In 1951, bubble gum entrepreneur J. Warren Bowman’s baseball cards, which he began printing in 1939, still dominated the landscape. Although Topps printed a set in 1951, they did not have the license to print a card for Mantle until 1952. Thus, Bowman produced the only card from Mantle’s rookie season. The 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle rookie card ranks among the most favorite and famous in the industry, with no sign of that reverence waning anytime soon.
The front features a stunning lithograph of Mantle, while the flip side transports fans back in time, stating that everyone has high expectations for this rookie phenom. It's safe to say those expectations were met.
In addition to its VG EX+ 4.5 grade from SGC, this card has also earned Fanatics Collect–A Eye Appeal designation.
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 12/04/2025.
