Mickey Mantle Game Used Bat ?

[sammy]

There is a Mickey Mantle bat in the Mastro auction with an opening of 5000.00.

http://mastronet.com/index.cfm?action=DisplayContent&ContentName=Lot%20Information&LotIndex=65377&CurrentRow=1 (http://mastronet.com/index.cfm?action=DisplayContent&ContentName=Lot%20Information&LotIndex=65377&CurrentRow=1)

The description reads:

It will remain a mystery as to whether or not Mantle brandished this particular 36", 33-1/2-oz. white ash war club. While the bats ordered by Mantle for the Fall Classic were consistent in style with the offered model, no such length was ever ordered by Mantle or the team for that matter. Undoubtedly this was made for Mantle, given the high quality of wood that was turned to produce it, but without the specific link to the bat records it is impossible to place it in his hands. With a pronounced centerbrand, the heirloom proclaims its regal status, as Mantle's facsimile signature is flanked above and below, respectively, by block-letter engravings of "WORLD SERIES 1961" and "NEW YORK YANKEES." As would be expected from a postseason example, the bat shows moderate use, with light handling including ball, bat-rack and surface marks throughout. Additionally, subsequent to its use on the diamond, both the barrel end and knob have endured extensive contact-induced wear, with that on the latter location having obscured the model number. LOA from John Taube/PSA DNA.

Notice the bat is 36" and has no model number on the knob.

There are no factory records of Mantle ordering a 36" bat, plus does it look like the knob has been sanded down / flattened?

With no factory records for this bat length and no model number on the knob, I hesitate to think a 5000 opening is very reasonable.

Comments on the legitimacy.





http://images.mastronet.com/images/Auction39/photographs/57943b.jpg




http://images.mastronet.com/images/Auction39/photographs/57943k.jpg

[MSpecht]

Hi Sammy--

Here is the information contained in Mantle's personal H & B factory shipping records. On 9/27/61 three bats were shipped to Mantle for his use in the 1961 World Series, annotated in his records and presumably branded as such. Those three bats were Model B220, 35 inches / 33 oz with "wide grained wood."

Here is some additional information for consideration:

Although clearly the exception, Mantle did order 36 inch bats about a dozen times during his career, most notably between August, 1966 and March, 1967. His documented orders of 36 inch bats shipped closest to the manufacture date of this bat occurred on 3/25/60 (K55) and 6/21/65 (M110). There are no documented orders of 36 inch bats shipped to Mantle between those dates. All orders of 36 inch bats that appear in Mantle's factory records are for model M110 and K55 only. All orders of B220 bats documented in Mantle's records are 35 inches in length, with the exception of a single order documented at 35.5 inches in early 1962.

As an aside, the auction write-up seems fair for this item, with clear indication that this bat is not documented in either Mantle's or the Yankees' orders, and that it is impossible to place this bat in Mantle's hands. Again, however, it would be useful to have a link to any available LOAs on auction items. In this case, respected authenticator John Taube's observations should be of interest to all potential bidders and would quite likely eliminate the need to seek additional information.

Good Luck in future collecting.

Mike Jackitout7@aol.com

[sammy]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the info.

Would really like to see why there isn't a model number on the bat.