Mantle baseball find

[Mr. Zipper]

This is a classic "Banana Mantle" forgery style.

[jojac]

I don't consider myself an expert but I have met Mantle several times and had a number of items signed in person. I can't say straight out its a fake but only that the signature on that ball just isn't consist with what I have here.
You're asking what it means? When you see a number of red flags to me it means I'd have to pass on that one.

[tknorm]

Thanks for the reply. I noticed the same thing, but am not an expert and wondered if that meant anything.

[jojac]

I hate to be negative and it's just my opinion but I wouldn't feel comfortable with that item. A couple of my concerns are the way the first M and the I in Mickey are formed. The open top of the A in Mantle also doesn't seem consistent with what I typically see in Mantle signatures.

[tknorm]

Anyone with knowledge care to give an opinion? I have a guess.

Thanks for any help. Sorry the attachment is rotated. I can't figure out why.