Mickey Mantle Topps Cards – 1952 to 1969
Mickey Mantle and Topps are two synonymous names in the hobby. They go together like peanut butter and jam, ice cream and apple pie, and Donald Trump and bad hair jokes. Even today, Mickey Mantle Topps cards are among the most popular in the hobby. Those who grew up while the Yankees legend was playing are trying to reacquire the cards from their youth (or upgrade well-loved copies). Younger Yankees fans are looking to connect to one of the most beloved icons of their fabled franchise.
The first Mickey Mantle Topps release is a high-number card in 1952 Topps Baseball. It is regarded by many collectors as the most important baseball card of the Post-War Era. It's also one of the most valuable. However, one thing it is not is a Mickey Mantle rookie card. That distinction comes from his card in 1951 Bowman Baseball.
See Also: Top 10 Mickey Mantle Cards of All-Time.
Between 1952 and 1959, Topps released 41 cards highlighting the legendary slugger. It would have been more had he not signed an exclusive deal with Bowman. That means there are no Mickey Mantle Topps cards from 1954 or 1955. After Topps bought Bowman, the outfielder returned to the Topps fold.
Besides basic player cards, there are several Mickey Mantle subset cards. These honor specific achievements, awards and performances. 1961 Topps Baseball is the set with the most Mantle cards, as he shows up six different times. In second, 1962 has five different Mickey Mantle Topps cards.
A total of 12 cards combine Mantle with at least one other star. These include MLB legends like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Harmon Killebrew. Pairings come from league leader cards as well as special cards that look at different player connections.
Below is a complete visual checklist of every Mickey Mantle Topps card released during his career. It includes all base cards but not any inserts, premiums or oddball cards. There are also more detailed guides that divide Mantle's cards by the decade, including breakdowns for the 1950s and 1960s.
Visual Guide to Mickey Mantle Topps Cards: 1952 to 1969
Click on the card listings or images to shop on eBay.Â
1952 Topps #311
1953 Topps #82
1956 Topps #135
1957 Topps #95
1957 Topps #407 Yankees' Power Hitters with Yogi Berra
1958 Topps #150
1958 Topps #418 World Series Batting Foes with Hank Aaron
1958 Topps #487 All-Star
1959 Topps #10
1959 Topps #461 Baseball Thrills
1959 Topps #564 All-Star
1960 Topps #350
1960 Topps #160 Rival All-Stars with Ken Boyer
1960 Topps #563 All-Star
1961 Topps #300
1961 Topps #44 American League Home Run Leaders with Roger Maris, Jim Lemon and Rocky Colavito
1961 Topps #307 World Series Game 2
1961 Topps #406 565 Ft. Home Run
1961 Topps #475 American League MVP
1961 Topps #578 Sporting News All-Star
1962 Topps #200
1962 Topps #18 Manager's Dream with Willie Mays
1962 Topps #53 American League Home Run Leaders with Roger Maris, Jim Gentile and Harmon Killebrew
1962 Topps #318 The Switch Hitter Connects
1962 Topps #471 Sporting News All-Star
1963 Topps #200
1963 Topps #2 American League Batting Leaders with Pete Runnels, Floyd Robinson, Norm Siebern and Chuck Hinton
1963 Topps #173 Bomber's Best with Tom Tresh and Bobby Richardson
1964 Topps #50
1964 Topps #331 A.L. Bombers with Roger Maris, Norm Cash and Al Kaline
1965 Topps #350
1965 Topps #3 American League Home Run Leaders with Harmon Killebrew and Boog Powell
1965 Topps #5 American League RBI Leaders with Brooks Robinson, Harmon Killebrew and Dick Stuart
1965 Topps #134 World Series Game 3
1966 Topps #50
1967 Topps #150
1967 Topps #103 Checklist
1968 Topps #280
1968 Topps #490 Super Stars with Harmon Killebrew and Willie Mays
1969 Topps #500
1969 Topps #412 Checklist
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Related Topics: Baseball Cards: Guides
Robert | Dec 19, 2012 | Reply
Hi Ryan , I have been a card collector for years now, Once and awhile I kinda go nuts on ebay , now its the Mantle craze , 6 months ago it was lafleur or beliveau , should I be buying PSA 8 and higher in you opinion ? I only like the old stuff , topps for baseball and o pee chee for hockey.
Rob
Ryan Cracknell | Dec 19, 2012 | Reply
Robert » Really depends on your budget. If you can comfortably afford it, better is usually best. No matter the case, the best copies are often the ones that hold the best value. It’s the same with cards, art and anything else that’s collectible.
skip hefley | Sep 24, 2014 | Reply
I acquired a mantle card with the phrase on back “singles are important too”. It has mantles 1955 stats.also his dob,etc.is this card a subset or?.has no manufacture,date or company make.any input appreciated.can send photos.it shows him batting in the statium and 3 players in the background.photo is in color,has the bbowman/1955 or the 1962 topps woodgrain look thank in advance
Tom Riendeau | May 11, 2015 | Reply
Hi Ryan,
Great post and some terrific card history here. I think you missed two of the All-Star cards: 1958 #487 and 1959 #564. That would bring the total to 41 Topps base cards during his career, with another 6 Bowman cards (1951-1955 and the 1953 combo card of Bauer, Berra, and Mantle.
walt burnett | Nov 11, 2016 | Reply
i have a 54 mickey mantle sports magazine card by topps, with a gold stamp on lower left bottom corner.what is this card?
Cardboard Picasso | Jan 18, 2018 | Reply
Great article. It’s a shame Topps didn’t produce a 1954 or 1955 (only Bowman did). We would have two more to admire!