Conclusively, 1951 proved to be a watershed season in the annals of the Yankee mystique. That season would be the curtain call of the "Yankee Clipper." However, it also marked the arrival of the "Oklahoma Kid," Mickey Mantle, who bore the weight of unbridled expectations to fill the gap in centerfield. Word had spread that this young phenom’s monumental power and blazing speed might actually make him a viable replacement to the irreplaceable Joe DiMaggio as the “new” Yankee idol. So convinced of this were the Yankees that they assigned their young prodigy uniform number “6," the next in a sequence that included Ruth (#3), Gehrig (#4), and Joltin’ Joe (#5). By Opening Day of the '51 campaign, Mantle was entrusted with duty in right field and fast became the darling of both media and public. The hype was deafening. Problem was, there soon ensued an unabating, paralyzing slump. His struggles led to a brief demotion to Kansas City for fine tuning. However, by August, Mantle had slugged his way back into the Yankee lineup for good. The rest, as they say, is history.
It was at the dawn of Mantle’s tumultuous 1951 rookie season that he ordered this very bat: an "L16" Hillerich & Bradsby signature model weapon. Fashioned after Tony Lazzeri's game bats, (the "L" in "L16") this rare model exhibits the distinct small tapered knob never seen again on subsequent Mantle gamers. The "L16" engraving found at the knob identifies it as one of only 12 of its kind (6 at 34 inches, 6 at 35 inches) received by Mantle as part of his first H&B order as a Yankee on 4-20-51. This 35", 35 oz. artifact is composed of top grade white ash with all of the stampings deep and pronounced. Mantle has signed the barrel in bold blue sharpie. The bat shows signs of general handling, although no definitive usage wear is evident. The documented status of this bat makes it not only one of Mantle’s first and most coveted big league pro model bats, but a monumentally important symbol of The Mick’s fateful rookie season.
Full LOA from PSA/DNA.