Yankees Legend Mickey Mantle's 1952 Topps Rookie Card Value Enters New Era

A redemption card for the iconic card will be inserted into a random pack of 2026 Topps Series 1 baseball cards.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Topps has announced that a redemption card for the legendary 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card will be inserted into a random pack of their 2026 Series 1 baseball card release. The 1952 Mantle rookie card is one of the most valuable sports cards in the world, with the highest-graded versions selling for over $12 million at auction. This announcement is set to create a new era of interest and value for the iconic card.

Why it matters

The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card is considered one of the most valuable and sought-after sports cards of all time. Its inclusion in a modern card release is sure to generate significant excitement and speculation among collectors, potentially driving up the value of the original card even further.

The details

Topps will be inserting a redemption card for the 1952 Mantle rookie card into a random pack of their 2026 Series 1 baseball card release. The actual 1952 Mantle card will not be placed in the pack, but rather the redemption card can be redeemed for the original card. This is being done to preserve the condition of the valuable vintage card. Even lower-grade versions of the 1952 Mantle rookie card can sell for six figures, while the highest-graded versions have sold for over $12 million at auction.

  • The 2026 Topps Series 1 baseball card release is scheduled for Wednesday, February 10, 2026.

The players

Mickey Mantle

A legendary New York Yankees outfielder who played from 1951 to 1968 and is considered one of the greatest players in baseball history.

Topps

A major manufacturer of baseball cards and other sports trading cards, founded in 1938.

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What they’re saying

“An actual 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card will be inserted into a random pack of 2026 Topps Series 1 🤯”

— Topps (Twitter)

What’s next

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The takeaway

The inclusion of a redemption card for the iconic 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card in a modern card release is sure to create a new era of excitement and value for this legendary sports collectible.