March 2017 Sports Card & Memorabilia Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/5/2017
This is a rarely seen 1951 World Series Champion New York Yankees team signed baseball with 23 autographs on a Reach Official American League Baseball (baseball is from the 1947-1953 era) - 16 of which are penned by the players per JSA. Authentic autographs include a first year Mickey Mantle signature, Joe Collins, Vic Raschi, Ed Lopat, and 12 others. The Rookie Year Mantle signature makes this a HIGHLY DESIRABLE item. Additionally, Mantle did not spend the entire season with the Yankees, as he played 40 games in the minors at Kansas City, so many 1951 Yankees baseballs do not include Mickey's autograph! Seven autographs were deemed clubhouse signed (Berra, DiMaggio, Mize, Houk, Hogue, Reynolds, and Hoppe). From the 1920s to present day, it has been common practice for clubhouse personnel to perform the duties of "ghost" signing for players. The most important signature on this baseball is the first year Mickey Mantle autograph, which is certified as authentic by JSA. Mantle was invited to the Yankees instructional camp before the 1951 season. After an impressive spring training, Yankees manager Casey Stengel decided to promote Mantle to the majors as a right fielder instead of sending him to the minors (easy to say a GREAT decision!). Mickey Mantle's salary for the 1951 season was $7,500.
Mantle was assigned uniform #6, signifying the expectation that he would become the next Yankees star, following Babe Ruth (#3), Lou Gehrig (#4) and Joe DiMaggio (#5). Stengel stated "He's got more natural power from both sides than anybody I ever saw." Bill Dickey called Mantle "the greatest prospect seen in my time."
After a brief slump, Mantle was sent down to the Yankees' top farm team, the Kansas City Blues. However, he was not able to find the power he once had in the lower minors. Out of frustration, he called his father one day and told him, "I don't think I can play baseball anymore." Mutt drove up to Kansas City that day. When he arrived, he started packing his son's clothes and, according to Mantle's memory, said "I thought I raised a man. I see I raised a coward instead. You can come back to Oklahoma and work the mines with me." Mantle immediately broke out of his slump, going on to hit .361 with 11 homers and 50 RBIs during his stay in Kansas City.
Mantle was called up to the Yankees after 40 games with Kansas City, this time wearing uniform #7. He hit .267 with 13 home runs and 65 RBI in 96 games. In the second game of the 1951 World Series, New York Giants rookie Willie Mays hit a fly ball to right-center field. Mantle, playing right field, raced for the ball together with center fielder Joe DiMaggio, who called for the ball (and made the catch). In getting out of DiMaggio's way, Mantle tripped over an exposed drain pipe and severely injured his right knee. This was the first of numerous injuries that plagued his 18-year career with the Yankees. He played the rest of his career with a torn ACL.
Condition: Good
1951 WS Champion New York Yankees Team Signed Baseball w. First Year Mickey Mantle Autograph - JSA
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