Expert Mantle opinions wanted! Fantasy camp or fantasy piece?
 

Sometimes, my curiosity gets the best of me. I watched this jersey go around on ebay a few times, and shied away from it. But then one night, I saw it again, and had a thought. The longer the night went on, the more the thought came back. So, long story short, I was able to successfully negotiate a sale, and the jersey arrived today. I didn’t pay a lot for it, but I will leave it to you to look up the completed sales if you want to know; I am sure it is there.

Essentially, my thought was this:
It could be a total fantasy piece. If it is, no one made any effort to hide anything.
But, I think the tags look correct for a 1985 game worn jersey. You can clearly see that someone took scissors and trimmed out the word “Fisher” in the collar, and wrote in “Mick”. They also crossed out “Hop”. You can also clearly see that the number “54” was once on this jersey. You can also clearly see that another number, “74” was also on this jersey. Then at some point, the “4” was taken off, and the “7” was moved over to the center.

Is it possible that this was a Brian Fisher gamer, recycled to Florida for spring training (which would explain the “74”), and then recycled again for one of Mick’s fantasy camps? I could totally envision (and by now, my theory turns into a total fable) Mick putting on a trash jersey with his number on it, just long enough to run out onto the field and give it to some guy who plunked down his money for the ultimate Yankee experience.

As usual, I want to say that I felt that the ebay seller was more than honest with me about what I was buying, and I completely made this ridiculous story up all by myself.

So, I am asking you, the Net54 experts, to chime in with any and all opinions. Don’t worry, I am fully expecting to wake up tomorrow morning and see 1000+ comments of “you are a knucklehead”; but hey, in this hobby, sometimes you have just got to have a little fun with your imagination. :D

Sean

"You are a knucklehead" but I really enjoyed reading your story. :p

Seriously, though....who knows? Your explanation might hold water. Did I miss it or did you have a thought on who "Hop" might be?

So they were that cheap that hey couldn't give Mick a new jersey

Can't argue with the knucklehead part.:D

Unless you can get a good close up photo to match it with Mickey wearing it, it is probably a fantasy piece. The price also says fantasy. If there was any chance of it being real the seller would not have come down to the price paid.

Disclaimer: I know nothing about jerseys and have not stayed at a Holiday Inn Express in many years.:)

I have no idea who "Hop" might be; but I plan on researching it.

To Ben's point, I do plan on searching the internet to find a picture; but until then, it is just a fantasy wall hanger...

Thanks everyone!

Sean

Howard "Hop" Cassady was a AAA coach and scout for the Yankees farm team, the Columbus Clippers. He also won a Heisman in 1955. I would start there :)

According to a NY Times article I just found, Cassady lives in Tampa, and has worked spring training for the Yankees since 1976. In uniform.

I also just bought a 1986 Brian Fisher Topps Tiffany card. While it is not definitive of course, I think the pinstripes pass through the "NY" very closely to my "Mantle". At least worthy of a closer look, I think.

Suddenly, I feel like this ridiculous story might not be as ridiculous as I first thought.
But of course, I am still a long way from Mick.

Also, according to Keith Olbermann on his blog, Mantle was barred from MLB activities after 1983 for his affiliation with an Atlantic City Casino. He was not allowed to return as a spring training coach until March of 1985. While this certainly doesn't connect Mantle with my jersey, the timing of his return to spring training matches the time frame I am looking for.

Fortune favors the bold. I've bought items on a hunch before. Doesn't always pay off..but when it does it does. Curious to see how this plays out. You're off to a good start.

Research Research Research
 

So I got back from camping to find two cool things in the mailbox today.

1) A 1986 Topps Tiffany Brian Fisher card (I presumed that '86 cards might have '85 photos?). After looking at his jersey under the scope, and comparing it to close up photos of my "Mantle", I would say that I am actually fairly confident that it is, in fact, the same jersey.

2) An old Phillip-Morris magazine that had an article about Mick's fantasy camp. I also got some more information to add to my puzzle. Here is what the jersey is apparently NOT: It is NOT a jersey that was issued to a fantasy "player". According to the magazine, incoming "players" were issued their own uniforms, and not surprisingly, there was a photo of the lockers, all with #7 jerseys (didn't ANYONE want Whitey's number???). However, by total coincidence, I happened to see an exemplar from the camp on Monday, and after reading the article, realized what it was today. "Campers" got new jerseys with their names embroidered in them. So that does not match mine.

So, (and please feel free to chime and and refute anything I write); I do not yet have a real* Mick, but I think I have made more progress. This is really turning into a fun project.

*real = Mick wore it, walked by it, or was in the same room with it. Or maybe the same stadium. Also, I think if the jersey was washed in the same machine, that would also count. :)

If the campers got brand new jerseys, I wouldn't think the head honcho would be wearing a hand-me-down (x2).

Excellent point.

So fantasy piece is still high on the probability list.
But, I have seen a fair number of "Mick gave me this jersey" (I actually have a Joe DiMaggio one); so that is probably my last thought.

Really, unless I find a photo, or produce a reliable witness, this is just all fun and games.

However, I am pretty sure it really was worn by Fisher, and likely by "Hop" Cassady (Thanks Brandon554!). That means it very likely did get washed with Mick's jersey! :)

It's a FANTASY piece alright :D Mantle no more wore that Jersey than I did

Resurrecting this thread to see if I can get some unbiased opinions. I found this photo by total coincidence last night.

Thanks,
Sean

The ears are all wrong

That is a great match, as far as the pinstriping goes. Does it conclusively prove anything? No. But it certainly doesn't serve to rule the jersey out either.

Maybe worth re-opening your "investigation". Best of luck... hope it turns out to be Fantasy-worn by The Mick!

It does look pretty damn good.

Thanks!
I cannot tell you how many "NY" logos I have looked at over the years, and none were close like this one.

I am pretty excited!