while we are looking at Mantles...

[mcgwirecom]

OK, since a few people have asked about their Matle autographs I figured I should also. Bought this back in the '90's at the Ft. Washington show. I used to think that was an automatic sure thing, but I've found otherwise. What say you all?

[Fuddjcal]

Fudd, the lowly Mantle Collector gives this one a big Thumbs up!!!!

Hard to find a "No. 7" on this famous Gallo photo. The sig looks large too? Is this larger than an 8X 10 photo?

Anyway, this one has just about every "point" I look for when buying. The one exception is that the signature is just short of ending exactly on the sweet spot. Other than that...this is one that Fudd would like for his lowly collection.

[thetruthisoutthere]

Beautiful "Mick," Randall.

Below is an example of a horrible forgery presently on Ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantl...98608413140106

GP-1.jpg

[mcgwirecom]

Thanks for the input. Like I said I did buy it at Ft. Washington and I think I actually bought it just after he died. Last day of the show and the guy probably didn't want to drag it home. But like I said I did not get a COA or even remember the dealers name. But it was already dry mounted and framed. Only issue is there is a wrinkle in the center of it, but the price was right at $250! It is a full size poster (25x36) with a huge signature(7+ inches).

[Lordstan]

Randall,
That is a beauty. I love those posters he did in the late 80's. A lot of them seem to have huge autographs. I sold a Robert Stephen Simon poster about 5yrs ago that had a 7.5in sig on it. It was spectacular.

This one is 5.5in on an 8x10. Was signed in person around 1987.


He had such a beautiful signature. too bad there are so many fakes.

Best,
Mark

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by Fuddjcal

Fudd, the lowly Mantle Collector gives this one a big Thumbs up!!!!

Hard to find a "No. 7" on this famous Gallo photo. The sig looks large too? Is this larger than an 8X 10 photo?

Anyway, this one has just about every "point" I look for when buying. The one exception is that the signature is just short of ending exactly on the sweet spot. Other than that...this is one that Fudd would like for his lowly collection.

The size of the poster makes it perfect! That is huge! Here's another 7 incher...Mantle that is.

I agree, his signature was masterful.

[perezfan]

Beauties! So size DOES matter!

[mcgwirecom]

Yeah I always liked the Gallo print. Can't beat a nice big signature too. I recently picked up this wire photo of him after he hit his HR in Larsens perfect game. I always liked the October black sleeves look too!

[packs]

While we're showing Mantles. Here's mine. A nice, complete 1957 Sport.

[Lordstan]

Sorry had to post one more.
From Donald Honig's The American League book.

[mr2686]

Hey Packs, I love that Sport mag. I hope to have that same one real soon.
Anyway, as long as we're comparing 7 inchers , here's my HOF book that he signed. The white strip area on top where he signed is 1.5 x 9 and his sig is about 7 in.

[jsage]

That home run photo is great -like the way "The Mick" has his head down as he crosses the plate. Thought I would add my MM autographed item to the group. It is a Robert Rietger Litho. This (and other images) appeared in the 1957 Sports Illustrated that had a feature on Mantle.

[Lordstan]

jsage,

That print is awesome!!!!

Mickey may have been a drunk, but he made sure you got a beautiful autograph. He was a machine. He could be almost fall down drunk and you would get a perfect signature that was flawless. Come to think of it, I really can't remember ever seeing a smeared or messy Mantle.

In comparison, today's players are pathetic. They charge you thru the nose for their sigs, sometimes even before they've proven themselves to be worth it, and you get chicken scratch.

Great stuff everyone!

OK I couldn't resist a couple more.

Both pics from Sport Magazines.

1953


1955 and probably my favorite mantle photo.

[Fuddjcal]

some amazing blazing Mantle's right there fellas. Thanks for sharing.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by jsage

That home run photo is great -like the way "The Mick" has his head down as he crosses the plate. Thought I would add my MM autographed item to the group. It is a Robert Rietger Litho. This (and other images) appeared in the 1957 Sports Illustrated that had a feature on Mantle.

Jerry...

The Rietger Litho might be my favorite Mantle-signed item ever. Just a classic image, and his signature above the Bat is so attractive and impactful. Almost as if the Litho was created with the very intention of being signed in that spot. Just gorgeous....

All of these are beautiful pieces... terrific posts, everyone!

[Tigerden]

Originally Posted by mcgwirecom

Thanks for the input. Like I said I did buy it at Ft. Washington and I think I actually bought it just after he died. Last day of the show and the guy probably didn't want to drag it home. But like I said I did not get a COA or even remember the dealers name. But it was already dry mounted and framed. Only issue is there is a wrinkle in the center of it, but the price was right at $250! It is a full size poster (25x36) with a huge signature(7+ inches).

I found this iconic Gallo photo at a local store today and it was signed by Mickey. Has anyone ever seen or known of this Gallo photo on canvas or masonite? Mick's signature was very large and signed with a real thick silver paint pen and it includes the notation 1956 (underlined). Also, the frame is real ornate in sort of gold leaf plaster of paris style. The signature is huge and has bleed a little because of the medium. I am not an expert but it was signed with great care and location which makes me think it could be real. Any help would be appreciated. I am thinking about going back to the store to take a photo and post here.

[scmavl]

Originally Posted by Lordstan

Did anyone else notice that The Mick left the "e" out of Mickey in this one? Never seen that before. I guess he'd had a few before he signed it for you, Mark.

[CW]

Beautiful pieces, everyone. Thanks for sharing!

I'd have to agree on the aesthetic beauty of a flowing Mantle auto. Of all sports and forms of entertainment, baseball seems to have the most notable, memorable, and recognizable autographs. Ruth's classic signature is no doubt the most iconic in sport, but you simply can't beat the beauty of a Williams, Dimaggio, or Mantle. Ok... Gehrig's signature was pretty cool, too....

[Lordstan]

Jarrod,

That's weird. I never noticed that.

This is a picture of a charcoal painting my father and I commissioned around 1986. We made pics and sold them at shows blank and got them signed to sell as well.

As anyone who was there can tell you, it was far rarer for Mickey to be sober at shows than not. Surprisingly, at most shows, he was a really nice guy to the fans. There were some where he was grumpy, but the sig never changed. Well...almost never.
I have around a hundred Mantle autographs in my collection. Out of curiosity, I went back and looked at about 50-60 different and I can't find any others like that.
I guess I have a rare error sig.
Good eye, buddy.
Best,
Mark

Originally Posted by scmavl

Did anyone else notice that The Mick left the "e" out of Mickey in this one? Never seen that before. I guess he'd had a few before he signed it for you, Mark.

[scmavl]

You're lucky to have gotten to meet him and have things signed, an opportunity I never had. Better hang onto that one, that's a pretty neat error. If you look close, you can see where he stopped the pen for a second before they "y" as if to say "Oh, there should be an "e" there... ah, whatever..."

And 100 Mick signatures??? WOW. If I'm ever in PA, I'd love to see your collection.

[Mr. Zipper]

Originally Posted by scmavl

Did anyone else notice that The Mick left the "e" out of Mickey in this one? Never seen that before. I guess he'd had a few before he signed it for you, Mark.

I've seen this a few times. Not super rare. He also forgot the last e on occasion as well.

[3and2]

1956 Spring Training...I just love how Mickey's signature evolved over time...Absolutely one of the best signatures in the hobby.

[Lordstan]

Jarrod,
I was fortunate to come into the collecting arena in the late 1970's, just prior to the autograph boom. At that time, Mantle, Dimaggio, and Williams were the most expensive, at shows, at $7 per item. During the 80's they went up slowly, and in the early 90's is when all hell broke loose. Around then is when Mantle, Dimaggio, and Williams went up to $150-175 per.

One of my best memories is the 1982 Show at the GW Motor Lodge, run by Ray Gallo, with Joe D signing. My father and I bought 100 autos. They closed the door to the auto room while he completed my items and answered all sorts of questions about the late 30's Yanks and, more specifically, Lou Gehrig. I was 16 and it was pretty cool to have a private audience with Joe D.

As far as my Mantles go, you can actually see the majority(about 65) of them by following the link in my signature to my photobucket account.
The main album is pictures I have used in ebay listings in the past, but the sub albums have the photos of the stuff in my collection. There are around 35 in and on Sport magazines. The rest are on various items, including HOF yrbks, cards, pictures, etc.

[chaddurbin]

look at all the nice mantle sigs! got inspired and picked this up tonight in hunt

[Lordstan]

Nice one Chad

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Lordstan

Nice one Chad

[thenavarro]

I have two Mantles and the other is a cut, so this is my personal favorite.

[Cooptown]

LordStan-I know we have gone back and forth on another message board (maybe SCN?) about your HOF yearbook collection, but as a HOF yearbook and Induction Program collector, your collection blows anything I have ever seen away. Nice work.

Originally Posted by Lordstan

Jarrod,
I was fortunate to come into the collecting arena in the late 1970's, just prior to the autograph boom. At that time, Mantle, Dimaggio, and Williams were the most expensive, at shows, at $7 per item. During the 80's they went up slowly, and in the early 90's is when all hell broke loose. Around then is when Mantle, Dimaggio, and Williams went up to $150-175 per.

One of my best memories is the 1982 Show at the GW Motor Lodge, run by Ray Gallo, with Joe D signing. My father and I bought 100 autos. They closed the door to the auto room while he completed my items and answered all sorts of questions about the late 30's Yanks and, more specifically, Lou Gehrig. I was 16 and it was pretty cool to have a private audience with Joe D.

As far as my Mantles go, you can actually see the majority(about 65) of them by following the link in my signature to my photobucket account.
The main album is pictures I have used in ebay listings in the past, but the sub albums have the photos of the stuff in my collection. There are around 35 in and on Sport magazines. The rest are on various items, including HOF yrbks, cards, pictures, etc.

[Lordstan]

Cooptown,
Thanks for the kind words. Yes, we did discuss it on SCN.
It took along time to put them together, but I really enjoy them. Only a couple more to go(of the old ones that is)
If you haven't seen it already, you might enjoy this thread as well.
http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=140712

Best,
Mark

[Kzoo]

Guys...........Hey, since we're on the Mantle kick, I thought I'd show my recent pickup from a few weeks back. I'm not a Mantle autograph expert, but I feel pretty confident with this one after seeing many of the obvious fakes. Any comments? Thanks...

Matt

[Fuddjcal]

Fudd the Lowly Mantle Collector gives this one a big thumbs up! Great signature on a hard to get photo. Nice one

[Cooptown]

Originally Posted by Lordstan

Cooptown,
Thanks for the kind words. Yes, we did discuss it on SCN.
It took along time to put them together, but I really enjoy them. Only a couple more to go(of the old ones that is)
If you haven't seen it already, you might enjoy this thread as well.
http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=140712

Best,
Mark

WOW...how did I miss that thread! Great stuff! Thanks for sharing!!!!

[btcarfagno]

Here is Mickey sharing the sweet spot with Casey on a 1955 team signed Yankee ball. The ball is an Official NL ball, so I have to wonder if it may have been signed during the 55 series? Will never know, but it is intriguing!



Tom C