KUSA — Those who lined up inside the lobby of History Colorado Center on Monday morning knew not to judge the masterpiece by its size.
“The 1952, Topps Mickey Mantle!” Jason Hanson announced, pulling a black curtain that revealed the tiny masterpiece.
People in line clapped and began taking turns snapping pictures and examining the rare baseball card behind protective glass.
“It’s such a perfect card because the color is perfect, the corners are sharp, it’s perfectly centered,” said Hanson, chief creative officer at History Colorado. “It’s just exactly what you want a baseball card to be when you open up the package.”
The card is a 1952 gem mint PSA 10 Mickey Mantle card, one of the most sought-after cards in the world. There are only two other cards like it, but it’s the only one with a “perfect 10” rating. Collector Marshall Fogel won the card at auction in 1996 for $121,000.
It’s now insured for $12 million and the crown jewel of his collection of baseball artifacts, many of which are on display at History Colorado’s “Play Ball” exhibit.
“I imagine almost everybody in their life has collected baseball cards and to see the best of the best I think will be very emotional for those that come,” Fogel said.
Fogel regards Mickey Mantle as one of the best ball players who ever lived. Mantle played center field and first base for the New York Yankees from 1951 to 1968.
“The players that I spoke to that played with Mantle said you could hear from the crack of the bat that it was Mantle that hit the home run,” Fogel said. “He was a very powerful person.”
Fogel agreed to share his prized Mickey Mantle card with the museum and its visitors for three days. The card was transported from a local bank to the museum Monday morning in an armored car.
It’ll be on display at History Colorado through Wednesday with round-the-clock security. Off-duty Denver police officers are taking shifts watching over the precious piece of baseball memorabilia.
“If there were a tiny Picasso out there, you would take the same precautions,” Hanson said. “This is a masterpiece.”
The museum will be staying open until 9 p.m. each night through Wednesday to allow as many visitors as possible.
Kids under the age of 15 accompanied by an adult can get in free if they wear a baseball jersey.
