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It’s insured for more than ten times what Mickey Mantle made for playing baseball from 1951-1968.  Such is the current market for what is probably the second most recognizable baseball card ever made. This PSA 10 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card is 1 of 3 in the world, and is owned by Denver resident, Marshall Fogel.

Fogel’s card, among the earliest graded by PSA, had originated with the famous 1980’s Massachusetts find made by Alan “Mr. Mint” Rosen, who purchased hundreds of high-grade 1952 Topps cards – even the original Topps case they were stored in– from a man in Quincy, MA in 1986. 

The going rate at the time was shocking–$2,000 to $3,000 for the best examples. At the time, few cards were worth that much. 

Fogel spent $121,000 for the Mantle card in 1996. It’s safe to say that the investment has paid off. Just last year one of the six PSA 9 examples, a card owned by former NFL lineman and collector Evan Mathis, sold for $2.8 million. Fielder’s Choice Realty knows a thing or two about good investments, we’ve helped dozens of people become successful real estate investors.

While the PSA 10 Mickey Mantle is the centerpiece of his collection, Fogel has hundreds of valuable artifacts from America’s Pastime over the years. 

Over time, baseball has changed a lot, but ultimately it’s still the same game on a summer’s day: nine guys against one lonely batter. And for Marshall Fogel it’s all about the love of the game.

At Fielder’s Choice we’re all about helping good people find a place they can truly call home. If you’re buying, selling, investing or just want to learn more – contact us today!

Building a batting cage at home can provide hours of valuable practice time. Making your own cage from inexpensive materials is a fun, easy project. You can construct a basic batting cage indoors inside a garage or pole barn, or outdoors where more space is usually available. Here’s the recipe for the perfect home batting cage:

Step 1

Determine the best area to construct your batting cage. You’ll need a space at least 15 feet wide and 40 feet long. You need a longer area if you want to practice hitting pitches from farther away. Make sure the area is level and free of obstructions.

Step 2

Set up the wood posts to make the skeleton of the cage. Posts measuring 4 inches by 4 inches are the sturdiest. The cage should have a post about every 12 to 14 feet along each side. If you are building a 40-foot-long cage, you need three posts on each side. The posts should stand 10 to 12 feet aboveground. Therefore, posts for outdoor cages need to be 13 to 15 feet tall so you can secure 2 to 3 feet of the post with concrete in the ground. You need to attach posts for an indoor cage with post bases using anchor hooks to secure the base to the floor surface.

Step 3

Screw in eye bolts about every 3 feet along each post.

Step 4

Drape the netting over the top of the posts and extend it down evenly. Leave about 1 foot of excess netting resting on the ground.

Step 5

Clip the netting to the eye bolts. Do not stretch the net too tightly. You need to leave some slack in the net so the netting slows down and stops the ball rather than rebounds it back.

Step 6

Secure the bottom of the netting to the ground, or to a board connected to the posts at the bottom, to prevent balls from rolling under the netting. Remember to keep some slack in the netting.

 Things You’ll Need

• Heavy-duty nylon or polyethylene netting

• 6 treated wood posts, 12 to 15 feet tall

• Post bases (optional)

• Anchor hooks (optional)

• Eye bolts

• Clips

Let our team of all-stars at Fielder’s Choice help you find your next home! Contact us today!

America’s pastime is one of the most lucrative professional sports in the world. Just last year MLB players made $4.52 Million on average! With such staggering salaries, that don’t include their lucrative endorsements, it’s no surprise that these all stars have chosen to live in upscale, ultra luxury homes. 

Mike Trout made over $35 Million last year, but he’s still that same humble kid from Millville, NJ. So no surprise that he purchased a 300-acre estate just minutes from his parents’ home. Or so it’s been reported. 

At one time, Mike Trout rented a rustic palace at the Running Deer Golf Club located in Pittsgrove Township, New Jersey. This palatial log cabin gives you a sense of Trout’s rural aesthetic: where he comes from, where he’s at and where he’s going.

Across the country, lives another superstar you may be familiar with. The ace of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw. 

In early 2015, Kershaw and his wife purchased a 5,988-square-foot residence in Studio City, California. Their home cost $4 million and has five bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms.

This home includes a cozy family room, immaculate kitchen, beautiful wine cellar and in home theatre!

Kershaw should proudly toast himself and his success, both on and off the baseball field. There’s no success like family, friends and financial independence.

While these homes are truly incredible, Giancarlo Stanton’s newly purchased penthouse is the definition of BALLER.

Stanton purchased this pre-construction unit at the Aria on the Bay tower, located in downtown Miami’s Arts and Entertainment District. This epic penthouse is the MVP of upscale living.

It’s three levels and occupies the top floors of a state-of-the-art tower. Boasting 10-foot-high floor-to-ceiling glass windows and doors, five bedrooms, seven and a half bathrooms and a rooftop terrace with a loaded kitchen and private pool. And wait, there’s more!

The building itself is comprised of 648 residences and every luxe amenity imaginable has been included: a deck with two sunrise/sunset-facing swimming pools, jacuzzi, fire pits, barbecue grills, outdoor summer kitchens, spa, fitness center, yoga studio, indoor/outdoor bar and entertainment lounge, theater, game room, library and business center.

These MLB players have learned that hard work pays off and each is, indeed, living their best life. Fielder’s Choice Realty aims to help our client’s do the same. Whether you’re on a big league budget or just sliding into your first home, our team of all-stars can help you find what you’re looking for. Contact us today!