The official Mickey Mantle Pickup Thread. All Mick, all the time!

[Stonepony]

Originally Posted by AustinMike

Wow, I can't believe it's been a whole week since anyone has posted to this thread.

Here are some pick-ups from the last week or two.

Cool glove tag!!

[brian1961]

Austin Mike---The only good thing going for that Journal-American is the more than decent photo of Mickey. It is unique, as I cannot recall seeing it on another issue.
Really, in the SGC holder, the card presents very well. Nice going. You know, Mike, grading truly helps with the Journal-Americans because they're such flimsy cards. Being encapsulated gives the card excellent heft, and a much better all-around appearance. Obviously, a beautiful specimen.

Back in the 1963, I peeled off those inserts and placed them on my bicycle. The rain didn't do much to them, but the sunlight killed them. Of course, they were already "dead" after I took the backing flaps off! I have this vague memory I did not stick Mickey to my bike; rather, I chose my bedroom wall.

In the late 80s or early 90s, I bought another nice, fresh '63 Mantle peel-off sticker. As I reflect on it, I spent more replacing that sucker than I spent buying gum cards during all or most of my childhood! Then again, I remember a '61 Topps Mantle I saw that some kid shot with a bb gun. The hole was right above Mick's head. Worse, I bought a near set of the Yankees' 1967 Coca-Cola Premiums. This was around '93; the price was good--under a hundred bucks. It was plain to see what happened with them, or should I clarify, what was done to the Mickey Mantle. The group of nearly 12 had been placed together on a dealer's table at a show. They were bundled together with a large paper clip.

Guess who had been on top?

Right.

So, now the Mickey Mantle has a rather deep paper clip indentation on Mickey's cap. To top it all off, when the doofus removed the paper clip, that clip had a semi-sharp burr on it, as those clips often do. As the idiot removed the clip it tore a tiny bit of Mick's cap off!

Two blatant, permanent eye sores, not to mention killing the card's technical grade. As Moe once said to Curly, if you were over here I'd give ya this---SLAP!!!! (Moe smacks Larry, and the cute little toddler laughed. This was from their 1938 classic, MUTTS TO YOU.)

At least my other favorite card in the Yankee set, Mel Stottlemyre, came out beautifully. SGC graded it EX-MT, due to a tiny bit of corner wear. I used this card, and the Ernie Banks I had graded at the same time, to illustrate chapter 7 in my book. Those cards look magnificent in graded holders!

Nice going Mike on your pick-ups, you're going great, bro. ---Brian Powell

[WWG]

Anyone remember this from the 70's, you can get a mint 52 Mantle for only $3k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35O7ccIX6SA

[Jenx34]

Just thought i would ask what you guys thought about this photo, what it might be worth and if the signature looks legit. To your collective Mantle expert eyes, tell me if the autograph is real.
Thanks!
Chris

[AustinMike]

Thanks for the congrats on the glove tag.

Brian, I remember back in '63 I kept my cards in a shoe box with some wrapped in rubber bands. Unfortunately, the cards I acquired back then have spent the last 49 years languishing in a dump somewhere in northern California (back then they were called dumps, now they're sanitary landfills - doubt those cards would be any more sanitary in a modern landfill than they are in that dump. ) If only we knew then what we know now.

[AustinMike]

Originally Posted by Jenx34

Just thought i would ask what you guys thought about this photo, what it might be worth and if the signature looks legit. To your collective Mantle expert eyes, tell me if the autograph is real.
Thanks!
Chris

Chris, you might get a response if you place this question in the autograph section. I know there have been many discussions about Mantle's autograph there and someone would probably be able to help you out regarding the legitimacy of the auto.

[bswhiten]

Small PSA submission Mailday. Some oddball Mantles. Three highest graded.
PSA doesn't recognize the colored site/black back as a variation but man that one was tough to find.

[AustinMike]

Ben, yeah, I'm still looking for the colorized map with the black (versus green) inside. I've kept an eye out for it ever since you mentioned it in another thread a while back. Congrats on the oddballs. If the coaster was on eBay recently, I was one of the underbidders. Also need the mileage coaster.

Some pick-ups this week:
I got the Norwich Boy's Briefs bag because I had the Norwich Boy's Tee Shirt bag. Anyone know if there's a Norwich Boy's Sock bag?
The bottle cap with "U8" is a Coke cap with a large head of Mantle.
The bottle cap with the inside lining still in the cap is a Fresca cap with a large head of Mantle.

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by Jenx34

Just thought i would ask what you guys thought about this photo, what it might be worth and if the signature looks legit. To your collective Mantle expert eyes, tell me if the autograph is real.
Thanks!
Chris

Hiya Chris,

Earlier this year, I finally was able to get this same autographed photo of Mickey. I had been wanting one ever since I saw the story of these in the pages of Sports Collectors Digest back in the 80s. The one I purchased on eBay had already been PSA / DNAed early this century.

In case you aren't aware, photographer Ray Gallo was able to catch Mickey relaxed in the dugout at Fenway Park in September, 1956. The photo turned out perfect in every way. Mickey himself said it was HIS PERSONAL FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPH OF HIM. Around 1980, Mr. Gallo had a professional artist who worked with oils colorize the photo. She did the job of a master artist. Ray in turn had a decent number made into 8 X 10 prints, and then had Mickey autograph each one. You can tell your print is genuine from the personal Ray Gallo three-dimensional stamp pressed into the lower right-hand corner of the photo.

Isn't it just dazzling, bro? For me, it was my first Mickey Mantle autograph. I display it with my cherished cards and coins of Mick, as well as Roger Maris.

Congratulations, Chris. ---Brian Powell