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, the company did not yet have the license to print a card for Mantle until 1952. Thus, Bowman produced the only card from Mantle’s rookie season – thereby creating one of the most pivotal printings in sports card history.
The ‘51 Bowman Mantle remains among the most favorite and famous cards in the industry more than 70 years after its debut. It presents a stunning lithograph of Mantle. The flip side transports fans back in time, referencing everybody's high expectations for the rookie phenom. Centering on this issue remains elusive, but collectors jump at the opportunity to own it in any condition, given its historical significance. So you can imagine just how much interest examples such as this one, ensconced in a PSA 7 holder with a Fanatics Collect–A Eye Appeal sticker placing it in the top 30% of examples of the same grade, will generate during this month’s Premier Auction.
Collectors who own the ‘51 Bowman Mantle own the earliest card that marks the beginning of one of the most storied careers in sports history. With an example of this quality hitting the auction block, there will be plenty of bidders looking to catch a hold of this coveted Commerce Comet’s rookie card.
Learn more about The Mick in our Guide to Mickey Mantle Baseball Cards: https://www.fanaticscollect.com/definitive-guides/a-guide-to-mickey-mantles-baseball-cards
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 1/6/2025.
