Experiencing FOMO, I bought the poor man's Mickey Mantle rookie...

[gottagitdemjs]

Maybe I should have said "rookie." I'd venture to guess that a lot of hobbyists don't even know these exist....Anywho, I really like it. It's an actual picture rather than a drawing. I hope to someday pick up a 52 Topps, but the recent frenzy has driven those further and further out of my price range. Until then, I'll have to live with my 51 Bowman (which I bought pre-pandemic/Mantle frenzy) and this....

The 1951 Wheaties RC (It's currently off to PSA to be authenticated)

[PuddleMonkey]

Originally Posted by gottagitdemjs

The 1951 Wheaties RC (It's currently off to PSA to be authenticated)

You trimmed it up first, right?

[Bambino22]

Cool card!

Did Wheaties pack colored pencils with it?

[gmarutiak]

That is a gorgeous card, op. Congratulations!

[DioBrando]

Congrats on picking up a awesome card. First time I've even heard of that one

[pip]

The "card" is from 1952 at the earliest. The original photo used for the card was taken before game 6 of the 1952 World Series.

[towerymt]

Here's what I've found:


https://goldinauctions.com/1952-mick...o-lot8720.aspx

Final prices include buyers premium.: $3,608.43

"LOT #719:
1952 Mickey Mantle World Series Original Type 1 Don Wingfield Photo – One of the Most Iconic Mantle Images of All Time! PSA/DNA"

Don Wingfield was the famed New York Yankee photographer, working for the Bronx Bombers as well as The Sporting News, the Washington Senators and the Topps Company. He also free-lanced work for national magazines such as LIFE and LOOK. His friendly nature and true professionalism endeared him to many players, who many years later would speak fondly of Don. During the 1952 World Series, Don was working the annual Yankee – Dodgers tilt for The Sporting News and snapped this photo of a young Mickey Mantle, an image later used for Mickey Mantle related cards including his very scarce “1951 Wheaties” issue. Our photo features Mantle in a batting pose taken before the 6th game of the 1952 World Series, a tightly contested game which saw the Yankees clinging to a 2-1 lead going into the top of the 8th inning, and behind in the Series 3 games to 2. Then Mantle connected on a Bill Loes pitch to give the Yankees a 3-1 lead, eventually winning the possible elimination game 3-2. Mantle also walked twice in the contest. Mickey would eventually hit the Game 7 go ahead home run a day later. The reverse has the desirable “PHOTO BY DON WINGFIELD” stamp with his address, and “Mickey Mantle” written THREE TIMES, one in black felt tip marker, one in blue ink and one in pencil. The stamp “00351” also appears. There is a “Hillerich & Bradsby, Inc.” stamp and handwritten “H&B 901”, indicating this exact photo was at one time part of the H&B Archives at the Louisville Slugger bat maker’s headquarters. To avoid any issue with ownership, this photo also comes with a Hillerich & Bradsby LOA, signed by John Hillerich IV and was part of their Louisville Slugger Museum Auction on November, 6, 2004. We can definitely date this photo to October 6, 1952. When researching the history of this photo, we came across a thread on a vintage sports website which the discussion centered on this image. One reader, who is well known as a Mantle photo enthusiast (claimed to have over 150 rookie Mantle images!), has a copy of this photo with same Don Wingfield photo stamp, but also the “OCT 6, 1952” date stamp. This makes sense, as the stadium background appears to be Ebbetts Field, the upper deck contains a few red-white-and-blue buntings, and Mantle is in his road gray jersey. Interestingly, while Mantle is clearly in his road grays, the scarce Wheaties card image of Mantle with this pose has airbrushed in Yankee pinstripes. The condition is fabulous, much better than you would expect from a photo which was likely well-handled. It contains some crinkling of the heavy gloss coating in several corners, and a crease in the upper left. None of these issues affect the pristine youthful appearance of one of the most charismatic baseball players of all time. The photo has been sent to PSA/DNA where their experts agreed it was a TYPE 1, Mickey Mantle Original Don Wingfield Photograph, circa 1950s, but our additional efforts have narrowed it down to a World Series turning home run game by Mantle. PSA/DNA has encapsulated this photo in their protective holder, issuing a certification number of 1P04862, with the corresponding numbered sticker affixed to the lower left corner on the reverse. How many of these actual period photos have you seen of Mantle offered on the market? Not many. We haven’t seen many offered for sale, either. This is one of the most iconic images of a young Mickey Mantle, taken on a day he literally changed the entire epic 1952 World Series, and would be one of the highlights of any vintage photo collection. PSA/DNA, Type 1 Original Photo, cert number 1P04862.

https://www.psacard.com/cert/1P04862

"Notes Image used for Mantle's 1951 Wheaties Premium card."

[callou2131]

Originally Posted by towerymt

Here's what I've found:


https://goldinauctions.com/1952-mick...o-lot8720.aspx

Final prices include buyers premium.: $3,608.43

"LOT #719:
1952 Mickey Mantle World Series Original Type 1 Don Wingfield Photo – One of the Most Iconic Mantle Images of All Time! PSA/DNA"



https://www.psacard.com/cert/1P04862

"Notes Image used for Mantle's 1951 Wheaties Premium card."

disregard...how is it a 51card with a 52 picture? interesting

[rngrdanny22]

Originally Posted by callou2131

disregard...how is it a 51card with a 52 picture? interesting

[CaptSpaulding]

There are flaws with dating on some issues and for some reason the dates go unchanged. This is clearly one of them. There is a thread on CU from a collector who is an expert on the set and he addresses the date issue.

Anyway, the Wheaties Premium Mantle is a great looking item from early in his career. Congrats on the pick up. It is Mantle's Wheaties rookie card.

[PLAYED4NOTHING]

Dude that thing is awesome

[FlyingDutchman]

Yeah that’s a really cool pick up! Congrats

[tonedef2oo8]

Not 51 at all.

[gottagitdemjs]

Got it back from PSA. Was fully expecting a 1 with an outside chance of a 1.5, especially with all I've been hearing lately about how tough PSA has been since the new ownership took over. Well, I was pleasantly surprised...

[bryanscs]

Nice. What are the dimensions of that card?

[rats60]

Originally Posted by callou2131

disregard...how is it a 51card with a 52 picture? interesting

The same way that 1947 Bond Bread Jackie Robinson cards used photos from the 1949 season.

[Neal]

Great image! Congrats

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