A burglar stole a 1952 Mickey Mantle rookie baseball card from a Delaware sports card and collectibles shop around 1 a.m. Sunday.

Even with worn corners and bends and creases, the vaunted card of the great New York Yankees slugger was worth more than $8,000. A near-mint condition version fetched almost $3 million last year.

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Keith Neuhart said his inventory "comes and it goes."

"But to know someone busted in my front window, through our logo and took one card ... it's my business."

Delaware police are investigating the theft at Neuhart Cards, which moved from central Delaware to the shop along Route 36 on the city's East Side.

Asked what he would tell the thief, Neuhart replied: "It wouldn't be kind."

dnarciso@dispatch.com



@DeanNarciso