Mickey Mantle Baseball Card

Mickey Mantle dominated 2022 sports memorabilia news. The big story in the sports collectible world this past year was the record-shattering price tag for a Mickey Mantle baseball card. The rare 1952 Topps Mantle rookie card brought $12.6 million at a Heritage Auction in July. Rated 9.5 out of 10 for quality by authentication company SGC, it almost doubled the previous record of $6.6 million for a Honus Wagner card sold in 2021. The Mick’s card is the most valuable ever sold at auction, and it’s the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia overall.

 

Mickey Mantle Card Kept in Basement Sells for $12.6 Million

Another reason to go through boxes before you donate: A 1952 Mickey Mantle rookie baseball card that used to be kept in a box in a basement sold August 28 for $12.6 million in a Heritage Auctions sale. That price more than doubles the record set last year when a rare Honus Wagner card sold for $6.6 million.

This card is especially valuable because of its nearly pristine condition. It has perfect centering, registration and four sharp corners. Mantle spent 17 years playing for the New York Yankees and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. The card is from his rookie season and was produced by trading card giant Topps.

The card’s owner bought it in 1991 for $50,000. Its original owner, a Topps employee, had kept it in a box in his basement for decades. The new owner kept it hidden away for 30 years before putting it in the auction.