--- title: "1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253 price, verified sales and population" url: https://cardvolume.com/sports/baseball/1951-bowman-mickey-mantle-253/ category: Sports cards updated: 2026-09-27 as_of: 2026-09-27 source: CardVolume (https://cardvolume.com) --- # 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253: price, verified sales and population > The 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253 is Mantle’s rookie card and a postwar baseball flagship. Collectors search for it because it predates the 1952 Topps Mantle and has large grade premiums in high condition. ## Key facts - CardVolume lists 18 verified sales of the 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253 as of September 27, 2026. - No grade has the 5 verified sales in 90 days needed for a market price; the most recent verified sale was $48,000 for a Base #253 PSA 5 on August 18, 2026 at eBay. - The highest verified sale on record is $3,192,000 for a Base #253 PSA 9 on January 8, 2022 at Memory Lane. ## Market price by version and grade Market price = median of at least 5 verified sales in the last 90 days for that exact version, grader and grade. "—" means not enough verified sales. | Version | Grade | Market price | Sales in window | Last verified sale | Record sale | Population | |---|---|---:|---:|---|---|---:| | Base #253 | PSA 9 | — | 0 | $3,192,000 (2022-01-08) | $3,192,000 (2022-01-08) | 9 | | Base #253 | PSA 8 (OC) | — | 1 | $79,300 (2026-07-10) | $79,300 (2026-07-10) | — | | Base #253 | PSA 7 | — | 1 | $100,650 (2026-07-11) | $100,650 (2026-07-11) | — | | Base #253 | PSA 5 | — | 3 | $48,000 (2026-08-18) | $48,000 (2026-08-18) | — | | Base #253 | PSA 4 | — | 0 | $15,100 (2025-06-16) | $15,100 (2025-06-16) | — | | Base #253 | PSA 3 | — | 0 | $14,999 (2025-09-16) | $14,999 (2025-09-16) | — | | Base #253 | PSA 2 | — | 0 | $14,400 (2025-08-30) | $14,400 (2025-08-30) | — | | Base #253 | PSA 1.5 | — | 0 | $9,800 (2026-01-30) | $9,800 (2026-01-30) | — | | Base #253 | PSA 1.5 (MC) | — | 0 | $7,156 (2025-08-04) | $7,156 (2025-08-04) | — | | Base #253 | PSA 1 | — | 0 | $6,766 (2025-08-26) | $6,766 (2025-08-26) | — | | Base #253 | PSA Authentic | — | 0 | $5,395 (2025-08-17) | $5,395 (2025-08-17) | — | | Base #253 | SGC 4 | — | 0 | $12,449 (2025-01-11) | $12,449 (2025-01-11) | — | ## Verified sales Each sale was confirmed on the linked page by an automated check or an independent second pass. | Date | Version | Grade | Price (USD) | Buyer's premium | Venue | Source | |---|---|---|---:|---|---|---| | 2026-08-18 | Base #253 | PSA 5 | $48,000 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/30874273/psa) | | 2026-07-24 | Base #253 | PSA 5 | $38,400 | included | Fanatics Collect | [link](https://www.fanaticscollect.com/premier/436bf79a-766e-11f1-9f19-0a610cdc3c6f) | | 2026-07-11 | Base #253 | PSA 7 | $100,650 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/30499776/psa) | | 2026-07-10 | Base #253 | PSA 5 | $46,360 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://sports.ha.com/itm/baseball-cards/singles-1950-1959-/1951-bowman-mickey-mantle-rookie-253-psa-ex-5/a/50086-80331.s) | | 2026-07-10 | Base #253 | PSA 8 (OC) | $79,300 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://sports.ha.com/itm/baseball-cards/singles-1950-1959-/1951-bowman-mickey-mantle-253-psa-nm-mt-8-oc-/a/50086-80333.s) | | 2026-05-15 | Base #253 | PSA 5 | $34,160 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://sports.ha.com/itm/baseball-cards/singles-1950-1959-/1951-bowman-mickey-mantle-rookie-253-psa-ex-5/a/50085-80291.s) | | 2026-01-30 | Base #253 | PSA 1.5 | $9,800 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1951-bowman/mickey-mantle-253/22430) | | 2025-09-16 | Base #253 | PSA 3 | $14,999 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1951-bowman/mickey-mantle-253/22430) | | 2025-08-30 | Base #253 | PSA 2 | $14,400 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1951-bowman/mickey-mantle-253/22430) | | 2025-08-26 | Base #253 | PSA 1 | $6,766 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1951-bowman/mickey-mantle-253/22430) | | 2025-08-17 | Base #253 | PSA Authentic | $5,395 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1951-bowman/mickey-mantle-253/22430) | | 2025-08-04 | Base #253 | PSA 1.5 (MC) | $7,156 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1951-bowman/mickey-mantle-253/22430) | | 2025-06-16 | Base #253 | PSA 4 | $15,100 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1951-bowman/mickey-mantle-253/22430) | | 2025-03-25 | Base #253 | PSA 3 | $14,655 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1951-bowman/mickey-mantle-253/22430) | | 2025-01-11 | Base #253 | SGC 4 | $12,449 | not stated | Memory Lane | [link](https://bid.memorylaneinc.com/bids/bidplace?itemid=85513) | | 2024-11-09 | Base #253 | PSA 4 | $15,100 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1951-bowman/mickey-mantle-253/22430) | | 2024-09-27 | Base #253 | PSA 4 | $11,600 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1951-bowman/mickey-mantle-253/22430) | | 2022-01-08 | Base #253 | PSA 9 | $3,192,000 | included | Memory Lane | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/11336408/psa) | ## How to identify each version - **Base #253**: 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle; verify the Bowman design, card number, back, and slab label. Qualifiers such as OC must be separated. **Identity note:** This is Mantle's 1951 Bowman rookie card. Keep it separate from the famous 1952 Topps Mantle, which is not his rookie card. ## Why this card matters The 1951 Bowman #253 is Mantle’s rookie card, not the later 1952 Topps card that often dominates mainstream discussion. PSA CardFacts lists the card separately and shows a condition census topped by one PSA 10 and multiple PSA 9 examples as opened on 2026-09-26. Heritage’s 2026 PSA 8 (OC) lot also frames the card around Mantle’s age-19 rookie season with the Yankees, which is the central reason collectors search for this exact issue. ## Identifying the exact version Identify the card as 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle. Do not merge it with 1952 Topps #311, 1952 Bowman, reprints, or later Mantle issues. The qualifier matters: a PSA 8 (OC) is not the same comparison as an unqualified PSA 8. Record the grader, grade, qualifier, cert, and visible front/back condition. For raw copies, authentication is especially important because the card is widely known and frequently searched by non-specialists. ## What moves the price between versions and grades Grade, qualifier, and eye appeal drive the largest differences. PSA CardFacts showed a PSA 10 population of 1 and PSA 9 population of 9 as opened on 2026-09-26, while recent lower-grade sales sit in a very different market band. The 2026 Heritage PSA 8 (OC) sale at $79,300 should not be treated as an unqualified PSA 8 comp because the qualifier is part of the grade identity. ## Authenticity checks Compare against official references; use multiple checks; do not use destructive tests; copied cert numbers exist. For Mantle #253, verify card number, Bowman back, image registration, paper aging, dimensions, and slab label. Check PSA cert details and compare the actual card images to the seller’s photos. PSA warns that cert verification does not eliminate risk because counterfeit grading inserts can reuse real certification numbers from public sources. ## Common misconceptions - **Myth:** The 1952 Topps Mantle is Mantle's rookie card. **What the evidence says:** The 1951 Bowman #253 is his rookie card; the 1952 Topps card is a different postwar flagship. - **Myth:** A PSA 8 (OC) sale is the same as a PSA 8 sale. **What the evidence says:** Qualifiers are part of the grade identity and should be kept separate under ch03's exact-comps procedure. - **Myth:** A high PSA population count means there are that many total copies in existence. **What the evidence says:** PSA population counts PSA-graded copies only and is not a census of all raw or other-grader copies. ## FAQ ### Is the 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253 his rookie card? Yes; the 1951 Bowman #253 is Mantle's rookie card, while the 1952 Topps Mantle is a different later issue [1]. ### How much did the PSA 8 (OC) 1951 Bowman Mantle sell for in 2026? The PSA NM-MT 8 (OC) example sold at Heritage for $79,300 on 2026-07-10, with a 22% buyer's premium schedule shown on the lot page [2]. ### How much did a PSA 8 1951 Bowman Mantle sell for at SCP? A PSA NM-MT 8 sold for $342,379.20 in an SCP auction ending 2021-06-05, and the SCP page states the sold price includes buyer's premium [6]. ### How many PSA 10 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle cards exist? PSA CardFacts displayed a PSA 10 population of 1 as opened on 2026-09-26, but the page did not expose a separate population snapshot date [1]. ### Should I compare a PSA 7 to a PSA 8 (OC)? Only with the grade and qualifier clearly separated; a PSA 7 and PSA 8 (OC) answer different condition questions [2,4]. ### What is the recent PSA 7 sale evidence? A PSA cert sales-history page showed Heritage sales of $100,650 on 2026-07-11 and $106,750 on 2026-05-16 for PSA 7 examples [4]. ## Sources 1. [1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1951-bowman/mickey-mantle-253/22430) (PSA CardFacts) 2. [1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253 PSA NM-MT 8 (OC)](https://sports.ha.com/itm/baseball-cards/singles-1950-1959-/1951-bowman-mickey-mantle-253-psa-nm-mt-8-oc-/a/50086-80333.s) (Heritage Auctions) 3. [PSA Grading Standards](https://www.psacard.com/gradingstandards) (PSA) 4. [Cert Verification 30499776](https://www.psacard.com/cert/30499776/psa) (PSA) 5. [PSA Cert Verification](https://www.psacard.com/cert) (PSA) 6. [1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle Rookie - PSA NM-MT 8](https://catalogs.scpauctions.com/online-auctions/scp-auctions-inc/1951-bowman-253-mickey-mantle-rookie---psa-nm-mt-8-5997006) (SCP Auctions) ## How to cite > 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253. CardVolume, https://cardvolume.com/sports/baseball/1951-bowman-mickey-mantle-253/ (accessed 2026-09-27). Machine-readable: https://cardvolume.com/api/v1/cards/sports--baseball--1951-bowman-mickey-mantle-253.json · Method: https://cardvolume.com/methodology/