Auction Name: 2025 December 19 - 21 Winter Sports Catalog Auction

Lot Number: 80555

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/50081*80555

1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle Rookie #253 SGC VG-EX 4. Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle was the handsome center fielder for the New York Yankees who seemed to shine when the lights were bright and the pressure was on. Competing for 18 seasons in the Bronx, Mantle led the Yanks to 12 American League pennants and seven World Series crowns when he was in their starting lineup. In 1951, his rookie season, he overlapped with the "Yankee Clipper," the soon-to-be-retiring Joe DiMaggio, for one season of learning the ropes. Over his first three seasons in the Majors, Mantle helped the Yankees win three straight World Series titles. His personal achievements on the field were no less jaw-dropping: 536 round-trippers, 344 doubles, 153 steals, 72 triples and 1,509 runs batted in. Winning three AL MVP awards (1956, '57 and '62) along with the prestigious Triple Crown in '56 inked Mickey's reservation to Cooperstown, which rightfully inducted him in 1974.

Offered is "The Mick's" 1951 Bowman rookie card. Although it too often takes a back seat to his 1952 Topps #311, the '51 Bowman is his official rookie card and is therefore a must-have addition for any serious baseball collector. The horizontally designed card front uses a heroic image of Mantle demonstrating his batting pose during Spring Training. This middle-grade example of card #253 from the historic '51 Bowman set is found in Very Good-Excellent condition with commanding color, solid registration, decent centering and a very presentable reverse. Graded SGC VG-EX 4.

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