So, I got it into my head the other day to finally figure out what those old Mickey Mantle baseball cards I inherited from my grandpa are worth. I remember him always talking about them like they were gold, so I figured it was time to, you know, actually see if that was true.
First, I dug out the box from the attic. It was dusty and smelled like, well, old cardboard and mothballs. Inside, there were a bunch of cards, some in better shape than others. I laid them all out on the kitchen table, trying to be careful not to bend them or anything.
Sorting and Identifying
Next, I started sorting. I quickly realized I had more than just Mickey Mantle cards. There were a whole bunch of other players, some I recognized, most I didn’t. I separated the Mantles from the rest, and that’s when I realized I had a few different ones.
I grabbed my phone and started Googling things like “Mickey Mantle baseball card years” and “how to tell what year a baseball card is.” Turns out, it’s all about the little details – the number on the back, the team logo, the color of the border, even the way the photo is cropped. Who knew?
- I found a few websites that had pictures and descriptions of different Mantle cards.
- I carefully compared my cards to the pictures, squinting at the tiny details.
- I figured out I had a 1952 Topps, a 1956 Topps, and a couple from the early 60s.
Figuring Out the Value
This is where it got interesting.
I discovered that the condition of the cards is extremely important!
I learned about grading – how professional companies will look at a card and give it a score based on its condition. The higher the score, the more valuable the card. My cards? Well, let’s just say they weren’t exactly mint condition. They had some rounded corners, a few creases, and the colors weren’t super bright. Grandpa definitely enjoyed these cards, it’s obvious they weren’t just kept locked away!
I checked out some online price guides and auction sites.I typed in the year and card number for each of my Mantle cards and… wow. Even in not-so-great condition, some of these cards were worth some actual money! The 1952 Topps was definitely the star – even with its flaws, it was still worth a surprising amount. The others were less, but still more than I expected.
The Outcome
So, what did I do? I haven’t decided yet. Part of me wants to sell them, especially that 1952, and put the money towards something practical. But another part of me wants to keep them, you know, for sentimental reasons. They were Grandpa’s, and they’re a cool piece of history. For now, I carefully put them back in their protective sleeves and tucked the box away. It is back in a safe place. Maybe I’ll get them professionally graded someday, just to see. It’s a project, that’s for sure!
