Top 10 Mickey Mantle cards for collectors

Mickey Mantle easily has some of the most valuable and coveted trading cards in the hobby.

When Mantle retired after the 1968 season, he was third on the all-time home run list at 536, trailing only legends Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. Mantle was also No. 1 in career games played for the New York Yankees, with 2,401 after 18 seasons. The switch hitter from Oklahoma was a .298 lifetime hitter. 

It’s no secret that Mantle cards—generally in any condition—demand top dollar. With vintage prices continuing to go up year by year, Mantle is a solid hold for collectors and investors.

Also see: Sports collectible hobby celebrates first 8-figure sale with $12.6 million ’52 Mantle

At the 2017 National Sports Collectors Convention, I spoke with a collector who was trying to find a PSA 1 version of Mantle’s 1952 Topps card. The collector had $5,000 in his pocket, ready to make a deal (little did his wife know his plan). Prices around that time for a PSA 1 were about $8,000, so that collector was hoping to get a good deal. By mid-2023, a collector couldn’t find a ’52 Topps Mantle graded in any condition for under $30,000.

Also see: Show Calendar: Sports card, memorabilia shows nationwide

Let’s take a look at 10 of Mantle’s most popular and valuable cards.

“This set marks Mantle’s very first appearance on a Topps card and though it’s not his true rookie card, it is still his most coveted,” a PSA blog says. “Reasons as to why abound and now the card is considered a piece of Americana and even pop culture art.”

The image on the card is of a young 19-year-old Mantle in his first spring training with the Yankees in 1951. Later that summer, “The Mick” broke out with the big-league team and was a force on the diamond for the next 18 years. 

Only three PSA 10 examples exist and another six PSA 9s. SGC has graded just one 9.5, which sold for an industry-record $12.6 million in 2022, and two 9s.

Legendary collector Marshall Fogel, who owns the top PSA 10 of this card, said he’s been offered $30 million for the card. Fogel politely declined the offer. He believes the card is worth $50 million.

Estimated value: $60,000-$50,000,000 (VG 3-GEM MT 10)

Also see: Collector equates 1952 Mantle card to ‘a piece of art,' buys it for $5.2 million

This is Mantle’s true rookie card since it’s his first card produced.

 “It’s a beautiful card that embodies classic baseball card collecting,” Cardboard Connection says.

Over the last few years, the card has gained a lot of traction. Though it has always been second fiddle to the ’52 Topps, many collectors enjoy this card because it was released during his first season.

There is just one PSA 10 example that exists — owned by Arizona Diamondbacks principal owner Ken Kendrick — and nine copies graded PSA 9. There are under 2,000 of these Mantles ever graded by PSA.

Estimated value: $35,000-$3,000,000 (VG 3-MT 9)

This second-year card shows Mantle in the patented Yankee pinstripes without a bat. It’s another early Mantle card that demands big money in the high grades.

However, the price difference between the same grades of this card compared to the ’52 Topps is remarkable.

There are only two PSA 10 examples and 13 in PSA 9.

Estimated value: $4,500-$55,000 (VG 3-NR-MT 8)

Topps opted to go for a tighter shot of Mantle for his second-year card. It’s a nice look.

“Many collectors would argue it’s his best-looking card of them all,” says OldSportsCards.com.

This card demands prices that are generally the third highest for all Mantles — behind just the ’52 Topps and ’51 Bowman.

PSA has graded just two 10s and 10 that turned out to be 9s of the 4,000 submissions.

Estimated value: $4,000-$400,000 (VG 3-GEM MT 9)

Also see: Mickey Mantle jersey, 1952 card top $9 million in Heritage Summer auction

The Berk Ross Company of New York used Mantle as its centerpiece in its ’52 set. The Mantle image is the same one used in the ’51 Bowman Mantle.

Even though it’s an unlicensed Mantle card, it’s a Mantle card. That ensures it’s desirable.

It’s also a rare card. PSA has not graded anything over an 8, and there are just over 300 total Mantle cards graded from this set.

Estimated value: $5,000-$50,000 (VG 3-NR-MT 8)

Even though this is Mantle’s third-year card, it is the centerpiece of the 1953 Bowman Color set. According to PSA, this card is extremely hard to find well-centered.

There is just one PSA 10 example and 23 graded 9.

Estimated value: $2,500-$30,000 (VG 3-NR-MT 8)

Anyone looking for a 1954 Topps Mantle will be on an endless search. Bowman locked down an exclusive contract with Mantle for trading cards, so Topps wasn’t able to use “The Mick’s” image for a card. Bowman took advantage of this opportunity and released a great-looking card featuring Mantle’s still youthful smile with the sky in the background.

PSA has never graded a 10 of this card, and there are only 11 in a 9.

Estimated value: $1,800-$60,000 (VG 3-NR-MT 8)

After a two-year hiatus of Topps having Mantle cards — because Mantle had a contractual agreement with Bowman — the 1956 Topps version is a beauty.

It’s the first to feature two photos of Mantle on the front of the card. Here’s an action shot of him robbing a home run at the fence as well as a smiling Mantle mugshot.

Mantle went on to win the Triple Crown that season, cementing this issue in trading card lore.

There are just four PSA 10s of this card.

Estimated value: $1,500-$50,000 (VG 3-MT 10)

Also see: Army vet’s 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card found in cheese box sells for $186K at Heritage 

This is Mantle’s final card released during his playing days. Two months after this set was released to the public, the 37-year-old announced his retirement.

This card—numbered 500 in the set—isn’t worth big money because it’s Mantle last. All the players in the release have their last names in yellow. However, Topps produced some Mantle cards in limited quantities with white letters for his last name. It’s unknown if this was a simple factory error or if it was done on purpose to sell more packs. However, it shakes out that this Mantle card is coveted by collectors.

PSA has graded just one PSA 10 and only four 9s with white letters.

Estimated value: $2,000-$50,000 (VG 3-NR-MT 8)

Collectors got a real treat in 1994 when Upper Deck released a dual autograph card of Mantle, the vintage king, with a young slugger by the name of Ken Griffey Jr.

Painted headshots of what turned out to be two of the finest center fielders of all time were a hit. According to Cardboard Connection, Upper Deck inserted 1,000 of these cards into its retail and hobby boxes for its Series 1 release that year. Single-signed versions of this card were also available.

Estimated value: $10,000 (NM 7)

Also see: All Things Mantle