This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/7/2014
New York Yankee teammates Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle will always be remembered for their epic home run hitting duel in 1961, which saw them chase Babe Ruth’s longstanding single-season record of 60 round-trippers set in 1927. In the end, it was Maris who set the new mark with 61 while Mantle finished at 54. This scarce vintage-signed Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle baseball was autographed during their playing days in black ink on an “Official Bob Feller Youth League” baseball. Mantle adorns the sweet spot while Maris sits close by on the East panel, allowing for rare dual display. An accompanying PSA/DNA LOA grades Mantle’s signature a “9”, Maris’s an “8”, and the cream-colored ball a “4”—the latter grade owing, no doubt, to a few small, scattered ‘rust’-colored stains. One touches the “M” in Maris on this otherwise fine conditioned specimen which is well-worthy of its PSA “7” overall rating. The growing demand for Maris-Mantle balls consistently outpaces the small number in circulation. Of those scant few, this is the only one we recall that originates from their playing days. And based on both signature styles, we estimate the signing date to be 1960-61, making this an especially desirable and unique example!
Full LOA from PSA/DNA (Overall Grade: 7).