This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/10/2003.
Mickey Mantle was a baseball star of the highest magnitude. When Tigers great Al Kaline was taunted by a youngster who said, "You're not half as good as Mickey Mantle," he replied, "Son, nobody is half as good as Mickey Mantle." Mantle could do unbelievable things with a bat, nearly crushing at least five balls out of Yankee Stadium and making the right-field facade pay for keeping him from doing so. Far from just a home run hitter, he became a rarity among power hitters by scoring more runs (1,677) than he drove in (1,509). Mantle was the kind of player that fathers tell their sons about, and his legend will grow even further as stories about him are passed down from generation to generation. This Mantle New York Yankees game-used bat dates to 1954-56 and shows outstanding game use. Our consignor obtained the bat directly from a friend who was a Yankee bat boy, and the bat will be accompanied by a letter stating this. Mantle bats from the 1950s are very rare and this one is a beauty. The barrel has ball and ball stitch marks throughout, as well as blue Yankee Stadium bat rack marks and a couple of red rack marks. The handle has a light coat of pine tar and there is a handle crack. Manufacturer: Hillerich & Bradsby, Model Number: M110, Labeling Period: 1954-56, Length: 35 in, Weight: 31-1/2 oz, Wood: Ash, Finish: Standard. The bat comes with a PSA/DNA letter and its use is a great indicator of the force with which Mantle smashed baseballs.