1954 Bowman Mickey Mantle #65

How I Arrived at the Hobby Score

This card received a 90 overall Hobby Score.

The 1954 Bowman Mickey Mantle #65 stands as one of the final Mantle issues from Bowman before the brand’s brief disappearance and eventual acquisition by Topps. While not as bold or artistic as the 1953 Bowman color release, the 1954 edition still offers a clean, classic presentation of Mantle in his prime. It uses a soft pastel background, giving the card a unique visual identity compared to its Topps counterpart from the same year.

What makes this card particularly interesting is that it was short-printed late in the production run. Bowman pulled Mantle from the set due to contract disputes with Topps, making high-grade examples harder to come by. In fact, Mantle's card was replaced mid-series by a completely different player — Ted Williams — making it one of the only instances in hobby history where two Hall of Famers technically occupied the same card number.

While not as iconic or valuable as Mantle’s Topps cards, the 1954 Bowman represents a pivotal moment in the card wars of the 1950s. The card's clean design, scarcity, and rich backstory help it stand out among vintage collectors. It's a reminder that even in the early days of the hobby, player contracts and licensing battles shaped what collectors could hold in their hands.