1956 Topps Mickey Mantle: The Ultimate Collector’s Guide

Quick Facts

Some things to consider before we get into more detail:

• the card measures in at 3-3/4" by 2-5/8"
• this is card #135 out of 342 cards
• it was part of the second series in the set (cards #101 - 180)
• it is the most expensive card in the set
• the reverse can come in one of two color variations: gray or white

Front Design

In 1955, Topps released its first set with a horizontal layout but Mantle was noticeably absent from the set as he had a contractual obligation to Bowman instead.

However, Topps would again use a horizontal layout in 1956 and fortunately for collectors Mantle was included this time around as the company bought out Bowman.

And this card did not disappoint...it is visually stunning and easily one of Mantle's best-looking cards in the hobby.

Everything about this card is perfect: the head shot of Mantle with a beaming smile on the right side, an image of Mantle making a leaping catch in the background, the facsimile signature in the lower-left corner...

Heck, even the nameplate in the upper-left corner really pops with the red and yellow color scheme.

Back Design

The reverse of the card was also printed with a horizontal layout and contained the usual personal information and statistics typical of most baseball cards.

However, the three cartoons in the middle are some of the very best of any baseball card in existence.

The first panel pays tribute to Mantle's power as a spectator follows one of his towering homers via telescope.

The middle panel celebrates the grand slam that he belted in the 1953 World Series.

And the final panel speaks to just how fast Mantle was as a cartoon image of him is shown outpacing his own shadow.

As I mentioned earlier, the backs can also come in one of two color variations: gray or white.

Here you can see the difference:

Gray Back

White Back

The white back variations are considerably more rare.

As of this writing, PSA has graded 6,083 gray back variations compared to 473 white back variations.

Condition Issues

The most common print issue with this card is poor centering.

In fact, all 1956 Topps cards are commonly found off-centered left to right, top to bottom, or both.

Take a look at this example below that was graded PSA 8 Near-Mint condition.

You can clearly see the image favors the right and bottom sides of the card.

These "rough cuts" were due to lower-quality cutting methods used by Topps back then and both PSA and hobbyists are well aware of these cutting methods that affected many vintage sets.

And both PSA and hobbyists are forgiving of rough cuts since they are not considered normal wear and tear from handling over the years.

If cards do display those sings of wear and tear, like the small bends and rounded corners that you'll see in this PSA 3 example below, then the grades (and value) will be negatively affected.

Most 1956 Mantles that I come across are typically in the lower PSA 3 grade range which is completely expected given that most of them have been well-loved by collectors for several decades now.

Value

So what are these cards worth?

The value of a 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle card will depend on its condition and can range between $225 to $15,000 or more.

The following table and graph display estimated price levels (at the time of this writing) at various condition grades:

As you can see, the white back variations can command a premium over the gray back versions, especially in higher grades.

That's because they're more scarce.

Again, as of this writing, PSA has graded 6,083 gray back variations compared to 473 white back variations.

Grading

Graded takes place on a 1 - 10 scale with 1 being the lowest and 10 the highest--the higher the grade the higher the value.

In order to be graded in mint condition, the card has to be nearly perfect:

• centering has to be pretty much 50/50
• the corners have to be sharp with no signs of wear or rounding
• the surfaces can not have any blemishes, divots, cuts, creases or wrinkles
• the edges cannot be damaged or have any chipping

As I mentioned earlier, most 1956 Topps Mantles that I see ungraded are in the 1 - 3 range.

Even as a 1 in poor condition, this card can be worth several hundred bucks.

But, the serious money comes into play once you start seeing conditions in the mid to higher grades.

If you have one of these cards and you'd like me to take a look at it, please reach out to me using the contact form above.

Mickey Mantle's 1956 Season In Review

The 1956 season was the year Mantle won the Triple Crown and first of his three career MVP awards.

It was easily the best season over his storied career.

Just look at the numbers he put up that year (numbers in bold indicate that he led the league):

• Hits: 188
• TB: 376
• Runs: 132
• Home Runs: 52
• RBI: 132
• Batting Average: .353
• OPS: 1.169
• SLG: .705

Each of the bold numbers above were also career highs for him except for OPS as he'd turn in a 1.177 OPS the following year in 1957, also an MVP campaign.

These numbers are mind-boggling and even though they were terrific individual accomplishments, they were made even sweeter by the Yankees bringing home the 1956 World Series title as well.

Similarly, the season Mantle had that year made his 1956 Topps issue even sweeter and one of his best baseball cards in the hobby.