EXAMPLE OF EARLY MICKEY MANTLE AUTOGRAPH
A classic autographed New York Yankees baseball with signatures carefully obtained one by one at the time during decade of the 1950's, including an "early" example of a Mickey Mantle.
Other notables include Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, Allie Reynolds, Billy Martin, Jerry Coleman, Gil McDougald, Hank Bauer, Enos Slaughter and many more.
The ball is in good condition and the signatures, in blue ink, rate a 2-6/10, mainly due to fading. The "early" Mantle penmanship rates a 4/10.
Provenance from Consignor:
I went to a Yankees game in the mid 1960’s with "Schmitty", my grandfather and my dad. My dad actually caught a foul ball at that game that I used for years! Schmitty was a good friend of my grandfather and a huge Yankees fan. Starting in 1948 and into the mid 1950’s, Schmitty would go early to the stadium (the house that Ruth built) to get players autographs on this ball. A few years after we went to that game Schmitty got sick and knew he would not be around much longer. He was nice enough to give the ball to my grandfather to pass on to me. I kept it on a stand in my bedroom for years, then had it packed away for quite a few years after. It has been in my home office in a ball display case for about the last 15 years. I have enjoyed it for decades but decided it was time to pass along to another Yankee fan.