Card of the Day: 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle
The undisputed king of baseball cards, the 1952 Topps Mantle is the hobby's benchmark for value and historical importance.
The Card
The 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle is widely considered the most iconic post-war baseball card. It defined the Topps brand for decades and remains the gold standard for vintage investment cards.
PSA Population Report (Q1 2026)
| PSA Grade | Population | Value Range |
|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | 1 | $12,000,000+ |
| PSA 9 | 10 | $2,000,000 - $3,000,000 |
| PSA 8 | 1,247 | $500,000 - $550,000 |
| Total All Grades | 10,412 | N/A |
Gem Rate (PSA 8+): ~12% of total population
Why It Matters
This card set the $520,000 auction record this month (PSA 8), proving vintage cards remain a hedge against modern market volatility. For hobby historians, it's the card that revived collecting after WWII and defined the Topps brand for decades.
The 1952 Topps Mantle is the vintage market's gold standard.
