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1952

Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps

1952 Topps Baseball · #311

Baseball Topps
Version1 with data
Gradetap to switch
Market price
Insufficient
1 of 5 sales needed in 90 days
Last sale
$3,721,000
Aug 23, 2026 · Heritage Auctions
Record
$3,721,000
Aug 23, 2026
Population
—
Not sourced
Graded market value
—
Needs price + population
Sales, 12 months
1
Qualifying only

Values as of Sep 26, 2026 in USD. Market price = median of at least 5 qualifying sales of this exact version and grade in the last 90 days. Methodology

Sales history

DateVersionGradePriceVenueStatusSource
Aug 23, 2026 Base PSA 8 $3,721,000
incl. premium
Heritage Auctions
auction
Cross-checked Open
Aug 22, 2026 Base PSA 7 $716,750
incl. premium
Heritage Auctions
auction
Cross-checked Open
Aug 20, 2023 Base SGC 9 $4,500,000
incl. premium
Heritage Auctions
auction
Cross-checked Open
Aug 27, 2022 Base SGC 9.5 $12,600,000
incl. premium
Heritage Auctions
auction
Cross-checked Open
Apr 19, 2018 Base PSA 9 $2,880,000
incl. premium
Heritage Auctions
auction
Excluded Open

Verified: an editor or automated check confirmed the figure on the source page. Cross-checked: an independent second research pass reopened the source and confirmed it. Reported: cited by research but not re-checked; never used in metrics. 1 sale was excluded (reasons on hover). Asking prices are never listed here.

Price chart

Base · PSA 8

Fewer than two qualifying sales for PSA 8; no chart.

Graded population

VersionGraderGradeCountAs ofSource
BasePSA96Apr 19, 2018Open
BasePSA103Apr 19, 2018Open

Population counts copies graded by one company in one grade. It is not a print run and it grows with every submission. Why population is not print run

Grading math for this card

Prefilled with the latest qualifying sale for each grade where one exists. Replace any value with your own. We never suggest what grade your copy will get.

Break-even chance of a PSA 10
—
Enter a grading cost to calculate.

Formula from Grading: condition, uncertainty, and economics: grading pays only if your honest chance of the high grade exceeds (raw net + cost − other-outcome net) ÷ (high-grade net − other-outcome net). The 13% fee is an editable assumption, not a quoted tariff.

About Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps

The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 is the most searched postwar baseball card because it joins Mantle’s career significance with the famous Topps high-number story. It is also frequently misdescribed as Mantle’s true rookie, so exact issue identification matters before pricing.

Why this card matters

Verified factThe 1952 Topps Mantle #311 is the first card of the high-number range in the landmark 1952 Topps Baseball set and has become the central postwar baseball-card reference point. Heritage’s $12,600,000 sale of the SGC Mint+ 9.5 Rosen Find copy in August 2022 explains why searchers often start with this card when researching high-end sports cards. That sale does not make lower-grade examples equivalent; it documents one exceptional copy with a stated provenance and grade. [1][2]

Identifying the exact version

Verified factIdentify it as 1952 Topps Baseball #311, English, standard Topps issue, then record grade, grader, qualifier, and provenance if present. Do not merge it with Mantle’s 1951 Bowman card, later Topps reprints, autograph cards, or modern tribute issues. Heritage’s own lot text for a 2026 PSA 7 example states that it is not Mantle’s true rookie card, even though it became the public face of vintage baseball collecting. That distinction is essential for clean comparables. [3]

What moves the price between versions and grades

Verified factCondition, provenance, grader, and auction timing dominate the sourced differences. The SGC 9.5 Rosen Find example sold for $12,600,000 in 2022; Heritage’s archive also lists an SGC 9 at $4,500,000 in 2023, a PSA 8 at $3,721,000 in 2026, and a PSA 7 at $716,750 in 2026. Those records should not be blended into one “Mantle price.” The correct comp set separates SGC 9.5, SGC 9, PSA 8, PSA 7, signed copies, qualifiers, and altered examples. [1][4]

Authenticity checks

AnalysisCompare against official grading data, the exact 1952 Topps design, and clear front/back images; use multiple checks and do not rely on one anecdote about the high-number story. For slabs, match cert details, label, card number, grade, and holder images where available, then inspect the visible card for trimming, restoration, recoloring, paper loss, and qualifier issues. Do not perform destructive tests. Because copied cert numbers exist, a cert lookup is only one part of authenticating the physical item offered. [5]

Identity note: The 1952 Topps #311 is often called a rookie in popular writing, but Mantle’s earlier 1951 Bowman card exists; describe this as the 1952 Topps Mantle unless quoting a source.

What people get wrong about this card

The 1952 Topps Mantle is Mantle’s only rookie card.
The opened Heritage description notes it is not his true rookie; compare the exact issue, not just the player name. This follows ch09 identity rules.
The $12.6 million sale sets the value of every 1952 Mantle.
That was an SGC 9.5 Rosen Find example; other grades and graders have separate sale evidence. ch03 requires grade-specific comps.
The high-number story establishes an exact surviving count.
The story supports historical scarcity context, not a counted print run or surviving population. ch02 distinguishes print run, population, and survival claims.

Based on the claims our guides decline to adopt: Risk and strategy · Case studies and corrections

Frequently asked questions

How much did the record 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 sell for?
The opened Heritage lot shows $12,600,000 for an SGC Mint+ 9.5 Rosen Find example sold on August 27, 2022. [source_ids: 1] [1]
Is the 1952 Topps Mantle his true rookie card?
No; the sourced Heritage description for a PSA 7 example states it is not his true rookie card, even though it is the iconic Topps issue. [source_ids: 3] [3]
What did a PSA 8 sell for recently?
Heritage’s 2026 archive lists a PSA NM-MT 8 example sold for $3,721,000 on August 23, 2026. [source_ids: 4] [4]
What did a PSA 7 sell for recently?
A Heritage lot page shows a PSA NM 7 sold for $716,750 on August 22, 2026. [source_ids: 3] [3]
How many PSA 10 copies exist?
A 2018 Heritage lot description stated that PSA had three examples graded higher than PSA 9, but a current live PSA population page was not opened for a full current count in this batch. [source_ids: 5] [5]

Sources

  1. 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 SGC Mint+ 9.5 Rosen Find Lot #53014 — Heritage Auctions (accessed Sep 26, 2026)
  2. '52 Mantle card found in attic sold for $12.6M — MLB.com (accessed Sep 26, 2026)
  3. 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 PSA NM 7 Lot #80139 — Heritage Auctions (accessed Sep 26, 2026)
  4. Heritage Auctions Search: 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 Results — Heritage Auctions (accessed Sep 26, 2026)
  5. 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 PSA Mint 9 Lot #80477 — Heritage Auctions (accessed Sep 26, 2026)

Not yet established

  • A current live PSA population table for all grades was not fully captured in this batch.
  • No official Topps production quantity was found.

Research: Codex research pass (live web) · automated source checks · independent cross-check · generated Sep 26, 2026 · awaiting editor review · updated Sep 26, 2026. Found an error? Report it.

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