When California-based statistician and minor league publicity man Bill Weiss mailed out his standard questionnaire to an address in rural Oklahoma in May of 1950, he probably figured the recipient was just another teenager hoping to make good in baseball. Had it been any other teenager Weiss would have been right, but this questionnaire was sent to one Mickey Charles Mantle, and he was no ordinary teenager. From a young age Mickey Mantle was bred to be a big league ballplayer. Even his name "Mickey" was baseball-ready - his father named him after his favorite player, catcher Mickey Cochrane. It is breathtaking to think that the 18 year-old kid diligently filling out this questionnaire in 1950 would one day have a plaque in Cooperstown right alongside his namesake.

     The single-sided 8 1/2"x 14" legal-size form has been filled out by the 18 year-old prospect in bright blue ball point pen and answers questions such as "Nationality or Descent" (American-Irish), "Off Season Occupation" (No one certain occupation) and "Ambition in Baseball" (To play in the Major League's). Mantle also lists his previous experience "Independence Kan. Class D" and most interesting experience "Hitting my first home-run in pro. baseball". When compared to Mickey's infamous 1973 "Outstanding experience at Yankee Stadium" questionnaire, this 1950 version is quite quaint and innocent. The page has been stamped "May 9, 1950" and shows three light creases from being mailed. Mantle's blue inked responses remain bright and bold and pop off the cream colored page. Just weeks after filling out this very form, Mickey Mantle began the season that made him. A winter working in the mines had strengthened his body, adding power to his natural ability. His 1950 season with the Joplin Minors made the Yankees front office recognize that all the scouting reports calling this kid "the next DiMaggio" were really true.

     The season would end with him traveling with the big club and getting his first taste of his life's ambition. Looking at this unique questionnaire, it makes one wonder if the 18 year-old kid who filled it out knew how close he was to realizing his life's dream. This item comes with a Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA (AA06101).

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