Mickey MANTLE (1931-1995)
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Sport Baseball Sport cards Topps Mantle Sport cards 1942-92 Baseball jersey
See also : Sport Baseball Sport cards Topps Mantle Sport cards 1942-92 Baseball jersey
1951 Bowman Card
2022 SOLD for $ 3.2M by Memory Lane
At the dawn of his career Mickey Mantle alternates between feats and discouragement. His legs are fragile. When he was a teenager a kick in his left shin left an infection of the ankle with after-effects and prevented his incorporation into the army in 1949.
Yet when he is at the top he is the fastest and most powerful new promise in baseball. Early in 1951 the New York Yankees manager Casey Stengel considers that the boy must play the season in Major League. The uniform number 6 is attributed to him for stating that this rookie will be the successor to Ruth (3), Gehrig (4) and the then current star DiMaggio (5).
The 1951-253 Bowman card is prepared after the spring training during which Mickey has confirmed his skills. Like all cards in this series the image was a colored drawing copied from a photograph. The future champion is in profile, his smiling face turned towards the photographer and his bat held over the right shoulder. Aesthetics is not a must in these Bowman series : a useless electric pole has not been cancelled.
Bowman cards are rare in Mint condition, mostly because of some centering defect or original stain. Only one 1951-253 was graded Gem Mint-10 by PSA.
One of the nine PSA Mint-9 copies was sold for $ 3.2M by Memory Lane on December 3, 2022, lot 1.
Another one of the nine PSA Mint-9 copies was sold for $ 590K by Memory Lane on October 14, 2017 and for $ 750K by Heritage on April 19, 2018, lot 80449. This very clean card is perfectly centered 50/50 side to side. A card graded Mint 9 by SGC was sold for $ 690K by Heritage on May 6, 2021, lot 80480
The season is not successful. Mickey debuts in Major League on April 17 but is not convincing. Downgraded to Minor League in Kansas City he requires once again to stop baseball but is being bullied by his father. He comes back with the Yankees but returns the number 6 to Bobby Brown. He is then wounded in the right knee with a permanent torsion of a ligament during a fall in full action to avoid hurting DiMaggio. 1951 is indeed his rookie year in MLB but 1952 will be the actual trigger of his fame.
What beats everything in this story is the fact that this guy whose exploits will be a major element of the American Dream of the 1950s is confirmed as physically unfit for the army in 1952 during the Korean War.
Yet when he is at the top he is the fastest and most powerful new promise in baseball. Early in 1951 the New York Yankees manager Casey Stengel considers that the boy must play the season in Major League. The uniform number 6 is attributed to him for stating that this rookie will be the successor to Ruth (3), Gehrig (4) and the then current star DiMaggio (5).
The 1951-253 Bowman card is prepared after the spring training during which Mickey has confirmed his skills. Like all cards in this series the image was a colored drawing copied from a photograph. The future champion is in profile, his smiling face turned towards the photographer and his bat held over the right shoulder. Aesthetics is not a must in these Bowman series : a useless electric pole has not been cancelled.
Bowman cards are rare in Mint condition, mostly because of some centering defect or original stain. Only one 1951-253 was graded Gem Mint-10 by PSA.
One of the nine PSA Mint-9 copies was sold for $ 3.2M by Memory Lane on December 3, 2022, lot 1.
Another one of the nine PSA Mint-9 copies was sold for $ 590K by Memory Lane on October 14, 2017 and for $ 750K by Heritage on April 19, 2018, lot 80449. This very clean card is perfectly centered 50/50 side to side. A card graded Mint 9 by SGC was sold for $ 690K by Heritage on May 6, 2021, lot 80480
The season is not successful. Mickey debuts in Major League on April 17 but is not convincing. Downgraded to Minor League in Kansas City he requires once again to stop baseball but is being bullied by his father. He comes back with the Yankees but returns the number 6 to Bobby Brown. He is then wounded in the right knee with a permanent torsion of a ligament during a fall in full action to avoid hurting DiMaggio. 1951 is indeed his rookie year in MLB but 1952 will be the actual trigger of his fame.
What beats everything in this story is the fact that this guy whose exploits will be a major element of the American Dream of the 1950s is confirmed as physically unfit for the army in 1952 during the Korean War.
1952 TOPPS Card
Intro
The bubble gum has somehow succeeded to tobacco : Topps Chewing Gum becomes a leader in its market by using the previous distribution networks of a tobacco company.
At the instigation of Sy Berger, Topps makes a sensational entry into the edition of baseball cards. After a first trial in 1951, they launch in 1952 an extensive series with sharp pictures, pretty colors and a pleasantly didactic inscription on the back.
The project is ambitious and innovative. The image of the player printed in beautiful colors is accompanied by a fac simile of his autograph signature. The back side lists the statistics and feats of the player as well as his personal attributes and some laudatory comments.
The printing of the 1952 series is made in several batches including the selection of additional players. Topps wanted to keep going but their extension of the 1952 series, numbers 311 to 407, was not released on suitable time.
The unsold stock was of no further use to them and they drowned in 1960 in the Atlantic Ocean a barge loaded with the huge remains of the second part of the 1952 edition.
Mickey Mantle is that young handsome player who was iconic of the postwar American dream.
1952 had begun quite bad for him. The New York Yankees' great prospect, highlighted in early 1951 as Joe DiMaggio's designated successor, had finally made a dull season. After being downgraded to the Minor League, he returned to the Major League but suffered a severe injury to his right knee in an action with DiMaggio.
His father who was also his mentor dies on May 7, 1952 at the age of 40 of a blood disease. It was not known at the time that his illness was lead poisoning developed when mining. The young Mickey who was psychologically fragile believed in a hereditary curse. On July 8 Mickey is selected for the All-Star Game as an outfielder but left in reserve.
Mantle's omission in the first 310 players is probably due to his poor start of the season. When he becomes the first of the final 311-407, it is too late. The 1952 season is already well underway and Topps is slowing down the distribution to prepare for 1953 with suitably updated attributes.
An excellent participation at the beginning of October in the World Series launches the career of Mickey Mantle in a sustainable way. Although 1952 is not his rookie year, the rare Topps 1952-311 will become the most desirable of the modern baseball cards.
Owning a high grade 1952-311 card is currently recommended as a strong investment. The date of this edition is not so old and our grandfathers are feverishly searching into the shoeboxes of their youth. The population of PSA graded cards is growing significantly : 1,225 in December 2015, 1,392 in October 2016, and approaching 1,600 in 2019.
The top of the scale at PSA is occupied by 3 cards graded Gem Mint 10 and 6 graded Mint 9.
At the instigation of Sy Berger, Topps makes a sensational entry into the edition of baseball cards. After a first trial in 1951, they launch in 1952 an extensive series with sharp pictures, pretty colors and a pleasantly didactic inscription on the back.
The project is ambitious and innovative. The image of the player printed in beautiful colors is accompanied by a fac simile of his autograph signature. The back side lists the statistics and feats of the player as well as his personal attributes and some laudatory comments.
The printing of the 1952 series is made in several batches including the selection of additional players. Topps wanted to keep going but their extension of the 1952 series, numbers 311 to 407, was not released on suitable time.
The unsold stock was of no further use to them and they drowned in 1960 in the Atlantic Ocean a barge loaded with the huge remains of the second part of the 1952 edition.
Mickey Mantle is that young handsome player who was iconic of the postwar American dream.
1952 had begun quite bad for him. The New York Yankees' great prospect, highlighted in early 1951 as Joe DiMaggio's designated successor, had finally made a dull season. After being downgraded to the Minor League, he returned to the Major League but suffered a severe injury to his right knee in an action with DiMaggio.
His father who was also his mentor dies on May 7, 1952 at the age of 40 of a blood disease. It was not known at the time that his illness was lead poisoning developed when mining. The young Mickey who was psychologically fragile believed in a hereditary curse. On July 8 Mickey is selected for the All-Star Game as an outfielder but left in reserve.
Mantle's omission in the first 310 players is probably due to his poor start of the season. When he becomes the first of the final 311-407, it is too late. The 1952 season is already well underway and Topps is slowing down the distribution to prepare for 1953 with suitably updated attributes.
An excellent participation at the beginning of October in the World Series launches the career of Mickey Mantle in a sustainable way. Although 1952 is not his rookie year, the rare Topps 1952-311 will become the most desirable of the modern baseball cards.
Owning a high grade 1952-311 card is currently recommended as a strong investment. The date of this edition is not so old and our grandfathers are feverishly searching into the shoeboxes of their youth. The population of PSA graded cards is growing significantly : 1,225 in December 2015, 1,392 in October 2016, and approaching 1,600 in 2019.
The top of the scale at PSA is occupied by 3 cards graded Gem Mint 10 and 6 graded Mint 9.
1
Mint + 9.5 by SGC from the Rosen find
2022 SOLD for $ 12.6M by Heritage
The dealer Alan Rosen was using the self attributed moniker Mr Mint for his business. Renowned for his offerings of high condition baseball cards, he sold a T206 Wagner for $ 76,000 in 1990. He edited with Doug Garr in 1991 an "Insider's Guide to Investing in Baseball Cards and Collectibles".
Mr Mint acquired in 1985 a collection of high number 1952 Topps cards in mint condition. He will say that his best # 311 Mantle from that set was in his opinion"the finest known example in the world".
Investment went fast. Mr Mint soon sold his # 311 for a reported $ 3,500. He reacquired it in 1991 for $ 40,000 and sold it to a demanding collector for $ 50,000 during the 1991 New York Post Card show.
The grading systems were in infancy. PSA was created in 1991 as the very first grading and authentication company. The happy collector treasured his # 311 for 31 years without grading it.
Now aged 76 and considering that all his friends have seen it, he consigned it to Heritage after reportedly refusing an offer for a $ 10M private deal. After a transfer in armored truck, it is now the one off # 311 Mantle graded MT+ 9.5 by SGC. This high grading rewards a perfect centering, sharp corners and beautiful colors. The SGC label designates it as the "finest known example".
It was sold for $ 12.6M by Heritage on August 27, 2022, lot 53014. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Three other # 311 have been graded Gem Mint 10 by PSA. Heritage comments that "graded standards have changed over the decades" and that the Rosen find would arguably win against them.
Mr Mint acquired in 1985 a collection of high number 1952 Topps cards in mint condition. He will say that his best # 311 Mantle from that set was in his opinion"the finest known example in the world".
Investment went fast. Mr Mint soon sold his # 311 for a reported $ 3,500. He reacquired it in 1991 for $ 40,000 and sold it to a demanding collector for $ 50,000 during the 1991 New York Post Card show.
The grading systems were in infancy. PSA was created in 1991 as the very first grading and authentication company. The happy collector treasured his # 311 for 31 years without grading it.
Now aged 76 and considering that all his friends have seen it, he consigned it to Heritage after reportedly refusing an offer for a $ 10M private deal. After a transfer in armored truck, it is now the one off # 311 Mantle graded MT+ 9.5 by SGC. This high grading rewards a perfect centering, sharp corners and beautiful colors. The SGC label designates it as the "finest known example".
It was sold for $ 12.6M by Heritage on August 27, 2022, lot 53014. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Three other # 311 have been graded Gem Mint 10 by PSA. Heritage comments that "graded standards have changed over the decades" and that the Rosen find would arguably win against them.
2
Mint 9 by SGC from the Rosen find
2023 SOLD for $ 4.5M by Heritage
In his trove of 1952 high number Topps cards in superior condition, beside the card now graded Mint + 9.5 by SGC sold for $ 12.6M in 2022 by Heritage, Al "Mr Mint" Rosen also acquired another nearly perfect Mickey Mantle 1952-311.
This card now graded Mint 9 by SGC was sold for $ 4.5M by Heritage on August 19, 2023, lot 80026.
This card now graded Mint 9 by SGC was sold for $ 4.5M by Heritage on August 19, 2023, lot 80026.
3
Mint 9 by PSA
2018 SOLD for $ 2.9M by Heritage
As of 2018 PSA ranked three cards as Gem Mint 10 and six as Mint 9. None had been auctioned for more than a decade. One of the Mint 9 was sold for $ 2.9M by Heritage on April 19, 2018, lot 80477. Please watch the video shared by Heritage.
With its bright colors and excellent centering this card excites the experts. The reason why it did not obtain the Gem Mint 10 grade is not revealed in the catalog.
This card was sold privately for $ 5.2M in January 2021.
With its bright colors and excellent centering this card excites the experts. The reason why it did not obtain the Gem Mint 10 grade is not revealed in the catalog.
This card was sold privately for $ 5.2M in January 2021.
4
NM-MT + 8.5 by PSA
2024 SOLD for $ 2.37M by Heritage
A Topps Mantle graded NM-MT+ 8.5 by PSA was sold for $ 2.37M by Heritage on February 24, 2024, lot 80019. It is in an as new condition with high gloss, sharp corners and without stains.
A 1952 Topps card # 311 graded NM-MT 8.5 + by PSA was sold by Heritage for $ 1.13M on November 17, 2016, lot 50786. and for $ 765K on December 5, 2019, lot 51027. It has beautiful colors and a remarkable lack of wear. It was brought by a visitor at the Heritage booth in a trade fair in August, 2016 and was immediately appraised by PSA.
A 1952 Topps card # 311 graded NM-MT 8.5 + by PSA was sold by Heritage for $ 1.13M on November 17, 2016, lot 50786. and for $ 765K on December 5, 2019, lot 51027. It has beautiful colors and a remarkable lack of wear. It was brought by a visitor at the Heritage booth in a trade fair in August, 2016 and was immediately appraised by PSA.
5
NM-MT 8 by PSA
2021 SOLD for $ 2.1M by Memory Lane
The highest grades defined by PSA are 10 Gem Mint, 9 Mint and 8 Near-Mint-to-Mint, summarized respectively as Virtually perfect, Superb and Super high end. Collectors are of course looking for the best ranked, but also for the finest cards in their grade.
A card graded 8 may have some minor imperfections such as wax stain on the back, fraying on two corners, printing defect, off white edges, 65/35 centering on image side and 90/10 on reverse side. Visual appeal is not measurable and is not considered for the attribution of the grade. Nothing prevents an 8 from having retained the brightest colors.
As for 2024 PSA has graded without a MK qualifier 35 52-Topps #311 at NM-MT 8 and 14 higher.
The 1952 Topps Mantle from the Thomas Newman collection is graded NM-MT 8 by PSA. It was sold at lot 5 for $ 2.1M by Memory Lane on July 10, 2021.
PSA is possibly more lenient for NM-MT 8 or better grades of this specific issue. Their rate of 2.63% nearly doubles SGC’s rate (1.5%) and five times higher than BVG (0.56%).
A card graded 8 may have some minor imperfections such as wax stain on the back, fraying on two corners, printing defect, off white edges, 65/35 centering on image side and 90/10 on reverse side. Visual appeal is not measurable and is not considered for the attribution of the grade. Nothing prevents an 8 from having retained the brightest colors.
As for 2024 PSA has graded without a MK qualifier 35 52-Topps #311 at NM-MT 8 and 14 higher.
The 1952 Topps Mantle from the Thomas Newman collection is graded NM-MT 8 by PSA. It was sold at lot 5 for $ 2.1M by Memory Lane on July 10, 2021.
PSA is possibly more lenient for NM-MT 8 or better grades of this specific issue. Their rate of 2.63% nearly doubles SGC’s rate (1.5%) and five times higher than BVG (0.56%).
jersey
1
1952 Road Jersey
2024 SOLD for $ 3M by Heritage
Mickey Mantle is that young handsome player who was iconic of the postwar American dream.
1952 had begun quite bad for him. The New York Yankees' great prospect, designated in early 1951 as Joe DiMaggio's successor, had finally made a dull season. After being downgraded to the Minor League, he returned to the Major League but suffered a severe injury to his right knee in an action with DiMaggio.
His father who was also his mentor dies on May 7, 1952 at the age of 40 of a blood disease. It was not known at the time that his illness was lead poisoning developed when mining. The 21 year old Mickey who was psychologically fragile believed in a hereditary curse. On July 8 he is selected for the All-Star Game as an outfielder but left in reserve.
An excellent participation at the beginning of October in the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers launches the career of Mickey Mantle in a sustainable way. He scored a home run at the 8th inning of Game 6 played at Ebbets Fields. The Yankees won the Series 4-3 after Game 7.
A Spalding road gray flannel jersey dated 52 game worn by Mantle has been photo-matched by MeiGray with the celebration of the 1952 Series win. The jersey was re-used in the next season and photo-matched by MeiGray with the celebration of the 1953 World Series won 4-2 by the Yankees also against the Dodgers. In the locker room at Ebbets Field a jubilant Mantle marks by four fingers raised his victory that had included a grand slam in Game 5. Another matching was made with a spring training in 1954.
The garment was not provided to a farm club. It was paid for $ 2.50 through a double monthly allowance in a 1955 charity event by a boy in an orphanage. It is still in an excellent overall condition with moderate to heavy game wear. All original buttons are present. It was sold for $ 3M by Heritage on August 23, 2024, lot 80067. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
1952 had begun quite bad for him. The New York Yankees' great prospect, designated in early 1951 as Joe DiMaggio's successor, had finally made a dull season. After being downgraded to the Minor League, he returned to the Major League but suffered a severe injury to his right knee in an action with DiMaggio.
His father who was also his mentor dies on May 7, 1952 at the age of 40 of a blood disease. It was not known at the time that his illness was lead poisoning developed when mining. The 21 year old Mickey who was psychologically fragile believed in a hereditary curse. On July 8 he is selected for the All-Star Game as an outfielder but left in reserve.
An excellent participation at the beginning of October in the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers launches the career of Mickey Mantle in a sustainable way. He scored a home run at the 8th inning of Game 6 played at Ebbets Fields. The Yankees won the Series 4-3 after Game 7.
A Spalding road gray flannel jersey dated 52 game worn by Mantle has been photo-matched by MeiGray with the celebration of the 1952 Series win. The jersey was re-used in the next season and photo-matched by MeiGray with the celebration of the 1953 World Series won 4-2 by the Yankees also against the Dodgers. In the locker room at Ebbets Field a jubilant Mantle marks by four fingers raised his victory that had included a grand slam in Game 5. Another matching was made with a spring training in 1954.
The garment was not provided to a farm club. It was paid for $ 2.50 through a double monthly allowance in a 1955 charity event by a boy in an orphanage. It is still in an excellent overall condition with moderate to heavy game wear. All original buttons are present. It was sold for $ 3M by Heritage on August 23, 2024, lot 80067. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
2
1958 Home Jersey
2023 SOLD for $ 4.7M by Heritage
Mickey Mantle's feats feed the chronicle. During his first full MLB season in 1952, he had achieved 23 home runs with a batting average of .311. In 1953 he had hit a ball so hard that it flew out of the stadium.
In 1956 he was the Most Valuable Player with 52 home runs and an average of .353. He became the 12th batter in history to win the Major League Triple Crown, meaning that he was the best in the three categories : batting average, home runs and runs batted in. He was recognized by the Associated Press as the Athlete of the Year for all sports combined. He was again rewarded as American League MVP in 1957.
For that period, the photo-matching of New York Yankees jerseys is easy. The logo on the chest is composed of an N and a Y with curved branches, individually sewn by hand. Each piece is easily recognizable in the photos by the respective position of the two letters and by their positioning over the vertical stripes of the garment.
On January 23, 2020, Mile High Card sold as lot 1 for $ 650K a Spalding flannel home jersey dated 1955, on which the central bar of the N forms a narrow angle with the upper left bar of the Y. It is narrated in the pre sale article shared on January 1 by Sports Collector Daily.
This garment is matched with all of Mantle's photos in the Yankees Stadium from March 1956 to July 1956, with no prior use. The auction house estimates that Mantle achieved 17 homers with this jersey.
It is completely authentic except the large number 7 on the back which is not original. Such an alteration was a standard practice when a jersey obsoleted by a player was offered to a lower league club. It is graded A7 by MEARS.
A pinstriped home jersey got seven photo-matchings in 1958-1959 by Resolution Photomatching, starting with an award ceremony at the Yankee Stadium on April 18, 1958. Having never been modified for lower league action, this garment is fully original excepted one button. It is graded Superior/Superior-Excellent by SGC equivalent to 9.5 in numerical grading. The dark navy felt logo on the chest and the number 7 on the back are in the original position.
This piece of uniform was sold for $ 4.7M from a lower estimate of $ 4M by Heritage on August 19, 2023, lot 80094. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
The NY Yankees were World Champions in 1958 but Mickey Mantle finished only on fifth position for the 1958 American League MVP award.
In 1956 he was the Most Valuable Player with 52 home runs and an average of .353. He became the 12th batter in history to win the Major League Triple Crown, meaning that he was the best in the three categories : batting average, home runs and runs batted in. He was recognized by the Associated Press as the Athlete of the Year for all sports combined. He was again rewarded as American League MVP in 1957.
For that period, the photo-matching of New York Yankees jerseys is easy. The logo on the chest is composed of an N and a Y with curved branches, individually sewn by hand. Each piece is easily recognizable in the photos by the respective position of the two letters and by their positioning over the vertical stripes of the garment.
On January 23, 2020, Mile High Card sold as lot 1 for $ 650K a Spalding flannel home jersey dated 1955, on which the central bar of the N forms a narrow angle with the upper left bar of the Y. It is narrated in the pre sale article shared on January 1 by Sports Collector Daily.
This garment is matched with all of Mantle's photos in the Yankees Stadium from March 1956 to July 1956, with no prior use. The auction house estimates that Mantle achieved 17 homers with this jersey.
It is completely authentic except the large number 7 on the back which is not original. Such an alteration was a standard practice when a jersey obsoleted by a player was offered to a lower league club. It is graded A7 by MEARS.
A pinstriped home jersey got seven photo-matchings in 1958-1959 by Resolution Photomatching, starting with an award ceremony at the Yankee Stadium on April 18, 1958. Having never been modified for lower league action, this garment is fully original excepted one button. It is graded Superior/Superior-Excellent by SGC equivalent to 9.5 in numerical grading. The dark navy felt logo on the chest and the number 7 on the back are in the original position.
This piece of uniform was sold for $ 4.7M from a lower estimate of $ 4M by Heritage on August 19, 2023, lot 80094. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
The NY Yankees were World Champions in 1958 but Mickey Mantle finished only on fifth position for the 1958 American League MVP award.
3
1960 Home Jersey
2025 SOLD for $ 5.2M by Heritage
A Mickey Mantle home jersey of the New York Yankees has been photo-matched through its pinstripes by MeiGray and SIA to an MLB All Star Game in July 1960, three games in August 1960 and an exhibition game in March 1961, plus some undated events for a total of 13 images. It is signed by the player on the upper right chest underscored by a nice No. 7 inscription.
This piece of uniform has been graded a near perfect A9.5 by MEARS. It is unaltered excepted the missing of one minor stitch.
It was sold for $ 5.2M from a lower estimate of $ 4M by Heritage on August 23, 2025, lot 80106. This near time capsule had been hoarded by a collector who had acquired it from the estate of a teammate of The Mick.
This piece of uniform has been graded a near perfect A9.5 by MEARS. It is unaltered excepted the missing of one minor stitch.
It was sold for $ 5.2M from a lower estimate of $ 4M by Heritage on August 23, 2025, lot 80106. This near time capsule had been hoarded by a collector who had acquired it from the estate of a teammate of The Mick.
4
1968 Road Jersey
2022 SOLD for $ 2.2M by Heritage
For more than one hundred years the World Series ends the season by opposing the champion of the National League and the champion of the American League.
The home run scored by Babe Ruth in the Third Game of 1932 is unforgettable, first by Ruth's defiance or victory gesture even before holding his bat, and then because this fifteenth and last homer scored by Ruth in World Series was a record.
To equal and then exceed a record set by Ruth is an enviable feat. Mickey Mantle ran his 15th World Series homer in 1963.
In 1964 the World Series was won in 7 games by the St. Louis Cardinals against the New York Yankees. The three homers scored by Mantle were not enough to defeat the Cardinals but they set his record at 18 homers. This was Mantle's last World Series performance because the Yankees failed to qualify until his retirement as a player in 1968.
Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 were played in St. Louis and games 3 to 5 in New York. Mantle's homers were split between both sites, in games 3, 6 and 7. On August 18, 2018, Heritage sold for $ 1.32M a jersey worn by Mickey Mantle, photo-matched with games 6 and 7, lot 80055. It is graded A9 by MEARS.
It was a common practice for the Yankees to wear new uniforms for the World Series. This jersey is therefore not photo-matched with previous games. A laundry mark indicates that it has also been prepared for the following season.
In an interview with Sports Collectors Daily during the National Sports Collectors Convention, the Heritage Auctions specialist underlines the extreme rarity of this type of piece. Please watch this video.
The number of successful home runs (homers) in Major League baseball is the metrics that makes it possible to compare the best hitters of all time throughout their career. Babe Ruth was the first player to record his 500th homer in 1929, followed by Jimmie Foxx in 1940.
On September 19, 1968, the New York Yankees meet the Detroit Tigers. The absolute classification on that date is led by Ruth and Willie Mays with Foxx and Mickey Mantle sharing the third position with 534 homers each.
Since his rookie year in 1951, The Mick is a very popular player but at 37 years old in 1968 he has lost much of his effectiveness. During the game with Detroit, he holds the bat while the pitcher is one of his fervent admirers, Denny McLain, a strong personality who is not afraid of controversy. McLain launches an easy ball to Mantle and The Mick achieves his 535th homer with which he can finally overtake Foxx.
There was nothing illegal in this complacent pitch despite a wink by the Tiger when The Mick reached the third base. McLain will be reprimanded by the Major League Baseball Commissioner. Mantle will achieve before the end of that year his 536th and final homer.
These records have been exceeded many times : Mickey Mantle is currently in 13th position for the number of homers in Major League. His difficult end of life is forgotten and he has become again the symbol of the post-war American dream.
The road grey jersey worn by Mantle against the Tigers was autographed by him on the upper chest to a friend and signed "The Mick". This fully unaltered uniform with moderate game wear is graded A10 by MEARS. It was sold by Heritage for $ 490K on February 25, 2017, lot 80014, and for $ 850K on August 29, 2020, lot 80050.
Tentatively associated also with Mantle's final MLB game with the Yankees on September 20 in Boston, it was sold for $ 2.2M by Heritage on February 26, 2022, lot 80087. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Another road grey Yankees flannel jersey of Mickey Mantle was used in his final MLB season. It is signed and dedicated by him to a bat boy. Its size is 44 and its labels reads Wilson 1968 Set 2. It is graded A 9.5 by MEARS which characterize the game worn as heavy. MEARS deducted a half point from perfect for a glue staining at interior collar. It passed at Heritage on May 17, 2024, lot 82201.
It is estimated that less than 10 original MLB game worn jerseys of Mickey Mantle are in existence.
The home run scored by Babe Ruth in the Third Game of 1932 is unforgettable, first by Ruth's defiance or victory gesture even before holding his bat, and then because this fifteenth and last homer scored by Ruth in World Series was a record.
To equal and then exceed a record set by Ruth is an enviable feat. Mickey Mantle ran his 15th World Series homer in 1963.
In 1964 the World Series was won in 7 games by the St. Louis Cardinals against the New York Yankees. The three homers scored by Mantle were not enough to defeat the Cardinals but they set his record at 18 homers. This was Mantle's last World Series performance because the Yankees failed to qualify until his retirement as a player in 1968.
Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 were played in St. Louis and games 3 to 5 in New York. Mantle's homers were split between both sites, in games 3, 6 and 7. On August 18, 2018, Heritage sold for $ 1.32M a jersey worn by Mickey Mantle, photo-matched with games 6 and 7, lot 80055. It is graded A9 by MEARS.
It was a common practice for the Yankees to wear new uniforms for the World Series. This jersey is therefore not photo-matched with previous games. A laundry mark indicates that it has also been prepared for the following season.
In an interview with Sports Collectors Daily during the National Sports Collectors Convention, the Heritage Auctions specialist underlines the extreme rarity of this type of piece. Please watch this video.
The number of successful home runs (homers) in Major League baseball is the metrics that makes it possible to compare the best hitters of all time throughout their career. Babe Ruth was the first player to record his 500th homer in 1929, followed by Jimmie Foxx in 1940.
On September 19, 1968, the New York Yankees meet the Detroit Tigers. The absolute classification on that date is led by Ruth and Willie Mays with Foxx and Mickey Mantle sharing the third position with 534 homers each.
Since his rookie year in 1951, The Mick is a very popular player but at 37 years old in 1968 he has lost much of his effectiveness. During the game with Detroit, he holds the bat while the pitcher is one of his fervent admirers, Denny McLain, a strong personality who is not afraid of controversy. McLain launches an easy ball to Mantle and The Mick achieves his 535th homer with which he can finally overtake Foxx.
There was nothing illegal in this complacent pitch despite a wink by the Tiger when The Mick reached the third base. McLain will be reprimanded by the Major League Baseball Commissioner. Mantle will achieve before the end of that year his 536th and final homer.
These records have been exceeded many times : Mickey Mantle is currently in 13th position for the number of homers in Major League. His difficult end of life is forgotten and he has become again the symbol of the post-war American dream.
The road grey jersey worn by Mantle against the Tigers was autographed by him on the upper chest to a friend and signed "The Mick". This fully unaltered uniform with moderate game wear is graded A10 by MEARS. It was sold by Heritage for $ 490K on February 25, 2017, lot 80014, and for $ 850K on August 29, 2020, lot 80050.
Tentatively associated also with Mantle's final MLB game with the Yankees on September 20 in Boston, it was sold for $ 2.2M by Heritage on February 26, 2022, lot 80087. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Another road grey Yankees flannel jersey of Mickey Mantle was used in his final MLB season. It is signed and dedicated by him to a bat boy. Its size is 44 and its labels reads Wilson 1968 Set 2. It is graded A 9.5 by MEARS which characterize the game worn as heavy. MEARS deducted a half point from perfect for a glue staining at interior collar. It passed at Heritage on May 17, 2024, lot 82201.
It is estimated that less than 10 original MLB game worn jerseys of Mickey Mantle are in existence.
