Today would have been Mickey Mantle's 91st Birthday, Show your favorite Mick

[quitcrab]

The 1958 Mantle All Star never gets old. Beautiful card

[TUM301]

Should make for an interesting thread boys, my favorite is this Stahl Meyer but in search of a decent "55".
Mickey Mantle 1953 Stahl Meyer, nice young image ! by Hugh Murphy, on Flickr

[Rad_Hazard]

My 2 Mickey's.

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by TUM301

Should make for an interesting thread boys, my favorite is this Stahl Meyer but in search of a decent "55".
Mickey Mantle 1953 Stahl Meyer, nice young image ! by Hugh Murphy, on Flickr

Hugh, the Stahl-Meyer Franks Mickey Mantle is my favorite, too. Yours is a beauty. The picture registry is as crisp as can be! I can't recall when you got it, but congratulations.

As I wrote in my book, during the mid-1970s when I was going to shows, I was SO enamored with the 1954 Dan-Dee. I just loved that card. I finally got one about 1975 in a trade. I mean, I was so pleased with it and loved it. In the summer of 1981, when the Beckett 3 baseball card guide came out, they included several color pages of an over-the-top color type card collection. Well, among the gem photos were a 1953 and 1954 Stahl-Meyer Mickey Mantle. WOW!!!!! At that time, I was an unemployed school teacher. Somehow, I found the money to buy the guide, JUST TO GET THOSE STAHL-MEYER MANTLE IMAGES, as well as the images of a press collection, an interest of mine at the time.

Hugh, seeing what a Stahl-Meyer Franks Mickey Mantle looked like absolutely, positively, blew my feelings for the Dan-Dee Mick out of the water!

Again, I'm happy for you that you were able to get one. Mickey is looking right into your eyes, and it makes you a kid all over again as you admire the card.

Sorry for the long post, bro, but some things can't be said in 5 words. Have a swell weekend. Also, sure enjoyed viewing your FLICKR album. Wish I could do that. Take care. --- Brian Powell

[Seven]

A little late to the party.

Other than The Mick being the inspiration for my username (Well that and an episode of Seinfeld!), he's the centerpiece of my small collection.

The 1968 Topps Mantle was the first that I received. In desperate need of a new magnetic one touch holder! I had to get a procedure done when I was ten years old. My Father, who often told me stories of Mantle, from his youth, gifted me this after the surgery was completed and I was feeling better. It started me on the long journey that I am still on today.



One of my other favorite Mantles is this 1956 Topps Mantle. It was on my first trip to Cooperstown two years later, that a small show was going on from across the Hall of Fame. George Mollyn, a card dealer, who still operates in the PA area sold this to my Father and I. George spent a great deal of time, talking to me about the 1933 Goudey set, along with sharing some stories of collecting from his youth.



The third was a more recent addition, that happened during the pandemic. At the time I was unable to afford (and as of this moment, still unable to afford) The 1951 Bowman Rookie of The Mick. I stumbled upon the Berk Ross set by chance, and made a post on here. Chuck graciously sold me the Berk Ross Mantle, at a more than fair price. To this date it's been my biggest purchase on this forum and one that I'll never forget

[brian1961]

Hey Seven, let me tell you something. The picture focus on your three Mantles are really a sight to behold. James, in particular your Berk Ross. I mean, 9 of out 10 times, a Berk Ross Mantle's picture looks fuzzy and just plain awful. Right away, I could tell it was sharp as a tack, when I looked at Mickey's eyes. Congratulations James, on all 3 but especially that Berk Ross. Wow.

On top of that, I loved the precious personal stories of how you acquired each one. Personal stories mean a lot to me, and they must also to you as well.

Thank you for sharing your personal joy, my fellow collecting warrior.

Keep enjoying "the hunt". --- Brian Powell

[roarfrom34]

Signed dual photograph of both The Mick & Brooks Robinson as well as an AP press photo taken seconds afterwards:

[71buc]

I’ve had quite a few Mantle cards pass through my hands over the years. I always seem to sell them to fund a Clemente purchase. All I have currently is this ball he signed for me in Portland about 30 years ago. If I remember correctly they were charging $20 at that time. It has never toned and remains in the same condition it was when I handed it to Mickey all those years ago. I also have this type 1photo from 1958.

[AP34]

My favorite mick

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[packs]

Always loved this card. I was so happy when I found this one:

[rats60]

[ALR-bishop]

Recurring variants

[JollyElm]

In rough shape, but this wickedly-rare one's always my go-to card in these types of threads. 1967 Laughlin World Series #61, and most importantly, with address on back...

1967laughlin61mantleBEFORE.jpg

• That cross crease is interesting, because it's at the height that a standard Topps card would've reached. My hypothesis is some kid(?) wanted this Mantle to conform to the size of his other cards, so he bent it accordingly as it sat on top or bottom of his stack (and then put the whole pile in his back pocket?). Seems logical.

[campyfan39]

If you sold those you could retire on some island. You know that right? What keeps you keeping them?

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Recurring variants

[Tomi]