Vintage Breaks Blog

A 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card was sold for 12.6 million dollars last night, SMASHING the old record for most valuable baseball card of all-time. You won't believe how much the record was set by.

Mickey Mantle has knocked Honus Wagner off the throne as KING of baseball cards. The previous record for most expensive baseball card was 7.2 million dollars for a T206 Honus Wagner. Last night, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card sold for 12.6 MILLION dollars. This sale price is 5.4 million dollars blows the Wagner sale out of the water. Speaking of water, did you know the Mick is pretty valuable because of a where most of his cards ended up?

1952 TOPPS MICKEY MANTLE ROOKIE SGC 9.5 - 12.6 MILLION DOLLARS

In 1952, Topps released their set in multiple series during the baseball season. This idea sounded like a fine marketing tool at the time. By releasing cards numbered 1-80 in "series 1" and not releasing all 407 cards simultaneously, collectors would not be able to build a complete set of cards early in the baseball season. This would keep collectors purchasing cards all season, or so Topps and distributors thought. When Fall came around, collectors were more interested in football. The forgotten sixth series, cards #311 - 407, were disposed of by being DUMPED IN THE OCEAN! Card #311, Mantle was buried at sea!

In 1986, Alan "Mr. Mint" Rosen discovered possibly the greatest find in the hobby. A man in Quincy, Massachusetts told Rosen about mint 1952 Topps baseball cards from the high-number series. When Mr. Mint asked "how many Mantles" the seller had, the answer was about to shock the world. A trip to the home of Ted Lodge resulted in hobby history. Lodge's father had worked as a delivery driver for the distribution of the Topps cards. After Mr. Mint sat down with Lodge, out came a silver tray of 1952 Topps cards in mint condition, and sure enough Rosen pulled out a stack of cards from the high-numbered series. The total of Mantle cards alone ended up being an estimated 75!

On June 17th, 1991, the Mantle you see above was sold from Mr. Mint to a collector for $40,000. From 40K to 12.6 million - amazing.

Here at Vintage Breaks we have pulled a pack-fresh Mickey Mantle in our card breaks with 1955 Bowman Mickey Mantle. We also broke a 1952 Bowman pack with Geoff Wilson of Sports Card Investor, looking for a Mantle. We just completed a 1952 Topps baseball complete set break with a Mantle rookie card as well. Come window shop our breaks anytime; we'd love to pull you the dream card you've been waiting for next! Click here: