The 1952 Topps Mantle is Overpriced and Over-hyped

Seven · #1 05-30-2022, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric72

There was a copy which sold at auction for $3,000 around 1980. It was a mainstream news story which greatly increased the popularity of baseball card collecting.

This was a tremendous amount of amount of money for a card which was (at that point) less than 30 years old. It sent many people scrambling to find their childhood collection, visions of dollar signs dancing in their minds.

The hobby took a meteoric rise throughout the 80s, with this card being top-of-mind for many new collectors. That "first impression" has proven to be quite a lasting one.

The interesting thing is $3000 adjusted for inflation in 2022, would be a touch over $10,500, which nowadays, cannot even afford you a 1952 Mantle, even in its worst condition.

brian1961 · #2 05-30-2022, 01:11 PM

Friends, I hunted and hunted for this little hobby relic. My dear son loaded up the return letter I received from Larry Fritsch in answer to my inquiry if he had a really nice 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle available for sale. Though the letter does not specifically state "1952 Topps", trust me, that was the card. I saved it as a souvenir. Sure wish I had that virtually incomparable Mantle back, but my wife and I are happily living in a nice house. My son is married now, but he kindly helped me get this letter on here for those of you who might be amused.

--- Brian Powell

Peter_Spaeth · #3 05-30-2022, 02:26 PM

What a great document.

Exhibitman · #4 05-30-2022, 02:44 PM

$25 in 1973...if my father had bought 10 of them...

jsfriedm · #5 05-30-2022, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

$25 in 1973...if my father had bought 10 of them...

...he would have been committed. Could anything have sounded crazier in 1973 than someone saying these pieces of cardboard would be worth millions of dollars?

profholt82 · #6 05-30-2022, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian1961

Friends, I hunted and hunted for this little hobby relic. My dear son loaded up the return letter I received from Larry Fritsch in answer to my inquiry if he had a really nice 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle available for sale. Though the letter does not specifically state "1952 Topps", trust me, that was the card. I saved it as a souvenir. Sure wish I had that virtually incomparable Mantle back, but my wife and I are happily living in a nice house. My son is married now, but he kindly helped me get this letter on here for those of you who might be amused.

--- Brian Powell

That's wonderful! Thanks for sharing.

Foo3112 · #7 05-30-2022, 06:37 PM

Thats a neat little letter. I love how he called $25 "steep". Minimum wage was $1.60 in 1973. Today, that's the equivalent of $10.50. $25 Back then (1973) would be comparable today to $164 (2022).

Thats so crazy. Goes to show that buying a 52 Mantle is always a good decision. Even with cards going down (but many still above from what they were just two years ago), the Mantle still continues to climb. Unfortunately, it's one of those cards that if you are saving up for, by the time most acquire the funds, the card rose in value again making it almost unattainable.

Leon · #8 05-31-2022, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian1961

Friends, I hunted and hunted for this little hobby relic. My dear son loaded up the return letter I received from Larry Fritsch in answer to my inquiry if he had a really nice 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle available for sale. Though the letter does not specifically state "1952 Topps", trust me, that was the card. I saved it as a souvenir. Sure wish I had that virtually incomparable Mantle back, but my wife and I are happily living in a nice house. My son is married now, but he kindly helped me get this letter on here for those of you who might be amused.

--- Brian Powell

That is great, Brian. Thanks for sharing.
.

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