Want to add a Mantle to my collection.

[usc1]

Hi Guys,

I want to add a Mantle to my collection but my budget is less than $800. Not much I know.

Which Mantle is the best bang for the buck with that budget? I am mostly a t206 collector so I am out of my element. I’ve always liked the look of 1957 Topps but not sure if that’s the card I should pursue?

I would appreciate any feedback.

Thank you.


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[hxcmilkshake]

You can get a nice 55 for $800.

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[atk825]

Originally Posted by usc1

Hi Guys,

I want to add a Mantle to my collection but my budget is less than $800. Not much I know.

Which Mantle is the best bang for the buck with that budget? I am mostly a t206 collector so I am out of my element. I’ve always liked the look of 1957 Topps but not sure if that’s the card I should pursue?

I would appreciate any feedback.

Thank you.


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Can’t go wrong with 1957. First year of the now standard card size, a simple yet awesome template and a picture of him from his triple crown winning 1956 season. 57 was also the second of his back to back MVPs.

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by usc1

I’ve always liked the look of 1957 Topps but not sure if that’s the card I should pursue?

I think you answered your own question! I like the look of the 1963 Mantle myself, so that is what I got. The 1957 is a pain to find centered, but they do exist. A nice PSA/SGC 4 to 5 1957 Mantle with good eye appeal is what you should look for in that price.

[ThoseBackPages]

cant go wrong with a '57!

[towerymt]

I put together a '57 set as my only vintage set to date, but for Mantle, I dont think its my favorite.

'59 is probably my personsl favorite. PSA-4 to SGC-5 falls in budget, PSA-5 might exceed unless you accept off-centered ones.

PSA-1 - 1.5 '56 might be in budget. One of the most popular.

I like both the '53 & '54 Bowman. Again, low grade necessary to be in budget, but you could find a really nice looking PSA-1 with a defect on the back that lowers the grade (and cost).

Good luck. Collect what you like.

Here's one of my '57s, with stains/glue on the back, and a few light creases. But looks better on the front than most 1s.

[usc1]

Thanks for all the feedback. Yes, finding one centered is a nightmare.


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[usc1]

Originally Posted by towerymt

I put together a '57 set as my only vintage set to date, but for Mantle, I dont think its my favorite.

'59 is probably my personsl favorite. PSA-4 to SGC-5 falls in budget, PSA-5 might exceed unless you accept off-centered ones.

PSA-1 - 1.5 '56 might be in budget. One of the most popular.

I like both the '53 & '54 Bowman. Again, low grade necessary to be in budget, but you could find a really nice looking PSA-1 with a defect on the back that lowers the grade (and cost).

Good luck. Collect what you like.

Here's one of my '57s, with stains/glue on the back, and a few light creases. But looks better on the front than most 1s.

Yours is nicely centered for a psa 1. Nice find.


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[ThoseBackPages]

yea, centered mantles are always going to sell well, price wise

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by usc1

Hi Guys,

I want to add a Mantle to my collection but my budget is less than $800. Not much I know.

Which Mantle is the best bang for the buck with that budget? I am mostly a t206 collector so I am out of my element. I’ve always liked the look of 1957 Topps but not sure if that’s the card I should pursue?

I would appreciate any feedback.

Thank you.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you aren't set on getting a "base" card, there are quite a few decent alternatives. Here are three of my faves:

1958 Mantle All-Star
1959 Mantle "In Action"
1960 Mantle All-Star

His 1964 Topps Giant card is also nice if you're willing to consider something odd-sized....

[ReggieBush22]

Why don't you just go to Ebay and type in, "mickey mantle sgc" and buy what you want? This collecting thing is supposed to be fun.

[oplum29]

Originally Posted by usc1

Hi Guys,

I want to add a Mantle to my collection but my budget is less than $800. Not much I know.

Which Mantle is the best bang for the buck with that budget? I am mostly a t206 collector so I am out of my element. I’ve always liked the look of 1957 Topps but not sure if that’s the card I should pursue?

I would appreciate any feedback.

Thank you.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

depends exactly what you are looking for?

a Mantle from the 1950s or 1960s?

me personally, within a budget of $800, i'd go with:

1957



1958


1967


i think these three are my favorite ones.

[usc1]

Originally Posted by oplum29

depends exactly what you are looking for?

a Mantle from the 1950s or 1960s?

me personally, within a budget of $800, i'd go with:

1957



1958


1967


i think these three are my favorite ones.

Yes, I think the ‘57 is calling my name. I’ve always liked the look of that set since my first purchase of a ‘57 Pee Wee Reese when i was 13.


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[ThoseBackPages]

DO IT!

[jmcca170]

You want the 1957, so go with that. For under $800, you should be able to find a nice centered psa 3


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[oplum29]

my favorite is the 57.

for whatever reason, i never was a fan of the 56' and i passed so many times on the 53' Topps one, i regret it now. but that's okay, the 57' is my favorite. the 58' has grown on me, it's such a beautiful set.

[SupermanBrandon]

'57. Its my favorite looking Mantle.

[Slvnumber2]

Like the 57 Mantle - one of my favorites behind the 56 and 53 Mantle. Needed to add one to my Mantle run this summer and could not decide so I grabbed both the PSA 6 and PSA 7. Think I am keeping the 7 and moving the 6 possibly if i get a large card at auction.




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[dani0100]

I'd be looking for the best presenting 53 or 54 bowman mantle I could find within budget. A year ago, this would have included some nice ones. Now, prices are up and you'll be looking pretty low grade, but some of the low grade Mantles looking pretty darn nice. 53 Bowman is probably out of range at this point, but 54's can still be had.

My thought is that the earlier the Mantle, the better it will hold value and/or appreciate. Kicking myself for selling my 53 Bowman PSA 4 quite a few years back.

[oplum29]

i remember an eBay listing on the 57' Mantle that mentioned something about "Babe Ruth's ghost", i had no clue what he was talking about, thought it was one of those eBay sellers coming up with garbage, but nope, apparently stories broke out among kids that the guy in the background was "Babe Ruth's ghost". that made the card even more interesting.

[GMRide27]

Originally Posted by Slvnumber2

Like the 57 Mantle - one of my favorites behind the 56 and 53 Mantle. Needed to add one to my Mantle run this summer and could not decide so I grabbed both the PSA 6 and PSA 7. Think I am keeping the 7 and moving the 6 possibly if i get a large card at auction.




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I'd keep the PSA6! That green color bleed line across the top of the PSA7 would make me nuts!

Both beauties though.

[Slvnumber2]

Originally Posted by GMRide27

I'd keep the PSA6! That green color bleed line across the top of the PSA7 would make me nuts!



Both beauties though.

Thank you for the nice note. I don’t like the green line but it does not bother me much, main thing I like about the PSA 7 is the centering which is about as strong as you will ever see on a 1957 Mantle which is almost impossible to find well centered. A couple of years ago I had a chance ro buy an 8.5 in the 57 Mantle and had them both side by side to compare. The buyer says to me “you’re 7 looks as good as my 8.5” so I kept the 7 and extra $15k at the time. Here is an old scan of it heads up to see it better - PC label is for premium centering.

[Handsome Wes]

So, I went on eBay a few minutes ago to check on some Mantles.

I have a question - there are some that are ungraded that I have a bit of an interest in.
I have noticed that there are some cards that are listed with ‘authenticity guaranteed’ these days…. And others that are not.

Do you think the others, that don’t have that guarantee, are not authentic? How do they guarantee authenticity?

I’m not taking like a ‘52 Mantle being sold for $75 bucks. More like a 1960 ungraded for $350 where others are sold in the same price range.

Thought?

[hxcmilkshake]

Originally Posted by Handsome Wes

So, I went on eBay a few minutes ago to check on some Mantles.

I have a question - there are some that are ungraded that I have a bit of an interest in.
I have noticed that there are some cards that are listed with ‘authenticity guaranteed’ these days…. And others that are not.

Do you think the others, that don’t have that guarantee, are not authentic? How do they guarantee authenticity?

I’m not taking like a ‘52 Mantle being sold for $75 bucks. More like a 1960 ungraded for $350 where others are sold in the same price range.

Thought?

I wouldn't trust ebays authentication process, but that's just me. I buy low graded within my budget w/some eye appeal.

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[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by Handsome Wes

Do you think the others, that don’t have that guarantee, are not authentic? How do they guarantee authenticity?

All cards $250 should go to CSG for authentication. Sometimes if people list things a certain way, it doesn't have authentication over $250. Grading authentication is over $350, so sometimes cards raw cards listed $250 to $350 can be listed wrongly under graded.

I would trust the graded cards more than CSG authenticating them personally. CSG will know if the card is authentic, but I don't trust them for checking the grade or measuring cards. I had an undersized card graded by CSG and I have seen a few more. Their cases are designed to perfectly fit standard sized cards. If cards are a bit too big, they need to use plastic sleeves and use different slabs. If a card shows space in a CSG slab, you better question the card inside. Those cards would get rejected by PSA/SGC for minimum sized instantly.

I am comfortable going raw for up to $200 on eBay. Once it gets higher, I typically will only buy graded or really need to see the card in person.