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If one card has come to symbolize the sports card hobby, it's the 1952 Topps #311 card, featuring the smiling portrait of a young Mickey Mantle. In 1952, Mantle was in his first full season as the Yankees centerfielder, having just replaced the immortal Joe DiMaggio. At the time, few thought Mantle could fill the shoes of Joe D., but he would go on to slug 536 home runs and be an integral force in bringing seven World Series titles to big ball yard The Bronx. Mantle became the idol of his era with his wholesome good looks and his first Topps card would usher in the sports card boom, as those fans turned into collectors and sought to repurchase their childhood decades later. In the process, the 1952 Topps Mantle has become the most popular trading card ever issued, desired by both seasoned veterans and relative newcomers alike.

Due to the popularity of this card, it has become more than just a collectible, crossing into investment territory. In fact, despite recent economic struggles, the 1952 Topps Mantle has continued to increase in value. This card, graded PSA 1.5, is a chance to own an affordable example of the card, while maintaining an untouched image of the young Mantle. Lower grade examples, described as 'collector grade', are often more popular, as a broader collecting base can afford the card when compared to the scant few who can afford a six-figure MINT condition example.

The story of the difficulty of obtaining a '52 Mickey Mantle rookie is well-known in collecting circles, as it was included in the final series released that year - the so-called 'high numbers'. By the time the high series was released, many children had begun preparing to return to school from their summer vacations and Bowman football cards were hitting the shelves. Baseball card sales had softened, and untold numbers of 1952 Topps - including the coveted Mantle card - lay unwanted in Topps' Brooklyn warehouse.  Years later, as Sy Berger admitted, they were disposed of in a watery death when they were loaded onto a barge and dumped in the Atlantic Ocean. Despite the fact that this is not Mantle's "true" rookie card, his 1951 Bowman card was issued the prior year, the 1952 Topps example is unquestionably his most desired and most valuable card. The Topps monopoly became ingrained in the minds of collectors as Bowman ceased card production after their 1955 issue, and this Topps set has become one of the mostly widely collected sets ever produced. In fact, Topps still uses Mantle's image to market their cards in the present day. Today, when collectors are asked to close their mind and imagine a baseball card, the image that most conjure up is that of Mickey Mantle. Now is your chance to stop dreaming and own a striking, and affordable, example of this iconic piece of Americana (via our eBay auctions) that is sure to be the centerpiece of your collection for years to come. Just Collect is always looking to purchase Mickey Mantle cards issued during his playing career (1951-1969) as well as vintage sports and non-sports cards from 1879-1979.