This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/21/2006.
"The Commerce Comet" Mickey Mantle hit 536 homers in a HOF career that spanned 17 years. One of the most popular Yankees to this day, he led the league in home runs four times, was a three time MVP, 15 time All Star and had 18 World Series HRs. Murphy Martin was an ABC news anchor and personal friend of the Mantle family. On May 14, 1967, as the Mick, Murphy and his wife Joyce were driving up to Yankee Stadium, Mantle told Murphy that he had forgotten a special present for his wife Merlyn for Mother's Day, Merlyn being in Dallas at the time. Mantle announced that he would hit his 500th run, and he did it! Shortly thereafter, Murphy and wife Joyce had a pair of custom cuff links made for their dear friend Mickey to commemorate the event, made of raised gold numerals that read "500." Mantle was so pleased with the gift that a few weeks later he presented Murphy with the actual baseball offered in this lot, a Reach OAL Cronin baseball was blasted into the stands at Yankee Stadium on July 25, 1967 by Mickey Mantle, for his 515th career home run. It was a solo shot vs the Twins in the bottom of the ninth inning to even the score at 1-1, which is how the game ended. Mantle has signed the ball in black ink on the side panel and added on the top panel "Home Run #515, Left Field Bleachers, 1-1, New York + Minn." Mantle's special inscription on the side panel above his name reads "To Murphy & Joyce, Thanks for the cuff links." Signature grades an 8 with the inscriptions grading a 7. An extraordinarily unique baseball and a true piece of history. Accompanied by a LOA from James Spence Authentication and a catalog presentation of the letter that Murphy wrote to Merlyn Mantle detailing the event and the baseball.