Caught off-guard by Mickey Mantle's retirement a month before the 1969 season began, Topps inserted under the vitals on the back of this 1969 card: "The All-Star announced his retirement from baseball on March 1st, 1969!". Graded SGC 92 NM-MT+, this beauty still qualifies as Mantle's last regular season card. A touch of corner wear keeps this blazer from the full "Mint" grade. It was nearly the end of a long and beautiful relationship between Topps and Mantle, numbering 23 regular season issues. The 1969 set was a basic vertical design with no-frills stats on the back. But Mantle's Hall of Fame numbers take on a life of their own if you look at them carefully. A real beauty.