Mickey Mantle Baseball Cards You Should Know About
Summary & Career Highlights
Rookie Year: 1951
Iconic Rookie Card: 1951 Bowman #253
Highest Public Sale: 1952 Topps #311 SGC 9.5 for $12.6M in August 2022
Similar Career Players: Eddie Mathews, Mike Schmidt, Frank Thomas, Gary Sheffield, Sammy Sosa, Mike Trout, Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Robinson
Players with Similar Cards to Check Out: Hank Aaron, Yogi Berra, Willie Mays, Whitey Ford, Minnie Minoso, Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron, Al Kaline, Ernie Banks
Career Highlights
3x MVP (1956, 1957, 1962)
7x World Series Champion (1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962)
Triple Crown Winner (1956)
20x All Star
536 Home Runs
Inducted to Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974
MLB All Century Team
Iconic Cards
The list of players with a market for every one of their playing days cards is small: Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle. Mickey Mantle’s aura, accolades, and celebrity have drawn thousands of collectors over the years. As a result, all his base Topps and Bowman cards are highly recognized and collected across the hobby. This player profile will highlight some of Mickey Mantle's iconic and best baseball cards.
For those considering values, note that vintage cards have a wide value range. A PSA 1 1969 Topps Mantle might sell for under $100, while a PSA 10 (Pop 2) could fetch over $300,000. I encourage you to use your preferred pricing tool (I like Card Ladder, but Vintage Card Prices also works well for vintage cards) to find a grade and price point that suits you.
Icon Key
Prospective Card Cost:
💰 - Under $250
💰💰- Under $1,000
💰💰💰- Under $5,000
💰💰💰💰- Under $15,000
💰💰💰💰💰- Over $15,000
Rarity:
💎 - Common & High Serial Number
💎💎- Serial Numbered or Pop Under 200
💎💎💎 - Serial Numbered or Pop Under 100
💎💎💎💎 - Serial Number or Pop Under 50
💎💎💎💎💎 - Does this card even exist? Serial Number or Pop under 10
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1951 Bowman
#253
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰💰-💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: While Mantle's 1952 Topps may be considered the crown jewel of sports cards, its not his rookie card. That title beloings to his 1951 Bowman #253. Widely considered to be one of the greatest baseball card sets of all time, the 324 card checklist included 252 commons and 72 "High numbered" players later added to the checklist. The decision to expand the checklist gave collectors Mantle and Willie Mays' only true rookie cards. The card remains one of the most sought after chases for baseball collectors and prices reflect as such.
1952 Bowman
#101
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰💰-💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: The 1952 Bowman set is often overshadowed by the iconic 1952 Topps and it lacks the "Wow" factor of the 1951 and 1953 Bowman sets. But that doesn't mean it should be ignored. 1952 Bowman offers collectors a more affordable chase and a cheaper entry-point to an early Mickey Mantle card than most. Sharing a similar design with the 1951 Bowman, the 1952 set introduced facsimile autographs, adding a unique touch. However, finding cards from this set without centering issues or gum stains on the backs can be challenging, making pristine cards especially valuable to collectors.
1952 Topps
#311
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: 1952 Topps is a set that sits in rarified air and the Mantle at its apex. The hobby's most iconic card has defined the collecting for decades and just so happens to have sold as the most expensive card sale of all time. So what makes the '52 Topps Mantle so iconic? Baseball's most popular athelete in the biggest market in the most important post-war baseball card set. If you're interested in learning more about 1952 Topps, the set's background, Mantle card being dumped into the ocean and much more, PSA has a phenomal write-up I'd encourage you to check out here.
1953 Bowman Color
#59
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰-💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: The 1953 Bowman set is often called "The most beautiful set ever created." To compete with Topps' "Giant" 1952 issue, Bowman introduced full-color photographs, a first for any sports card. This set also marked Bowman's debut of including player stats on the back of each card. Like previous Bowman releases, well-centered copies are rare. High-grade Mantles are especially scarce, with only one ever receiving a PSA 10. Also make sure to check out the iconic 1953 Bowman Pee Wee Reese which perfectly captures the Dodgers SS in mid-air above 2B.
1953 Topps
#82
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰💰-💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: Today, we have over 70 years of Topps history, but in the early 1950s, Topps was still building its brand. To compete with Bowman, every one of Topps' releases needed to be as captivating as their 1952 debut. Rising to the occasion, Topps commissioned artist Gerry Dvorak to produce 274 oil paintings for the 1953 set. Unlike the "color tinting" of photos in the 1952 set, the 1953 Topps cards look more like fine art. Mickey Mantle is once again the chase card, with Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson also highly sought after. Editor Note - This is by FAR my favorite Mantle card.
1954 Bowman
#65
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰-💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: After losing significant market share to Topps following the '52 and '53 releases, Bowman needed to make a splash. Their answer? Sign Mantle to an exclusive contract and pull the New York megastar away from Topps. In doing so though, Bowman may have compromised the overall appeal of the set. By shifting towards a veteran heavy checklist, Bowman missed out on including future Hall of Fame rookies Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, and Al Kaline. They also cut corners on production costs that lead to an underwhelming design. Despite all that, Mantle's card still remains the set's chase and is highly desired.
1954 Dan-Dee Potato Chips
N/A - No Numbering
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰-💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: In 1954, Mickey Mantle signed an exclusive trading card deal with Bowman, but not for promotional cards. In the mid-50's the most popular type of promotional cards were through food! The 1954 Dan-Dee Potato Chips set was an unnumbered 29-card set was distributed in potato chip bags in the mid-Atlantic region. The card's distribution, a potato chip bag, made it extremely challenging to find a copy without oil stains. There are also less than 1,000 graded copies which stem from its limited regional release, making Mantle's 1954 Dan-Dee card one of the rarest of his playing days issues.
1954 Red Heart
N/A - No Numbering
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰💰-💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: In 1954 you could find baseball cards everywhere, including in food products of most aisles in the grocery store. Among these was the 1954 Red Heart dog food set. Issued as redemptions with Red Heart dog food, the 33-card unnumbered checklist was regionally distributed. Since the cards were mail-in redemptions and not packaged with the product, they are often found in better condition than their hot dog and potato chip counterparts. For collectors that appreciate the set and are looking for other players to collect, the set also features Stan Musial's only card released in 1954.
1954 Stahl-Meyer Franks
N/A - No Numbering
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎💎💎💎
About the Card: Hot dogs! Get your hot dogs HERE! New York based meat company Stahl-Meyer decided that oversized baseball cards would be their key to grocery aisle success. They released sets in 1953-1955, with 1954 being the rarest of the bunch. There are currently fewer than 30 graded copies between PSA and SGC. The 1954 design is similar to the 1953 release but features vibrant yellow borders instead of plain white. To protect the cards from hot dog juices, Stahl-Meyer used a thick wax coating, which provided moderate success.
1955 Bowman
#202
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰-💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: In 1955, Mickey Mantle did not have a Topps card, leaving Bowman as the only option for collectors. 1955 Bowman, the company's final release before filing for bankruptcy, featured a unique design inspired by the color TV which was introduced to consumers just a year earlier. The wood grain paneling created a unique design but has collectors divided. Some see it as a gimmicky choice that contributed to Bowman's downfall, while others view it as a beautiful time capsule of 1950s nostalgia. What do you think?
1956 Topps
#135
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰-💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: 1956 marked Mickey Mantle's triumphant return to Topps after the company bought out rival Bowman and reacquired his trading card rights. The horizontally oriented set is considered one of the nicest Topps sets of the 1950s. Each card features a player portrait in front of an action photo. Mantle's card comes in two versions: the more common "Gray" back and the less common "White" back. Due to its added scarcity, the "White" back typically sells for 1.5 times the price of the "Gray" back, assuming similar grade and condition.
1959 Topps
#10
Prospective Card Cost: 💰-💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: In 1959, Topps returned to its roots with a vibrant set design featuring high-contrast colors and increased graphic usage. This fresh approach reinvigorated collectors and set the stage for the iconic funky color designs of the 1960s. With over 15,000 graded copies available, low-graded versions of Mantle's's card are both affordable and accessible for collectors. Beyond Mantle, the set is anchored by fellow Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Ernie Banks, and Bob Gibson whose bubble gum pink rookie card is arguably the set's most recognizable card.
1961 Topps Dice
N/A - No Numbering
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎💎💎💎💎
About the Card: Mantle's 1961 Topps Dice card is the rarest and one of the most coveted coveted Mantle card. As part of a never-released test issue, these cards were initially intended for a dice game and were not widely distributed, making them incredibly scarce. Collectors doubted their existence until the first Mantle was sold publicly through Heritage Auctions in 2021. This card is the definition of a Mantle grail, with its desirability rivaled by only mint copies of his 1952 Topps and 1951 Bowman cards.
1969 Topps
#500 White Letters
Prospective Card Cost: 💰-💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: 1969 Topps is most well known for Reggie Jackson's rookie card and the first solo card of Nolan Ryan. Closely behind those two cards though is Mickey Mantle's and his final Topps card. The "Yellow letters" version of Mantle's card was the commonly printed copy, while the "White letters" variation is almost 10 times as rare. Whether you're collecting a "Yellow letters" to complete Mantle's basic Topps run, or looking for an investment piece in his "White letters" variation, 1969 marks an important bookend in Mantle's card catalog.
1999 Upper Deck Ovation
#536HR A Piece of History 500 HR Club
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰-💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎💎💎
About the Card: Upper Deck's "A Piece of History 500 Club" set was an ambitious project, featuring memorabilia cards with game-used bats from each member of the 500 home run club. Released across various Upper Deck products in 1999 and 2000, these cards created an exciting multi-product chase for collectors. Although they aren't numbered, the Mantle doesn't sell very often. Be sure to add it to your watchlist to avoid missing the chance to add a copy to your collection!
A Few of My Favorites
The theme chosen for most of the Mantle favorites featured here is, "Mickey with...". During his playing days, Mantle was heavily featured in All Star and League Leader cards due to his success. His stardom also drew in collectors, so the card companies wanted to make sure he was included as often as possible. When card manufacturers in the 90's introduced pack issued autographs, Mantle was at the top of their wish list to anchor the chase.
1953 Bowman Color
#44
Why It's a Favorite: The Yankees won five World Series titles from 1948 to 1953, marking one of the most dominant runs in sports history (which pains me to say as a Red Sox fan). Bowman perfectly captured the invincible attitude emanating from the Bronx with card #44 from their 1953 set. This card features Mickey Mantle alongside fellow Yankee greats Hank Bauer and Yogi Berra. Mantle was a cornerstone of those championship teams, despite still being seen as "Joe DiMaggio's successor." This card is a simply designed yet powerful depiction of a truly memorable period for Yankees fans.
1958 Topps
#418
Why It's a Favorite: Hank Aaron held the all-time home run record with 755 dingers until Barry Bonds surpassed him. Surprisingly, Aaron only led the league in home runs four times, the same number as Mickey Mantle. These two prolific sluggers are depicted together on the 1958 Topps card, the only card featuring both players. It's an affordable option for collectors looking to add a Mantle card from his playing days to their collection.
1962 Topps
#18
Why It's a Favorite: The wood-grain border design wasn’t new when Topps introduced it in 1962. An arguably better-executed version appeared in the 1955 Bowman set. The 1962 Topps set is often seen as the black sheep of the 1960s due to its muted design, susceptibility to chipping, poor quality control, and the mysterious green tinting that appeared in some packs. Despite these flaws, the set’s vintage feel and the unique way the player’s photo peels back to reveal the name, team, and position make it stand out, particularly among Mantle’s Topps cards. These design elements give the 1962 Mantle card a distinctive charm that resonates with me.
1992 Score
#4 The Franchise Autograph Musial/Mantle/Yaz Autograph /500
Why It's a Favorite: 1992 Score was a product released during the height of the junk wax era. Within the millions of cases produced though, was an early triple autograph that was the product's chase. Of course I'm referring to "The Franchise" triple autograph of Mickey Mantle, Carl Yastrzemski, and Stan Musial. Hand numbered to just 500 copies, the rarity of this card in its era makes it highly sought after. There are also solo autographed copies of this card for each player if you prefer.
1994 Upper Deck
#JR Mantle/Griffey Dual Autograph
Why It's a Favorite: Pack issued autographs were introduced in 1990 Upper Deck with the Reggie Jackson 500 Club auto. Other manufacturers quickly introduced their own chase autographs, but none achieved what Upper Deck did with the 1994 Griffey Jr./Mantle dual autograph. This was a dual autograph featuring the most popular players in the sport's history not named Babe Ruth. Upper Deck issued three variants: 500 copies each of Mantle's solo auto, Griffey's solo auto, and the dual autograph. It was and is a card that helped to define an era.
Honorable Mentions
1947-66 Exhibits
1952 Berk Ross
1959 Bazooka
1960 Post Cereal
1968 Topps Posters Box Cut Out
1967 Venezuela Topps #192
1969 Topps Super #24
2006 Topps '52 Chrome Gold Refractor #7 /52
Have another card you think deserves an honorable mention? Let us know on IG @TheSmarterCollector!