Rate your top 8 Mantle cards from the 50's

[almostdone]

The way most true collectors look at card is a form of art. Some also see an investment oportunity (which is fine) but even then one cannot deny the pure art in the way card were designed in the old days, specifically the 50's.

Before high gloss, UV coating, gold leaf, holograms and many other flashy modern day techniques company relied on picking the right pose and truly gifter artist to give life to the photos in art form.

This being said I thought it might be interesting to see others top eight choices for Mantle cards of the fifties. I figure we can rate them with the following issues: Bowman 1951 - 1955 and Topps 1952, 1953 and 1956. I know there are other issues of him that are great cards but I fiugure these a re typically the more well know versions of the Mick. I wanted to leave 1957 and on out because this was getting into the true color photos not just art design.

Now the hard part. I would like to rate only the image of Mantle chosen for the card. So somehow you have to try and put away value, set design, back design and other factors. Just the pose chosen by Topps or Bowman and the way his image comes across of the card.

Here goes my humble (and debatable) opinion

1. 1952 Bowman - I love the reflective pose looking off in the distance. Something way on his mind that day. Maybe the recent passing of his father or the shoes he is supposed to be filling (DiMaggio)

2. 1953 Bowman - Just pretty with a great pose of that super swing.

3. 1952 Topps - Another great pose with a hint of what the future might hold

4. 1951 Bowman - Hard not to think about his rookie but a great picture

5. 1953 Topps - I 'm not typically a fan of large head shots but the artist was able to capture him very well and accuratly.

6. 1955 Bowman - I really am not a fan of this set but Again a great pose of MAntle with bat in hand

7. 1954 Bowman - A good picture but comes accross more two dimentianally IMO.

8. 1956 Topps - I know he was MVP and Triple Crown winner thais year but unlike other examples I son't think the large head shot captures Mantle ( but the small jumping shot is pretty cool)

This list is not the be all end all by any means but just thought it might be interesting to see how others look at these cards.

Thanks for reading,

Drew

[VinTX]

you know, when I first read the header on this out on the forum page I was thinking you wanted people to rate the top 8 Mantle's that they owned. Seeing as how you were the OP, I assumed that you actually had 8 Mantle cards to rate, and seeing as how I only have one I was ready to come kick ur @$$

After reading the thread though, I rather like the idea, so here's my list:

I guess we're kinda opposites here because I actually kinda like the big head shot ones...dunno why I just think they look really good on the cards...


1) 1953 Topps - I just think this is an awesome card. This is one that I'd want for my "single card collection" (assuming I don't end up doing the set at some point...which I may, lol). Something about the pose just says "yeah...I'm a badass"

2) 1951 Bowman - He looks like he's cocked and ready to smack a ball about 900 feet. He's just standing there with a look on his face like he's saying to the pitcher "I DARE you to throw me a fastball..."

3) 1954 Bowman - I like this one because I kind of have a vivid imagination and it makes me laugh. The look on his face is like someone just told him a really lame joke and he's kinda giving a courtesy laugh even though he didn't find it funny in the slightest...

4) 1956 Topps - I like the big grin...he just looks like someone who plays baseball for a living and loves every minute of it. And the action shot in the background is pretty cool too...somebody's gettin robbed by the Mick there...

5) 1952 Topps - I'm kinda neutral on this one...doesn't strike me as a really great picture, but no complaints either.

8) 1952 Bowman - Sorry, I don't mean to disagree with ya on this one, but to me he doesn't look like he's deep in thought he looks like he's bored out of his skull. Maybe the artist just didn't quite catch the look quite right...

8) 1953 Bowman - there's something about the way he's got his head cocked and the expression on his face that makes me think that he's kinda daydreaming about some pretty little brunette with a nice pink dress and pigtails...He just kinda has that "ahhhh" look on his face, lol.

8) 1955 Bowman - The pose and look on his face says to me "oh hell yeah, that's on the green!" I dunno, maybe its just me...but he looks like he's admiring his tee shot, haha.

[GasHouseGang]

Mine are quite different from the original poster:

1956 Topps (Best set of the 50's IMO)
1957 Topps
1958 AS (Hope that's not cheating but I always liked those backgrounds)
1952 Topps
1953 Bowman
1953 Topps
1952 Bowman
1951 Bowman

[HRBAKER]

My list will always start with the 1959 Bazooka. From an aethestic point of view IMO far and away his most pleasing card. I am a fan of the '64 Stand Up as well.

[buckydent]

My favorite 3 in order:

1) His true rookie - the 1951 Bowman
2) the 1952 Topps
3) the 1958 Mantle / Aaron card # 418

[fkw]

Mantle schmantle.... but here goes

1959 Esslinger Beer Homerun Derby
1951 Bowman
1953 Stahl Meyer
1952 TipTop Bread
1952 Topps
1953 Briggs
1954 Stahl Meyer
1951 Wheaties


every one of these cards is overrated, Id rather have a card of a better player ie... Mays or Aaron

[Volod]

Uh, sorry to be the wet blanket, but the photo images were all posed situations - Mantle was probably thinking, "I wish this shit was over so I can get to the party before Billy and Hank suck up all the booze."