1953 Topps Mickey Mantle #82

How I Arrived at the Hobby Score

This card received a 96.5 overall Hobby Score.

The 1953 Topps Mickey Mantle #82 is widely regarded as one of the most artistic baseball cards ever produced. Rather than using a photo, Topps commissioned painted portraits for this set — and Mantle’s close-up, bat-on-shoulder pose against a soft sky remains instantly recognizable to collectors across generations. This card doesn’t carry rookie status, but its legacy and visual impact have earned it near-equal footing with his 1952 Topps and Bowman issues.

In terms of market significance, this card made headlines in 2021 when a PSA 10 copy sold privately for $3 million. Only a handful of Gem Mint copies exist, making it one of the rarest and most expensive Mantle cards in existence. That sale helped catapult the 1953 Topps set back into the hobby spotlight.

As Topps’ sophomore release, the 1953 set pushed the boundaries of what a baseball card could be — prioritizing artwork, elegance, and emotion. Mantle’s card exemplifies all three. Despite being only his third major card overall, many collectors consider it the most beautiful.

Its Hobby Score reflects not just high market value and demand, but the respect this card holds among serious collectors. It’s a masterpiece in cardboard form.