October Legends Closing November 1
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2014
Mickey Mantle is widely considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time, banging out 536 career home runs, winning two American League Most Valuable Player Awards and winning the Triple Crown in 1956. He had all the tools scouts drool over, including immense power and blazing speed. Imagine his career production if he did not seriously hurt his knee during his rookie season in Game 2 of the 1951 World Series. During this game Mantle was playing right field, with the legendary Joe DiMaggio patrolling his usual center field, in what was to become his final season in baseball. During Game 2 at Yankee Stadium, Willie Mays lofted a short fly to right center. As Mickey and Joe D converged on the ball, DiMaggio called for it at the last moment and made the catch. When Mantle heard DiMaggio make the call, he veered away from Joe’s path, and promptly tore his knee in the storm drain. Mantle played his entire career with a torn ACL, and still was known as the games fastest player.
Offered is a 4.5 x 2.25 inch ticket stub for Game 2 of the 1951 World Series, signed on the front “Mickey Mantle 1951” in black marker. The stub has an irregular tear at the perforation with some extra paper attached. There are two small stains with several staple holes and some light peripheral paper loss on the reverse. The ticket grades Fair with the signature showing (“8/10”) in strength. This is a historic game affecting Mantle’s career, signed on the front by one of the greatest players in baseball’s vast history.