One of the hottest trends in this great hobby is the increasing popularity of signed and encapsulated vintage sports cards, especially for the biggest names in sports. When you combine a signed card with one of the subject's most popular pasteboards, the desirability exponentially increases. Such is this case with this signed 1956 Topps #135 Mickey Mantle card. One of The Mick's most treasured cards, this near-perfectly centered example contains a very flowing "Mickey Mantle" black Sharpie signature across the lighter New York Yankee jersey background. It appears Mickey knew exactly where to sign! The card itself has been authenticated (and the card graded) by Beckett Authentication Services (BAS) at NM+ 7.5, with the signature, as indicated on the reverse, grading a ("10"). For those who may not be familiar with BAS, the head autograph authenticator there is Steve Grad, who was formerly chief grader at PSA, and is a recurring guest star on the hit TV show "Pawn Stars." In the past, collectors did not want to "damage" their higher grade cards by obtaining signatures on them; therefore, high grade cards signed by the greatest ballplayers who ever laced up the spikes are rarely seen, and have become very desirable over the last couple years. Next to the two rookie cards, this is arguably Mantle's most popular card, in high grade condition with a perfect ("10") signature. There can not be many rivals to this signed beauty. BAS graded NM+ 7.5 (for the card grade) and BAS GEM MINT 10 for the grade of the signature.