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MLB1951RC
7jersey
ROOKIE CARD

MICKEY MANTLE

1951 BOWMAN

TOPPS·#253

Stylized illustration — actual card image varies by edition

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⚾ baseballRookie Card

1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253

Mantle's true rookie card, issued by Bowman the year before his famous Topps. High number short print that is notoriously difficult to find in top condition.

Player

Mickey Mantle

Year

1951

Set

1951 Bowman

Card #

253

Sport

Baseball

Type

Rookie Card

Market Value (Based on Sold Data)

Based on public auction records

Source: eBay sold comps, Heritage Auctions, Goldin, PWCC — April 2026

Recent Sales (Mid Grade)PSA 7–8 · Based on eBay sold listings
$5,000–$30,000 (PSA 7)Verify on eBay ↗
Recent Sales (Gem Mint)PSA 9–10 · Based on eBay sold listings
$2,000,000+ (PSA 9)Verify on eBay ↗

Values compiled from public eBay sold listings, Heritage Auctions, and Goldin results. For real-time pricing, click “Verify on eBay” above.

Search on eBayGrade Value Calculator

Grade-by-Grade Pricing

Values based on recent eBay sold listings and auction results

Verify on eBay ↗
PSA GradeLabelMarket ValuePop.Trend
PSA 1
Poor$3,000–$6,000—→
PSA 2
Good$6,000–$12,000—→
PSA 3
Very Good$12,000–$25,000—↑
PSA 4
VG-EX$25,000–$50,000—↑
PSA 5
Excellent$50,000–$100,000—↑
PSA 6Best Value
EX-MT$100,000–$250,000—↑
PSA 7
Near Mint$300,000–$600,00018↑
PSA 8
NM-MT$800,000–$2,000,0002↑
PSA 9
MintExtreme rarity — auction-only0→

Source: Heritage Auctions / Goldin Auctions · Mantle's true rookie — issued by Bowman in 1951. High number short print, notoriously difficult to find in top condition.

PSA Population Report

Total Graded

2,800

PSA 10 Count

0

PSA 9 Count

2

Gem Rate

0%

Grade Distribution

PSA 10
0 (0%)
PSA 9
2 (0%)
PSA 8
18 (1%)
PSA 1–7
2,780 (99%)

Gem Rate (% achieving PSA 10): 0% — Extremely difficult to gem.

Notable Sales

PriceGradeDateVenueNotes
$2,880,000RecordPSA 9Nov 2021Goldin AuctionsWorld record for the card; pop 2 in PSA 9
$540,000PSA 8Aug 2020Heritage AuctionsPop 18 in PSA 8
$180,000PSA 7Mar 2024PWCCStable PSA 7 market

Figures sourced from publicly reported auction results. Private sales may exceed.

PSA vs BGS vs SGC

PSA

Professional Sports Authenticators

  • +Most liquid — highest resale demand
  • +Largest population database
  • +Vintage specialists
  • +Most recognized globally
  • −Slowest turnaround at economy tier
  • −No subgrades on base service

Best for: Vintage, high-value singles, resale liquidity

BGS

Beckett Grading Services

  • +Subgrades reveal exact condition
  • +BGS 9.5 Black Label = highest premium
  • +Preferred for modern parallels
  • +Slab design seen as premium
  • −Less liquid than PSA for vintage
  • −Stricter centering = harder to get 10

Best for: Modern parallels, autographs, centering-first cards

SGC

Sportscard Guaranty Corporation

  • +Faster turnaround than PSA/BGS
  • +Lower cost at economy tier
  • +Growing collector base
  • +Good for tobacco/pre-war
  • −Lower premium than PSA on most cards
  • −Smaller population database

Best for: Pre-war, tobacco cards, budget-conscious grading

Full grading guide with cost comparison →

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