1952 Tip-Top Bread Mickey Mantle - PSA 1.5

Sotheby’s is thrilled to bring to auction one of the most rare and elusive cards of an undisputed baseball great, Mickey Mantle.

Though less widely recognized than the 1952 Topps Baseball standard trading card release, the 1952 Tip-Top Bread set is a truly unique release for many reasons. The labels were found on Tip-Top brand bread packaging produced by Ward Baking Company. Measuring at a distinctive size of approximately 2 1/2″ by 2 3/4″, they are strikingly different when compared to traditional trading cards that were produced at the time. The set itself consists of only 47 individual subjects (Phil Rizzuto is featured with two different poses), vastly under the 407 total cards that were produced for the 1952 Topps set. While the set does highlight numerous stars of the game including the likes of Berra, Campanella, and Snider; the true grail of the set is none other than Mickey Mantle.

Adding greatly to the rarity of existing prints, it is assumed that a majority of these likely ended up in the trash to go along with the bread wrapping that they were affixed to. Reason being, the population database for PSA only shows just north of 300 total cards from the set that have been graded. Similar to finding a needle in a haystack, Tip-Top Mantles simply don't pop up, especially in this condition. At the time of cataloging, there have only been 20 total 1952 Tip-Top Bread Mantles graded by PSA. Of those, this is one of only three to receive a 1.5 from PSA: there is only a lone superior PSA 2 example. The example we have here presents beautifully, showcasing extremely bold red color on the front to go along with complete sharp corners and edges that have very minimal damage or wear at best. A card like this is without a doubt at the “Tip-Top” of its collecting class.

This card has been authenticated and deemed to be in Fair condition by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), receiving a grade of 1.5.

The PSA certificate number for this card is: 88732018.

Going Deeper - Mickey Mantle

The Mick

On April 17, 1953, two years to the date after their center fielder’s Major League debut, the New York Yankees were in the nation’s capital facing off against the Washington Senators at the legendary Griffith Stadium. On this day, the phrase “tape-measure home run” was born off the bat of possibly the most singularly talented player in the history of the sport. 

Going in, Senators left handed starting pitcher Chuck Stobbs certainly knew he would be making some kind of history that day, after all it was his debut in a 9-year run with the franchise. Of course, it is pretty unlikely he expected that first act to be remembered the way it would. In the 5th inning of a close game, Yankee superstar Mickey Mantle managed to muscle a baseball completely out of the confines of the historic ballpark. In fact, the ball was launched so far it landed in the backyard of a house on Oakdale Street. At a recorded 565 feet, it would become the second farthest hit home run in MLB history behind only Yankees Hall of Famer, Babe Ruth. This singular moment is only a mere glimpse into the astonishing career of “The Mick”, a resume loaded with many historic moments.

Mantle spent a majority of his younger years in Commerce, Oklahoma, a place he was fiercely proud of as he would come to be known as “the Commerce Comet”. Before he was sending baseballs out of major league stadiums, Mantle was a true multi-sport athlete participating in baseball, football, and basketball while a student at Commerce High School. If it was not for Mickey's father Charles, who was adamant about him being a professional baseball player, and an injury the young Mickey suffered in 1946 that nearly cost him his leg and his life due to osteomyelitis, there’s a chance Mickey would have accepted the football scholarship offered to him from the University of Oklahoma. While just a 15-year-old kid in 1947, Mantle would make the drive over the border during the warm summer months to Kansas to play for the semi-professional Baxter Springs Whiz Kids. Despite his youth, Mantle looked like the man amongst boys and the next season was discovered by New York Yankees scout Tom Greenwade. After waiting until high school graduation to sign, Mickey penned his first deal with the Bombers in 1949, a minor league contract paying just $140 per month.

After being declared physically unfit for the Korean War in 1950 due to a preexisting medical condition, Mantle clobbered his way through the minor leagues and would earn a spot on the opening day roster. On April 17, 1951 the fresh-faced teenager donned the number 6 pinstripes jersey and launched the Mantle era. 

That fall, Mantle and the Yankees defeated the rival New York Giants in the World Series. Unfortunately, Mantle’s first time on the games biggest stage was cut short due to a knee injury that he sustained in the second game of the series. Mantle didn’t let this deter his spirits as he would return the following season and take home back-to-back World Series rings by topping the Brooklyn Dodgers. When it was all said and done, Mantle appeared in 12 World Series and claimed victory in seven of them. An integral part of the Yankees World Series success each year, he still holds all-time World Series records for home runs (18), runs batted in (40), extra-base hits (26), runs (42), walks (43), and total bases (123).

In 1956, Mantle earned the first of three American League MVP awards when he captured the elusive Triple Crown by leading baseball in batting average (.353), home runs (52), and runs batted in (130). Mickey is one of only four ball players to ever be named to 20 All-Star Games and he would represent the Yankees with each of his remarkable 536 career home runs. Worn down by the fatigue of near constant injuries over the course of his 18 years of MLB service, Mantle hung up his spikes for the last time in 1968. Appropriately, the plaque that immortalizes him at Yankee Stadium refers to him as “a magnificent Yankee who left a legacy of unequaled courage.”

On August 12, 1974 Mickey Mantle was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first ballot as possibly the greatest outfielder to play the game.