1952 Bowman Mickey Mantle #101 PSA 3

The 1952 Bowman Mickey Mantle #101 stands proudly among the defining early cards of The Mick, capturing him during only his second season in the Major Leagues as he began assuming the enormous responsibility of succeeding Joe DiMaggio in center field for the New York Yankees. Mantle would go on to become a three-time MVP, Triple Crown winner, seven-time World Series champion, and one of the most celebrated switch-hitters baseball has ever known, but here collectors see him before nearly all of that history had been written. The card's beautifully painted portrait and compact Bowman design provide a strikingly different interpretation of the young Mantle than the famous 1952 Topps issue, and that distinction should not diminish its importance - the Bowman #101 is itself one of the great early Mantle cards, issued in the same historic year and cherished for its own artistry and place in the postwar hobby. Topps gave collectors the bold, groundbreaking image that became a cultural icon, while Bowman produced an elegant portrait whose simplicity feels almost personal; together, the two issues form an extraordinary picture of Mantle at the beginning of his ascent. Graded PSA 3, this example represents far more than an alternative to another famous 1952 card - it is a cornerstone Mantle collectible in its own right and an authentic artifact from the year The Mick began becoming a legend.

Condition
PSA 3