1956 Topps Mickey Mantle #135 Value & Price Guide

In 1956, Topps had the baseball card market all to itself. The company had just purchased its only competitor, Bowman, and every major leaguer was now available for a single set. Card #135 featured Mickey Mantle, the 24-year-old center fielder coming off his Triple Crown season. It was the last Topps Mantle card to use artwork instead of a photograph, and it captured him in the full swagger of his prime. Today, this card sits in that sweet spot of Mantle collecting: not as expensive as the 1952 rookie-year issue, but with a design that many collectors consider the most visually striking of all his Topps cards.

Quick Value Summary

Item: 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle #135 Year: 1956 Category: Sports Cards Set Size: 340 cards + 2 unnumbered checklists Card Size: 2-5/8" x 3-3/4" (last oversized Topps issue)

Condition Range (Gray Back):

• Poor/Fair (PSA 1-2): $500 - $1,200

• Good (PSA 3): $1,500 - $2,200

• Very Good-Excellent (PSA 4-5): $2,500 - $3,800

• Excellent-Mint (PSA 6): $3,500 - $4,500

• Near Mint (PSA 7): $5,500 - $6,500

• Near Mint-Mint (PSA 8): $15,000 - $20,000

• Mint (PSA 9): $130,000 - $175,000

Record Sale: A PSA 10 gray back sold for $360,000 in May 2017. Rarity: Common in low grades; Rare in PSA 8+; Extremely Rare in PSA 9-10

The Story

The 1956 Topps set arrived at a moment of transition. Topps had spent years battling Bowman for exclusive player contracts. When Topps acquired Bowman in early 1956, the war was over. For the first time, Topps could include every major league player in a single set. Mickey Mantle, who had been exclusive to Bowman in 1954 and 1955, was back in the Topps lineup.

And Mantle gave them something to work with. His 1955 season had been spectacular, but 1956 was otherworldly. He hit .353 with 52 home runs and 130 RBIs, winning the Triple Crown and the American League MVP award. He was 24 years old and playing the best baseball anyone had seen since Ted Williams.

The card itself features a hand-painted portrait of Mantle in his Yankees cap against a warm background. It was the final Topps set to use artwork rather than photographs for its main image. The artistic style gives the card a distinctive look that separates it from the photo-based sets that followed. The horizontal format is unusual for the era, and Mantle's portrait fills the frame with a confident, direct gaze.

The 1956 set was also the first to include team cards and checklists, and the last to use the oversized 2-5/8" by 3-3/4" card format. Starting in 1957, Topps would switch to the standard 2-1/2" by 3-1/2" size that remained the industry standard for decades.

How to Identify It

Card Number: #135 in the 1956 Topps set (series two, cards 101-180)

Front: Horizontal layout featuring a hand-painted portrait of Mickey Mantle in his New York Yankees cap. The name "MICKEY MANTLE" appears prominently, with "outfield - New York Yankees" below. The card features a distinctive color scheme with warm tones in the background.

Back: Player statistics, biographical information, and a cartoon fact. The back is where the primary variation exists.

Gray Back vs. White Back

This is the single most important identification point for this card. The 1956 Topps set was printed on two different card stocks:

• Gray back: The cardboard has a grayish tone on the reverse. This is the common version, representing roughly 90% of all known examples for card #135. PSA has graded approximately 8,700 gray back Mantle cards.

• White back: The cardboard is noticeably whiter on the reverse. This is the scarce version, representing about 10% of the population. PSA has graded approximately 900 white back examples.

The ratio for Mantle's card is approximately 9.5 to 1, gray to white. White backs carry a significant premium, especially in higher grades. White-backed cards from the second series (101-180) are also known to be more brittle, making high-grade examples even more difficult to find.

Centering Issues

The 1956 Topps set is notorious for poor centering. Finding a well-centered example is genuinely difficult and significantly affects grade. PSA's population data confirms that high-grade examples (PSA 8 and above) are scarce relative to the total number graded.

Value by Condition

PSA 3 Good ($1,500 - $2,200)

This is the entry point for most collectors. The card shows obvious wear: rounded corners, surface creases, and possibly minor staining. The image and text remain fully legible. At this price point, you are buying a piece of Mantle history that you can hold and display without a second mortgage.

PSA 5 Very Good-Excellent ($2,500 - $3,800)

A PSA 5 gray back sold for $3,782 in late 2025, up about 26% from the previous month. The card has moderate wear but retains decent eye appeal. Minor creases, slightly rounded corners, and centering that is off but not extreme. This grade has been the most active trading range in recent years.

PSA 7 Near Mint ($5,500 - $6,500)

A PSA 7 gray back has been selling consistently in the $5,700 to $5,800 range through 2024. The card looks sharp to the casual eye but shows minor flaws under close inspection: a touch of corner wear, very slight centering issues, or a barely visible surface mark.

PSA 8 Near Mint-Mint ($15,000 - $20,000)

This is where values jump significantly. A gray back PSA 8 sold for $19,000 in October 2024 and $19,600 in August 2024. The card has sharp corners, good centering, and only the most minor imperfections visible under magnification. The population of PSA 8 and higher gray backs is small relative to total submissions.

PSA 9 Mint ($130,000 - $175,000)

Gray back PSA 9 examples sold for $148,700 in January 2022, $137,000 in October 2021, and $175,000 in August 2021. These represent near-perfect centering, razor-sharp corners, and virtually no surface wear. Extremely few exist at this grade.

White Back Premiums

White back examples command premiums across all grades, but the gap widens significantly at higher levels:

• PSA 5 white back: $2,800 (similar to gray back)

• PSA 6 white back: $5,000 - $5,200 (roughly 25-40% above gray back)

• PSA 7 white back: $19,800 (one sold in April 2022, a major premium over the gray back's $5,800)

• PSA 8 white back: $20,200 (sold in September 2017)

• PSA 9 white back: None exist in the PSA population report

The scarcity of white backs in high grades makes direct comparison difficult. Below PSA 5, the premium is modest. Above PSA 6, white backs can command double or more the gray back price.

Known Errors and Variations

Beyond the gray/white back variation, the 1956 Topps Mantle does not have major error varieties. However, collectors should note:

• Miscuts: Oversized cards were more prone to miscuts during the cutting process. Significantly miscut examples are less valuable unless the miscut reveals part of an adjacent card, which some collectors find interesting.

• Off-center printing: Very common in this set and not considered an error, but a condition factor.

• Color variations: Slight differences in ink density and color saturation exist between print runs but are not separately cataloged.

Authentication and Fakes

Fakes of high-value Mantle cards are a persistent problem. For the 1956 Topps #135:

• Trimming: The oversized format makes trimming (cutting down the card to remove rough edges) a common alteration. A trimmed card that would otherwise grade PSA 7 might grade Authentic (no numerical grade) if detected.

• Color restoration: Faded colors can be chemically enhanced. Look for uneven color saturation or an unnatural sheen.

• Back alterations: Because white backs command premiums, some sellers have attempted to bleach gray backs. Professional graders check for this.

• Reprints: Modern reprints and reproductions exist. Genuine 1956 Topps cards have a specific card stock thickness and texture that differs from modern reproductions.

For any purchase above $1,000, a PSA or BGS graded and authenticated example is strongly recommended. Raw (ungraded) cards should be purchased only from reputable dealers with return policies.

Grading costs: PSA charges approximately $50-$150 per card at the regular service level. For declared values above $5,000, expect fees of $150-$300+. Express services are available at higher rates. Turnaround times vary from weeks to months depending on service level.

Where to Sell

• Auction houses: Heritage Auctions, Goldin Auctions, and Robert Edward Auctions handle high-value vintage cards. For PSA 7 and above, auction typically yields the best results. Buyer's premiums run 20-25%, but seller fees are often negotiable for premium lots.

• Online marketplaces: eBay has a strong market for graded Mantle cards across all grades. For PSA 5 and below, eBay often provides competitive results without the wait of a major auction.

• Card dealers: Established vintage card dealers will make immediate offers, typically 60-75% of market value. Faster than auction but lower returns.

• Card shows: Major shows like The National provide direct access to high-end dealers and collectors.

Not sure about the condition of yours? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for a quick estimate.

Explore More

Browse all Sports Cards →

Related Items