This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/1/2002.
Without a doubt, Mickey Mantle was one of the greatest baseball players the game has ever seen. His ability to hit with tremendous power while maintaining a high average made him possibly the greatest switch hitter ever. Mantle could also fly around the basepaths in a blazing 13 seconds even after suffering a knee injury that would plague him throughout his career. Besides being outstanding statistically, Mantle was beloved by fans like no other player. In his eulogy for Mantle, lifetime Mantle idolizer Bob Costas said, "When he was hot, we felt great. When he slumped or got hurt, we sagged a bit too. We tried to crease our caps like him; kneel in an imaginary on-deck circle like him; run like him heads down, elbows up." Billy Crystal, another Mantle devotee, says he spoke in an Oklahoma drawl at his Bar Mitzvah in homage to the Mick. Mantle's dynamic personality, monstrous home runs, and love for the game truly endeared him to baseball fans everywhere.
This is a Mickey Mantle New York Yankees home flannel pinstripe jersey from the 1960 season, during which Mantle led the American League with 40 home runs and finished a close second in MVP voting to teammate Roger Maris. In the neck of the jersey is a white felt patch with the player name "Mantle" sewn on in navy chain stitch. The "Spalding" manufacturer's tag appears on the left front tail and to its right is the size tag "44." Below this, the year "60" has been sewn onto the jersey in navy chain stitch. The "NY" logo appears on the left breast and the player number "7" appears on the back of the jersey, both in navy felt. The jersey's tagging and stitching are consistent with tagging and stitching present on other New York Yankees jerseys from that era. The original "7" was removed when the jersey was sent down to the minors and other numbers were put on. Those numbers were then removed and the "7" was professionally restored. The jersey shows game-use with consistent, even wear throughout and fraying along the edges of the "Spalding" tag. With the exception of the number change and restoration, it appears to be all-original with no alterations of any kind. Simply put, this jersey would stand out in even the best of collections.