If you were a kid in Oklahoma during the 1950s, chances are you were a huge fan of Mickey Mantle. The ‘Commerce Comet’ had become a full-fledged superstar by then, having already become a World Series champion, MVP and boyhood idol of millions. In the summer of ’59, Mantle was one of 20 past and present big league players featured by Oklahoma Today magazine. They were stamps that accompanied an article on players who called the Sooner State home. This week, Just Collect is offering one of a scant few examples of the 1959 Oklahoma Today Mantles that have ever been graded and this one is a beauty. Graded PSA 9, it’s among the featured items in our eBay auctions and early bidding has been aggressive. Oklahoma Today chronicled the people, places and points of interest in the state. Obviously, as a regional issue, it’s much harder to find than any traditional Mantle bubble gum card. The fact that it came with a magazine that often didn’t reach youngsters meant the majority of them were tossed out—either in 1959 or in the years that followed as residents cleaned out their closets, attics and bookshelves. These 1 ¾” by 2 ¾” cards feature pastel backgrounds and, of course, perforated edges. How rare are they? Consider that PSA has encapsulated only 181 total examples. They’ve never graded a Mantle from this issue in a ‘10’, so the ‘9’ we’re offering is as good as it gets with superior color, focus and gloss and outstanding centering. This extremely scarce issue is worthy of attention whether you’re a Mantle collector or someone who collects rare, regional issues. We love to buy Mantle cards too. Give us a call if you have any you’d like to liquidate.
