heard one person owns a number of them despite it's very low total pop.

IMO, this should be the most valuable card in existence. It's just so rare and being hoarded. Who knows when or if an example may surface?

I would agree. The rookie card from the most legendary player in history that is also an extreme rarity. The sky would be the limit.
Poor, Honus though. All my life, the T206 Wagner was THE holy grail in our hobby. I am talking 50 years here. (of my life). It feels weird for another card to hold the top spot.

[joshuanip]

Originally Posted by yanksfan09

Makes me wonder what a 1914 Baltimore News Ruth would bring with this current market? I don't think there's been any public sales in quite some time. I heard one person owns a number of them despite it's very low total pop.

IMO, this should be the most valuable card in existence. It's just so rare and being hoarded. Who knows when or if an example may surface?

Babe Ruth is sitting on top of tinder right now....notice how scarce a supply for the plentiful 33 goudey at auction houses? Let alone his more rare issues. All you need is a record breaking Ruth sale from his rookie or pre rookie card, and the slope of his already rising issues will further steepen.

[Vegas Cards]

Originally Posted by Seven

If you wouldn't mind linking some of the old threads I would love to take a look.

Also this is absurd price. I fully understand that if you can drop 5.2 Million on a card you can afford probably anything, and don't care about overpaying but that price is staggering. Granted it would be in a lesser grade, but You could buy a signed version of the 52 Topps for less.

Hell if we restricting ourselves to just baseball cards/memrobillia I'm pretty sure you could buy game used uniforms of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and Joe Dimaggio and you would still be at a lower combined price than what this guy paid for this Mantle, which very well could have been trimmed.

I'd sell any of you my whole collection for just a little less. And I promise I haven't trimmed anything either.

A legendary card deserves a legendary price. Kudos to the guy who could get it. I would too if I could.

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by Seven

Also this is absurd price.

I completely disagree. You will never lose money buying a card of this caliber. Never. There is always at least one person who will want the best of the best.

Regarding the T206 Wagner comment, if the Gretzky Wagner (the hand cut card that PSA graded an 8 "never get cheated"), ever went to auction, it would crush $6mm. I put the over/under at $20mm, and the next time it sold, it would be double that.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I completely disagree. You will never lose money buying a card of this caliber. Never. There is always at least one person who will want the best of the best.

Regarding the T206 Wagner comment, if the Gretzky Rookie (the hand cut card that PSA graded an 8 "never get cheated"), ever went to auction, it would crush $6mm. I put the over/under at $20mm, and the next time it sold, it would be double that.

I would take the over. That Wagner will always be the most valuable card. The Baltimore News is the only card that could catch it and it would take a similar high grade example that may not exist.

As for the 52 Topps Mantle, at least 2 of the 3 10s are being held by deep pockets. The 9 is realistically the best one available to new collectors/ investors. That will continue to drive the price on a 9 higher.

[sando69]

um... i don't ever remember yankee stadium being called "the house that mantle built."

[One 'ol Cat]

Originally Posted by sando69

um... i don't ever remember yankee stadium being called "the house that mantle built."

...I was referring to the 1914 Ruth. ...

[sando69]

"oh, that's very different... never mind."

[One 'ol Cat]

Originally Posted by sando69

"oh, that's very different... never mind."

Lol.

[marzoumanian]

I've seen the scenario play out over and over again and not just with baseball cards. Invest in the best within your budget. I've often seen 1952 Topps baseball cards I need that I could buy in a PSA 3, 4 or 5. I don't do it just to complete my set (fill the hole syndrome). I hold out for the PSA 6 or 7 (my financial limit). Which means I need patience and the willingness to pull the trigger when the card becomes available, even if the cost goes beyond my planned budget (within reason). For me that means knowing what PSA 6s and 7s have gone for in recent months. I do my homework by studying past transactions. I'm blessed to be in the position to do this, I know. No one can deny that this market is hot and I don't believe it's a bubble. Time will tell.
Peace.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I completely disagree. You will never lose money buying a card of this caliber. Never. There is always at least one person who will want the best of the best.

Regarding the T206 Wagner comment, if the Gretzky Rookie (the hand cut card that PSA graded an 8 "never get cheated"), ever went to auction, it would crush $6mm. I put the over/under at $20mm, and the next time it sold, it would be double that.

I should clarify my statement, absurd might have been a poor choice of words on my part. I said it because I don't think I'll make 5.2 Million Dollars in my lifetime, let alone be comfortable with spending that much money on a card. Unless of course I hit Powerball.

I 100% agree, I don't think the price will ever go down. It's a little shocking to me though. And I agree there's always a person that will want this card.

[ullmandds]

On the other hand...the autographed griffey jr rookie...ABSURD!!!!!!!

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

On the other hand...the autographed griffey jr rookie...ABSURD!!!!!!!

100% agree Pete. And there are many other adjectives I could use. I pity the fool who bought the Griffey

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by rhotchkiss

100% agree pete. And there are many other adjectives i could use. I pity the fool who bought the griffey

haha!

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

100% agree Pete. And there are many other adjectives I could use. I pity the fool who bought the Griffey

If there actually is such a fool...

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

On the other hand...the autographed griffey jr rookie...ABSURD!!!!!!!

Yea I didn't get that one either. I'm sure he doesn't need the money, but let's say Griffey bought 30 psa 10s for 2k each and took them to psa, had them cracked out, signed, and regraded. 25 now got the 10/10 grade. $1M+ profit isn't bad for an afternoon, even for him.

Or if he signs at a national or big show collectors can do the same thing.

[slightlyrounded]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

Yea I didn't get that one either. I'm sure he doesn't need the money, but let's say Griffey bought 30 psa 10s for 2k each and took them to psa, had them cracked out, signed, and regraded. 25 now got the 10/10 grade. $1M+ profit isn't bad for an afternoon, even for him.

Or if he signs at a national or big show collectors can do the same thing.

Only problem with your plan: if you crack and resubmit 30 psa 10 Griffey’s, only a very few will gem again. Thus is the inanity of grading.