1952 Bowman Mickey Mantle #101

How I Arrived at the Hobby Score

This card received a 96.5 overall Hobby Score.

The 1952 Bowman Mickey Mantle #101 is often overshadowed by the flashier Topps counterpart released the same year, but make no mistake — this is one of the most elegant and historically rich cards in the hobby. Featuring hand-painted artwork rather than a traditional photo, the card showcases a youthful Mantle mid-swing, with subtle details and pastel tones that evoke the era's artistic sensibilities. It’s Bowman’s final Mantle card before the Topps-Bowman licensing war took full effect.

From a historical standpoint, this card is loaded with context. Bowman had been the dominant card company in the late 1940s and early 1950s, but 1952 marked the beginning of the end. Topps would eventually buy Bowman out in 1956. So this card represents the final full year where Bowman competed as an equal — and Mantle was at the heart of that battle.

Fun fact: While the Topps Mantle gets most of the spotlight, many veteran collectors consider this Bowman version a truer depiction of the young Mick. Its smaller size and minimalist design lend a timeless charm, and high-grade copies remain rare due to centering issues and fragile card stock.

In many ways, the 1952 Bowman Mantle is the thinking collector’s Mantle rookie — quiet, classy, and rich in historical weight.