Mantle, Chilton, and The Letter

[JackR]

I remember reading years ago that Alex Chilton, lead singer on the Boxtops’ 1967 mega hit “The Letter” (“gimme a ticket to an aeroplane, ain’t got time to take a fast train”) had bought a PSA 10 1951 Bowman Mantle Rookie card for $25,000. The article discussed how Chilton’s wife was skeptical at first but finally approved the purchase because she knew how much the card meant to him.

Chilton died in 2010.

Now, after spending too much time looking for it, I can’t find anything about Chilton and the card.

Does anyone else remember this story, or am I losing it?

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

I've never heard this story, but knowing that Chilton spent the majority of his later life in near-poverty, I'm not putting any faith in its validity.

[theuclakid]

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Chilton at the East Coast National in the early 1990's (1992-1994 when I did the show, forget which year)....he had the 1951B Mantle in hand and showed it to me...he was so proud of it...I wont forget that short moment

Bruce Perry

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Wow, if that's indeed the case, then this just makes Chilton that much more fascinating. I have never heard he was a collector. He definitely didn't seem to have $25K to blow on anything, let alone a "frivolous" purchase of a baseball card. He was fairly destitute for a long time from what I have watched and read over the years.

You have to wonder how that thing would grade by today's standards.

[John1941]

I really hope that's true. I'm a HUGE Big Star fan - their first two albums are some of my favorite albums of all-time.

[theuclakid]

it most certainly is true, at least I saw the card in his hand...I set up 3 times at the east coast national, once upstairs, twice downstairs...this occurred the one time upstairs...I still have a very good memory of it even after these years....I dont know anything about his personal life except of his talent as the lead singer of the BOX TOPS...I just recall he was proud of his card, and had asked if I wanted to see it...nothing more...

those of us fortunate to do the East Coast National, and especially the National (I set up all the years from 1987-2018) got to see and meet a lot of well known people

Bruce Perry