This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/9/2010.
During his storied 18 year career in the Bronx, Mantle claimed three AL MVP titles and played in 16 All-Star Games. Amazingly, he competed in 12 World Series’ in the 1950s and 1960s, winning a total of seven World Championships. Even more remarkable was the impact that Mantle’s play had on those Fall Classics. He still holds the records for most World Series home-runs (18), RBIs (40), runs (42), walks (43), extra-base hits (26), and total bases (9123). He is also the Major League career leader in walk-off home runs, a category that speaks to his speed and athleticism in addition to his power, which he had plenty of. He was known to hit some of the longest home runs in Major League history, which is part of the reason that Yankee fans found him to be such an exciting player. On two separate occasions, he hit home-runs that traveled well over 500, one of which actually cleared the right field roof at Tiger Stadium. More importantly, Mantle repeated these feats in front of home crowds at Yankee Stadium, twice hitting balls off the third deck facade at Yankee stadium and nearly becoming the only player to hit a fair ball of out the stadium during a game. As devastating as his power was, it was made all of the worse for opposing pitchers because he did it from both sides of the plate. In fact, many believe that Mantle was the best switch hitter that the game has ever seen. That versatility certainly helped him to claim the Triple Crown in 1956, which he often referred to as his favorite summer. On the strength of a .353 batting average, 52 homeruns, and 130 RBIs, Mantle led both leagues in those categories, which makes him the last man to win a Triple Crown after leading both the AL and the NL in all three statistics. In 1974, six years after his retirement, Mantle was a first ballot Hall of Famer, a fitting cap to maybe the most celebrated careers in baseball history. This lot offers one of the most nostalgic keepsakes for any sports enthusiast, especially one to that of the Mick. This is Mickey Charles Mantle’s final speech of his life. These handwritten notes are done so largely so that the ill Mick could read it, and written in his own hand. The speech was given from Baylor Hospital and broadcasted on national television. He began writing it in blue marker, and finished it in black (majority is written in black). The speech itself was one of the most touching orations of any American icon in history, especially because the Mick knew his coming fate. It is written on a 32” x 25” section of a PGA leader-board from a tournament at Preston Trails in Dallas. The speech was given from Mickey to a Golf-Club employee and then acquired by Greer Johnson. It is the last speech ever bequeathed by Mantle. As he always spoke from the heart, this one is truly devout. “I said one time I didn't know how Lou Gehrig could here at home plate knowing he was going to die and say he was the luckiest man on the face of earth now I think I know...To all my little teamates out there. Please don’t do drugs & alco. God only gave us 1 body take care of it.” A true moment in Yankee and baseball history. This item will be expensive to ship.