Mickey Mantle’s rookie card arrived a year before in 1951 Bowman. Even though the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle is his most popular card it’s not deserving of the rookie card designation.
Normally I would define vintage baseball as 1980 and earlier, which would include Rickey Henderson's 1980 Topps rookie card; however ... the 1950s and '60s, Mantle was a 3-time MVP and 7-time ...
Even though the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle is his most popular card it’s not deserving of the rookie card designation.