1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 PSA 5 EX

Fans had to wait until 1952, Mickey Mantle’s second year in the league, for his first Topps issue thanks to Bowman holding an exclusive license to print his cards in 1951. Collectors were rewarded for their patience with one of the most beloved sports collectibles of all time. The Topps Gum Company began making sports trading cards in 1951 in their six-story headquarters on 254 36th Street in Brooklyn. To create their 1952 set, Topps bought black-and-white player photographs from baseball teams and sent them to Manhattan artists Woody Gelman and Ben Solomon. The artists colored them in with paint to give them their look. Legendary Topps writer Sy Berger created the card’s flip-side narratives. That same year, they unknowingly created a card that would define an industry and remain the pinnacle of baseball collecting for many for decades to come. The front of the card showcases a stunning photograph of Mantle (the International News Service took the photo at a pre-season training camp in Phoenix, Arizona in 1951), a breathtaking color scheme, and an iconic nameplate. This PSA 5 example presents an opportunity to obtain one of the most iconic sports printings ever produced – a true piece of collecting history featuring one of the most popular players to ever take the diamond. Learn more about Mantle and this legendary ‘52 Topps card 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 11/05/24.