In response to a tweet asking for a “beautiful image that will change your life,” Will Stern of cllct posted one of the most annihilated 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle cards you’ll ever see.
Some kid clearly put a lot of work into it decades ago, and the hobby is better for it! Someone asked Will how much it was worth in that condition, implying $10-20k, but Will thinks more because of the story behind it. BlowoutBuzz wrote a few more words about the card in January 2016 and included this photo from PSA, implying questionable authenticity.
I replied to Will with another well-loved Mantle I saw at the 2024 National, displayed proudly at 707SportsCards’ booth in Cleveland, with another rough example next to it, too!
It got me thinking: over the years, the worst ’52 Mantles have become their own kind of legend. So here are a few more hobby survivors, creased, trimmed, inked, and loved to death.
The Most Coveted Miscut Card in the Hobby
I had this SGC slabbed photo of a 1952 Topps #312 Jackie Robinson in my archives since August 2021, and you can see a bit of the 1952 Topps Mantle on the left side. In 2023, CSG recertified it and put “Partial #311 Mickey Mantle” on the flip. SCP Auctions then sold it in May 2023 for $48,316.80.
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle CSG Skinned Back
A lot of the “subpar” ’52 Topps Mantles seem to be CSG slabbed these days, including this “trimmed” and skinned back example, also from early 2023.
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle CSG Trimmed With Two Hole Punches
In the article sharing that skinned-back example, CSG shared a few others as well, including this trimmed example with two holes punched in it that sold on eBay in early 2022 for $11,877.
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle CSG Extensive Color Added
CSG also shared the following example, which they certified in May 2022, that was essentially colored in.
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle BVG Scrapbook Trimmed
Here’s another ’52 Mantle that looks a lot like the Skinned Back example.
Sports Collectors Daily shared that Greg Morris Cards sold it on eBay in March 2024 for $7,201.
1952 Topps #311 Micke Mantle Taped Up
SCD shared that this Taped Up copy sold for over $10k in 2021.
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle Extremely “Faded”
Here’s another fun BVG-authenticated copy that Goldin sold in August 2024 for $14,640. The back isn’t that bad, though!
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle Single Hole Punched
More recently, in February 2025, Huggins sold this single-hole punched example for $16,200. cllct wrote a few words about it.
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle Bearded
Finally, here’s a funny copy I found on WaxPackGods who said it sold on eBay in July 2018 for $4,251.
Sure, there are million-dollar high-grade Mantles, but even the wrecks aren’t cheap. Demand stays high no matter the condition. So what’s a collector who wants a ’52 Mantle to do? Save up.
Happy collecting!
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