1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 Value & Price Guide (2026)

Somewhere around 1960, a Topps employee named Sy Berger loaded hundreds of unsold cases of baseball cards onto a barge and dumped them into the Atlantic Ocean off the New Jersey coast. Thousands of Mickey Mantle cards sank to the bottom. The ones that survived? They became the most valuable baseball cards on the planet. A single copy sold for $12.6 million in August 2022.

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Quick Value Summary

Item	1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311
Year	1952
Category	Sports Cards - Baseball
Manufacturer	Topps
Condition Range
Poor (PSA 1)	$25,000 – $45,000
Good (PSA 2)	$40,000 – $65,000
Very Good (PSA 3)	$60,000 – $100,000
Very Good–Excellent (PSA 4)	$65,000 – $110,000
Excellent (PSA 5)	$100,000 – $175,000
Excellent–Mint (PSA 6)	$150,000 – $250,000
Near Mint (PSA 7)	$250,000 – $400,000
Near Mint–Mint (PSA 8)	$1,200,000 – $1,800,000
Mint (PSA 9)	$4,000,000 – $6,000,000
Record Sale	$12,600,000 (August 2022, Heritage Auctions - SGC 9.5)
Rarity	Rare (~2,500 graded copies exist; ~5,000 total estimated)

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The Story Behind the Card

In 1951, Sy Berger sat in his Brooklyn apartment with cartoonist Woody Gelman and designed something that had never existed before. Their 1952 Topps set was bigger, more colorful, and more detailed than any baseball card before it. For the first time, the backs included real player statistics. It became the blueprint for every baseball card that followed.

Mickey Mantle got card #311. That number matters. It placed him in the sixth and final series - cards 311 through 407 - which hit store shelves late in the baseball season when kids had already moved on to football. The boxes sat unsold in Topps' Brooklyn warehouse for years.

Then came the dump. Berger needed the warehouse space. He loaded an estimated 300 to 500 cases of unsold high-number cards onto a garbage barge and sent them to the ocean floor. Thousands of Mantles, Jackie Robinsons, and Eddie Mathews cards were destroyed in a single afternoon. Nobody thought twice about it. Baseball cards were for kids, and these kids weren't buying.

The cards that survived - the ones that made it into shoeboxes and dresser drawers and the backs of closets - became some of the most sought-after objects in American collecting. Mantle's card, featuring the 20-year-old switch-hitter who would go on to win three MVPs, a Triple Crown, and seven World Series rings, became the card. The symbol of the entire hobby.

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How to Identify It

The 1952 Topps Mantle is larger than a modern baseball card - 2⅝" × 3¾" compared to today's standard 2½" × 3½". If it doesn't feel slightly oversized in your hand, something's off.

What to look for on the front:

• Hand-colored photo of Mantle in a left-handed batting stance

• Blue-green background

• Yellow name plate reading "MICKEY MANTLE"

• "Outfield" position designation

• New York Yankees logo in a small box

What to look for on the back:

• Red and black ink on gray cardboard

• Player biography, 1951 stats, and career totals

• Card number #311 inside a baseball graphic

Type 1 vs. Type 2

The Mantle was double-printed, creating two slightly different versions. The differences are subtle - you'll need a magnifying glass.

• The signature: On Type 1, the 'e' in "Mantle" curves upward at the end. On Type 2, it doesn't.

• The Yankees logo box: Type 1 has a solid black border on all sides. Type 2 is missing the black border at the bottom.

• The back: On Type 1, the baseball stitches point left. On Type 2, they point right and are bolder.

Grading companies don't distinguish between the two types. Both are valued the same.

Common Confusions

This is not technically Mickey Mantle's rookie card. That's the 1951 Bowman #253, which is smaller, less visually striking, and significantly less expensive. The '52 Topps is his first Topps card, and its cultural importance has made it far more famous and valuable than the actual rookie.

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Value by Condition

Condition is everything with this card. The difference between a PSA 1 and a PSA 9 is the difference between a nice car and a beachfront house.

Poor to Good (PSA 1–2): $25,000 – $65,000

These cards have been through a lot. Creases, rounded corners, staining, maybe writing on the surface. But even a beat-up copy of the most iconic baseball card ever made is worth serious money. A PSA 1 sold for $43,920 at Goldin in early 2026. This is the entry point for owning a piece of baseball history.

Very Good to Excellent (PSA 3–5): $60,000 – $175,000

Moderate wear. Some corner rounding, maybe a light crease or two. The image is still clear and presentable. This is where most surviving copies land. A PSA 3 recently sold for $72,136 according to Sports Card Investor tracking data. Demand in this range is steady and strong - these are the cards real collectors can actually afford.

Excellent-Mint to Near Mint (PSA 6–7): $150,000 – $400,000

Cards that look genuinely good. Minor wear at the corners, clean surfaces, strong color. Only about 124 copies have ever graded PSA 7 or better. Heritage Auctions has handled multiple PSA 7 examples in the $250,000–$400,000 range, with values climbing steadily in recent years.

Near Mint–Mint and Above (PSA 8+): $1.2 Million and Up

Museum territory. A PSA 8 runs $1.2 to $1.8 million. A PSA 8.5 sold for $2,370,000 at Heritage in February 2024. Only six copies have ever graded PSA 9, where values hit $4 to $6 million. Three copies exist at PSA 10. None have sold publicly. Estimates put them north of $15 million each.

The all-time record: $12,600,000 for an SGC 9.5, sold at Heritage Auctions on August 28, 2022. That's the highest price ever paid for any sports card. The card was originally discovered by dealer Alan Rosen in 1985 and consigned by collector Anthony Giordano. It drew 65 bids.

A note on grading companies: PSA-graded cards typically sell for 10–20% more than SGC-graded cards at the same numerical grade. The slab matters.

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Known Variations

Double Print

Mantle was one of only three double-printed cards in the high-number series. Roughly twice as many Mantles were produced compared to other cards numbered 311–407.

Despite the double print run, the ocean dump wiped out so many copies that scarcity isn't an issue. About 5,000 total copies are estimated to survive - and that number only goes down over time.

Type 1 vs. Type 2

See the identification section above. Both types are valued equally. There are no documented printing errors or major variations beyond this distinction.

What About Black Backs?

The 1952 Topps set has black-back and red-back variations - but only for cards #1 through #80. Card #311 does not have a black-back variation. If someone tells you otherwise, walk away.

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Authentication & Fakes

Counterfeits of this card are common. When a card is worth six figures in poor condition, fakers have every incentive.

Red Flags

• Too-perfect centering. Real 1952 Topps cards almost always have centering variation. A perfectly centered raw card is actually suspicious.

• Wrong colors. Fakes often have slightly faded or "off" colors, especially the blue background and Mantle's skin tone. Under magnification, you should see a distinct rosette printing pattern, not solid color blocks.

• The print dot. Many authentic copies have a small white print dot about an inch to the left of Mantle's eyebrow. Its absence doesn't prove a fake, but its presence is a good sign.

• Card stock. The real card has a specific gray cardboard weight and texture that's hard to replicate. If it feels wrong, it probably is.

• Artificial wear. Genuine aging looks irregular and natural. Fake "aging" looks too uniform.

At least three distinct counterfeit versions have been documented. Each has different tells, and new fakes appear regularly.

When to Get Authentication

Always. For this card, the $50–$150 authentication fee is the best money you'll ever spend. Stick to copies already graded and slabbed by PSA, SGC, BGS, or CGC. Buying raw is a risk most people shouldn't take.

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Where to Sell

If you have a 1952 Topps Mantle and want to sell, here's the landscape.

Best Venues

• Major auction houses: Heritage Auctions, Goldin, REA (Robert Edward Auctions). For high-grade copies (PSA 7+), these houses attract the deepest-pocketed buyers and consistently achieve record prices.

• eBay: Surprisingly strong for this card at all grades. The platform's reach is unmatched for mid-range copies.

• Dealers and consignment shops: Faster than auction, but you'll get less. Expect 70–85% of auction value.

Costs to Expect

• Grading (if ungraded): PSA fees for a card worth $50K+ run $300–$600 per card, plus insurance and shipping. Turnaround: 30–65 business days at standard tiers.

• Auction house premiums: Sellers typically pay 0–10% of the hammer price. Buyers pay 20–25% on top.

• Insurance and shipping: For a card worth five to seven figures, insured shipping runs $100–$500+.

Getting the Best Price

1. Grade it first. A raw Mantle sells for a fraction of a graded one. PSA is the gold standard.
2. Time it right. Major Heritage auctions in February, May, and August draw the biggest crowds.
3. Get multiple opinions. Talk to at least two auction houses before consigning.

Not sure about the condition of yours? Upload a photo to Curio Comp - our AI will give you an estimate in seconds.

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Related Items

If you have a 1952 Topps Mantle, you might also want to check these:

• 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253 - Mantle's true rookie card. Less famous, less expensive, but historically important. PSA 8: $200K–$400K.

• 1952 Topps Willie Mays #261 - Another high-number legend from the same set. PSA 8: $80K–$150K.

• 1952 Topps Jackie Robinson #312 - Card #312, right next to Mantle. PSA 8: $40K–$80K.

• 1952 Topps Eddie Mathews #407 - The last card in the set. A true rookie. PSA 8: $30K–$60K.

• T206 Honus Wagner - The only card that rivals the '52 Mantle for "greatest ever" status. About 60 known copies.

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Common Questions

Is the 1952 Topps Mantle his rookie card?

No. His actual rookie card is the 1951 Bowman #253. The '52 Topps is his first Topps card, and it's far more famous and valuable due to its design, story, and the ocean dump that made surviving copies scarce.

How many 1952 Topps Mantle cards exist?

About 2,500 have been graded by PSA, SGC, BGS, and CGC combined. Total surviving population - including ungraded copies in attics and shoeboxes - is estimated at roughly 5,000. That number only decreases over time.

Why is this card so much more expensive than other 1952 Topps cards?

Three reasons: Mantle became one of the greatest players in baseball history, the card has an incredible backstory (the ocean dump), and it's the foundational card of the modern hobby. It's not just a card - it's a cultural artifact.

Should I get my card graded before selling?

Yes. The price difference between raw and graded copies is enormous. A raw card in apparently excellent condition might sell for $80,000. The same card in a PSA 5 slab could bring $150,000+. PSA is the preferred grading company for this card.

Are reprints worth anything?

Topps has issued several reprints and commemorative versions over the decades. They're clearly marked as reprints and are worth $1 to $20. Don't confuse them with the original - and don't let someone sell you a reprint at original prices.

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Prices reflect publicly available auction data as of early 2026. Market values fluctuate. For a personalized estimate, upload a photo of your card to Curio Comp.