MLB: 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle Sold for $1.3 Million
Very few sports memorabilia pieces boast a value higher than $1 million. However, on Friday, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle became the second baseball card to be sold above that mark.
Similar to the 40-40 club, the million-dollar club holds the same exclusivity in the world of baseball cards. The founding member of the club, whose card sold two different copies for over $1 million, recently welcomed a new member. On Friday, November 18, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card sold through Heritage Auctions for $1.3 million.
Over the course of his 18-season career, Mantle batted .298 with 536 home runs. His call up in 1951 was just in the knick of time for the Mick to play in the final three of the New York Yankees’ five consecutive World Series titles. By the end of his career, he won four more championships while becoming a 16-time All-Star and winning three MVPs.
During his sophomore season in 1952, Mantle appeared in the first All-Star game of his career. He finished third in the MVP voting, despite hitting .295 in the regular season. Not to mention, he batted .345 with two homers and five runs in the 1952 World Series championship.
The One-Million Club
Previously, the T206 Honus Wagner claimed sole member of the million-dollar club. As the legend goes, Wagner demanded that the American Tobacco Company remove his card from the series because he did not want his name associated with a cigarette company that marketed towards child. Another story claimed that Wagner simply wanted more money for his card. Regardless, out of the 200 produced, 50 are in circulation with only three in valuable condition.
The T206 Wagner first broke the one-million mark when famed hockey star, Wayne Gretzky, parted ways with his copy in 2007. What came to be known as the “Gretzky Wagner” sold for $2.8 million.
An anonymous buyer picked up the second version of the T206 Wagner for $2.1 million in 2013. Three years later, the “Jumbo Wagner”, whose PSA 5 makes it the highest-quality copy, sold for $3.1 million. Although it did not break the all-time record for sports memorabilia, which is held by a 1920 Babe Ruth gam-worn jersey that sold for $4.4 million, it obliterated the previous record for baseball cards.
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Reaching $1.3 million, the 1952 Topps Mantle became the second card to top the one-million mark. Originating from the 1952 Topps High Numbers series, the iconic card is one of 75 Mantle cards in the pack. On top of that, it is one of three copies to received a PSA 8.5. With six more at PSA 9 and three PSA 10 copies, we might see the “Jumbo Wagner” dethroned by rising 1952 Topps Mantle.