This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/29/2019
"Oklahoma Kid" is perhaps the scarcest and most desirable of all of Mantle inscriptions on a single signed ball. You can count on one hand the total number of exemplars that have ever surfaced. The last one sold at auction for over $15,000 in December 2017 after a six year drought. This OAL (Brown) baseball with the coveted phrase on the sweet spot in 8-9/10 blue ink is unique in that the inscription was presumably added a short time after the initial autograph. A savvy collector was apparently able to convince "The Commerce Comet" (from Commerce, OK) to upgrade his work. Both have been authenticated by JSA as being in Mantle's hand, his name in more traditional blue ballpoint and the inscription in darker navy blue. Some spot toning on the south and north panels does little to detract from the eye appeal of the beautiful penmanship. Includes full LOA from JSA (Z57821).