Debating Which Mantle to Go For.

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

I think the 52 Bowman is the Mona Lisa of baseball cards. Definitely my favorite Mantle. Also, I believe it’s his first card in pinstripes (someone correct me if I’m wrong).

[Seven]

Originally Posted by thatkidfromjerrymaguire

I think the 52 Bowman is the Mona Lisa of baseball cards. Definitely my favorite Mantle. Also, I believe it’s his first card in pinstripes (someone correct me if I’m wrong).

I believe you are correct, since his 51 Issue was a photo in the Yankees Road Grey, and so was his 52 Topps I believe. His 52 Berk Ross issue, also used the same photo of his from his 1951 bowman issue, where he happened to be wearing number 6!

I really love both of the cards, really depends on whichever comes to me at a better price, I've decided.

[bobsbbcards]

Easy vote for me, since I've never been a fan of '53 Topps. The '52 Bowman is probably my favorite regular issue Mantle.

[Volod]

Originally Posted by bobsbbcards

Easy vote for me, since I've never been a fan of '53 Topps. The '52 Bowman is probably my favorite regular issue Mantle.

Man, that's a beautiful '52 Bowman card, Bob. My ungraded example is only about EX+, but I did only pay about fifty bucks for it back in 1982 and was pleased to have it at that time. Mainly because, in recalling my experiences as an eight-year-old collector in 1952, it was extremely frustrating to me that the third series waxpacks I bought with my precious nickels produced stacks of commons, including the card numbers on either side of 101, but I never saw a Mantle. I just knew that whoever was on that card must have been special because I kept finding duplicates of Peanuts Lowry, Sibby Sisti and others, but never a 101. I still wonder if I was just that unlucky, or if that card was somehow limited in distribution in my area, since I also had trouble finding other Yankees in the set.

[bobsbbcards]

Originally Posted by Volod

I still wonder if I was just that unlucky, or if that card was somehow limited in distribution in my area, since I also had trouble finding other Yankees in the set.

More likely due to the fact that card #101 weighed 0.4 grams more than a normal card, so pack searches at Target (or Walmart) could bring their scale and easily find one. Things never change.

[Volod]

Originally Posted by bobsbbcards

More likely due to the fact that card #101 weighed 0.4 grams more than a normal card, so pack searches at Target (or Walmart) could bring their scale and easily find one. Things never change.

Yuk... in 1952, Walmart and Target stores didn't exist, and wouldn't for another ten years. But, the idea that the '52 Bowman Mantle card was heavier than others is intriguing - makes me wonder why I never thought of lugging my family's ten-pound bathroom scale down to the Mom&Pops to weigh all of their waxpacks.