Mickey Mantle’s best-looking trading card

What’s the best-looking Mickey Mantle card? 

His 1952 Topps card comes to mind first, thanks to its constantly rising value. After all, it broke all hobby records when a Mint-condition (SGC 9.5) example sold for $12.6 million in August 2022. The card’s image — an illustration based on a black-and-white photograph of a young and almost shy-looking rookie — is considered by many to be a piece of mini-artwork.

Also See: All Things Mickey Mantle 

But it was just the start. Throughout Mantle’s career, Topps consistently put out colorful, eye-catching products featuring “The Magnificent Yankee.” Among them, his 1965 issue stands out: It’s an appealing design to begin with, featuring a white outer border, a bold pink inner border, and a yellow pennant bearing the Yankees’ name and logo.

Also See: Ted Williams Hall of Fame ring sells for $444K, Mantle cards attract big dollars  

The card’s photograph gives us a shot of Mantle in the autumn of his career. He’s posing right-handed, following through on a swing, with his eyes fixed on some imaginary point in the distance. Yet there’s a relaxed feel. The photograph was taken at Spring Training, and the Topps photographer captured a low-angle view, providing a bold blue sky as Mantle’s backdrop.

Numbered 350 in Topps’ 1965 set, the card gives us stats worthy of an iconic slugger. Mantle was coming off a 1964 season in which he hit .303 with 35 homers and 111 RBI. That season would mark his last World Series. Even though his team lost to the Cardinals, Mantle made it memorable by hitting three homers, giving him a record 18 World Series round-trippers.

We highlight Mantle’s high-impact 1965 card because a PSA Mint 9 specimen landed on eBay in April. It’s rare in that condition, so it drew 51 bids and soared to $24,000.

The 9 grade is nothing to gloss over. Why? Because:

• A ’65 Mantle assessed one grade lower — PSA 8 — also sold on eBay in April. That one brought just $3,300.

• An ungraded but impressive-looking example sold for even less: $3,027 on 48 bids. The listing’s photographs reveal a centered, clean, sharp-cornered card, so it may have been a steal for the buyer.

• Dropping down to a PSA 7 grade, we saw several ’65 Mantles bring similar prices in recent weeks: $2,757 on 20 bids; $2,750 on 28 bids; and $2,550 on 32 bids.

Also See: Vintage baseball photos highlighted in new book by collector Marshall Fogel 

Want a ‘65 Mantle for under $1,000? Set your sights on 5- or 6-grade examples. 

The ’65 Mantle shows up on our March “next 10” list, along with vintage Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays cards. Our monthly Top 10 Chart is highlights by a 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax rookie card. 

1. $55,100 on 27 bids: 2019 Panini National Treasures Zion Williamson/J.A. Morant Blockchain, dual autos and Logoman patches, #1/1 (BGS 9.5)

2. $46,988 on 84 bids: 2017 Panini National Treasures Patrick Mahomes II, #53/99, auto patch (PSA 10)

3. $39,999 on 2 bids: 2000 Bowman Chrome Tom Brady Refractor (PSA 9)

4. $32,150 on 74 bids: 2000 Bowman Promotion Tom Brady Rookie of the Year, unnumbered from an edition of 250 (PSA 10)

5. $32,100 on 47 bids: 1948 Bowman George Mikan (PSA 7)

6. $31,600 on 8 bids: 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan (BGS 9.5)

7. $30,100 on 42 bids: 2020-21 Panini National Treasures Anthony Edwards, #3/3, auto patch (PSA 7)

8. $30,000 on 21 bids: 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax (PSA 8)

9. $28,988 on 90 bids: 2017 Panini Contenders Patrick Mahomes II Rookie Ticket, auto (PSA 10)

10. $28,900 on 51 bids: 2017-18 Panini National Treasures Jayson Tatum, #13/99, auto patch (BGS 9.5)

• $27,631 on 54 bids: 1953 Topps Jackie Robinson (PSA 8)

• $25,100 on 47 bids: 2004-05 Upper Deck SP LeBron James Signature Edition, limited run of 100, auto (BGS 10, auto 10)

• $24,850 on 40 bids: 1986-87 Fleer Johnny Moore (PSA 10)

• $24,000 on 51 bids: 1965 Topps Mickey Mantle (PSA 9)

• $23,100 on 48 bids: 2020 Bowman Chrome Jordan Walker Orange Refractor, #20/25, auto (PSA 10)
• $21,211 on 56 bids: 2020 Panini National Treasures Tom Brady Personalized Treasures, #3/5, auto (BGS 9.5, auto 10)

• $20,700 on 68 bids: 2015-16 Upper Deck SP Authentic Connor McDavid Future Watch, #399/999, auto (PSA 10)

• $20,100 on 100 bids: 2018-19 Panini Select Luka Doncic Gold Prizm, #7/10, auto (PSA 10)

• $19,999 on 1 bid: 1951 Bowman Willie Mays (PSA 4)

• $19,999 on 1 bid: 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan (PSA 9)