The “Million Dollar Mantle” is just one of the baseball cards from a legendary accumulation owned by Texas resident Don Spence. Next month, collectors from across North America will be able to see the card—and 20 other stunning Mickey Mantle cards—as Memory Lane Inc. brings Spence’s high-grade collection to the National Sports Collectors Convention in Rosemont, Ill., August 3-7. Mantle appears on 21 major base cards from 1951-1969 and “The Lone Star Collection” includes all 21 in either PSA 10 (gem mint) or PSA 9 (mint) condition. It’s the finest accumulation of such cards in existence.
2011 marks just the second time the collection has been on public display. Its appearance at the 2009 NSCC show in Cleveland gave collectors the chance to have their photo taken with any of Spence’s collection including the 1951 Bowman Mantle rookie card graded PSA 10 that is valued at an estimated $1 million+. The same opportunity will be available at the Stephens Convention Center as Spence and Memory Lane team up to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Mantle’s cardboard debut.
Spence’s “Lone Star Collection” features all 21 major Mantle cards in mint or gem mint condition, all of them authenticated and graded by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). Every card is graded 9 or 10 and several are the highest graded Mantle cards registered with PSA.
The collection carries a total estimated value of $2-3 million.
Six of the cards are the highest graded Mantle cards of their kind in existence. In addition to the 1951 Bowman rookie, Spence owns five other Mantle “10s” that have no equal including: 1953 Bowman Color, 1959 Topps, 1962 Topps, 1964 Topps and 1969 Topps.
Spence’s collection has been built over several years, then upgraded as he won better graded examples via auction or bought them, pushing the set toward its status as the all-time finest PSA-graded Mantle basic set.
In addition to viewing and holding the Lone Star Collection’s Mantle, collectors who visit Memory Lane’s booth (#1000 near the front entrance) can pick up free wall calendars that picture the entire collection
Memory Lane will also host special get-together Wednesday afternoon, featuring special autograph guests. The Kick-Off event for the 32nd National runs from 2:30-4:00pm, and is held exclusively for VIP and Super VIP ticketholders. It will be held in Room 1 in the Conference Center at the Stephens Convention Center.
The company’s new auction catalog will be hot off the press and free copies will be available. MLI will also be taking consignments for its upcoming I Own it Now sale and its fall catalog auction. Those who consign items to Memory Lane prior to the show will receive a free VIP pass (value $180) that entitles them to numerous free autographs, promo cards, early show admission and other benefits.
For more information, contact Memory Lane at (714) 730-0600.
