Since its meteoric rise to the top of the baseball card heap in the 1950s, one name has stood synonymous with card collecting: Topps. While other names have joined the fray since then, Topps has held on as an essential part of baseball history. Legends like Hank Aaron and Mickey Mantle owe part of their mystique to Topps baseball cards.
If you’re looking for a rare, sought-after Mickey Mantle baseball card, you’ll often find a Topps card. Which Mantles make the best centerpieces to a collection and which just add flair? Keep reading and we’ll highlight some of the all-time great cards of this all-time great player.
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle Baseball Card
What is a Mickey Mantle rookie card worth? As much as the entire rest of the hobby put together, depending on who you talk to. Few items in the world have risen in value as much as the Mantle rookie.
While the first Mickey Mantle rookie card came from rival manufacturer Bowman, the most expensive baseball card of all time comes from the 1952 Topps set. This card, considered Mickey Mantle’s rookie card among Topps cards, defines not just collections but the hobby as a whole. Those in poor condition can still go for more than $10,000.
The best-preserved example sold for more than $12 million at auction in 2022. Even near-mint examples command values exceeding $1 million. The combination of rarity, historical relevance, and mystique gives this Mickey Mantle rookie card its value.
1953 Topps #82
The 1953 Mantle card comes in close behind the 1952 in value. Like the 1952, it predates Mickey Mantle breaking out as a true star, as he batted less than .300 that year.
The card has an eye-catching design that makes it hard to find at high grades. The red box at the bottom of the card reaches the lower edge, which can lead to obvious chipping and damage. Print defects also plague some copies of this card, and its extreme close-up of Mantle’s face makes these defects more noticeable.
1956 Topps #135
Mickey Mantle missed a few years in Topps baseball card sets. An exclusive agreement with Bowman meant that Topps collectors didn’t see his face for a while. With low-grade copies of this card commanding prices less than $1,000, the 1956 Topps makes an attractive centerpiece of a collection for collectors looking to balance amazing finds against expenses.
Well-preserved cards still command a high price, and the ubiquity of the 1956 Topps issue makes it a common choice for collectors. Thousands of examples in Good 2 or better condition still circulate among collectors and investors, making it easier to find than a lot of the other options on this list.
1957 Topps #95
Many would say Mickey Mantle had his best year in 1957. His performance earned him his second consecutive MVP Award, reaching base more times than he got outs and setting his career-high batting average of .365. 1956 and 1957 both saw him set a Wins Above Replacement (WAR) value over 12.
The 1957 Mantle doesn’t draw the same prices as earlier Mantles, with the highest-graded specimens going for roughly $160,000. It does have a unique production bug that draws the attention of historians of card collecting, though.
Well-preserved 1957 Mickey Mantle cards have a ghost-like outline of another human figure at the tip of Mantle’s bat. While fans sometimes call this the ghost of Babe Ruth, most agree that the figure comes from a groundskeeper or photographer’s assistant who entered the shot at the last second.
1961 Topps Dice Game
This black-and-white set remains shrouded in mystery as one of the strangest Topps releases. These cards never saw a final release, but were part of a product test conducted at playgrounds and other children’s gatherings during the 1960s.
The card image uses game used black-and-white versions of other Topps photos. The reverse side had rules for comparing a roll of two six-sided dice to one of four types of pitches, leading to results like singles, doubles, or home runs.
If you find one of these Mantles in your collection, congratulations. You’ve stumbled on a unique investment and a fascinating slice of baseball history.
1963 Topps #200
The 1963 Topps #200 Mickey Mantle card marks a difficult year in Mantle’s career. While the card commands a value of more than $70,000 in perfect condition, it comes from a year in the Hall-of-Famer’s career where he missed much of the year. A crash into a wall in the outfield broke his foot and sidelined him for more than 60 games, adding one more to his extensive list of injuries.
Things weren’t all bad for Mantle during the year, though. The 1963 Mickey Mantle baseball card value comes from his secondary value to the team as much as his performance. Mantle earned cheers as the franchise’s most popular player and the face of the brand, making him the fifth player to earn a six-digit salary for playing baseball.
A Second 1963 Mantle?
Mickey Mantle appears on a second card in 1963 as well. This card, titled Bombers’ Best, features three members of that ball club from that era. Unlike the solo card, the card Mantle shares with Tom Tresh and Bobby Richardson doesn’t have much value.
If you’re aiming to build a comprehensive collection of Mantle cards or Yankees cards, though, this card makes a great addition to your collection.
1965 Topps #350
1965 saw Mickey Mantle’s star begin to fall. A .255 batting average on Mantle’s part coupled with an aging, injury-prone Yankees roster marked the tail end of the New York Yankees’ dominance of the era. Even so, the 1965 Mantle holds decent value regardless of grading.
1969 Topps “White Letter” Mantle
In 1969, Mickey Mantle announced his retirement. While his 1969 Topps card made no special mention of the end of Mantle’s career, it did come in two versions. Rather than the standard yellow, one printing of Mantle’s 1969 card uses white lettering.
We’ll never know why some players got a variant card in 1969. We do know that hundreds of these cards exist, with many well-preserved examples.
Assuming the Collector’s Mantle
Almost every Mickey Mantle baseball card holds some value. While unique releases and early cards draw astronomical sums at auction, even low-grade Topps Mantles command decent prices as vintage baseball cards.
If you think you’re sitting on a gold mine of pre-1975 sports cards, reach out to Mark Rubin and American Legends. At American Legends, we’ve handled collections of all sizes and can make sure you get a fair deal.
