Mantle photo help

[pawpawdiv9]

Originally Posted by hcv123

What did the one sell for in Leon's auction?

http://www.b-lauctions.com/8-x-10-Mi...i-LOT5567.aspx

[AustinMike]

I have a similar photo. Chris, it is like your first one without the notation at the bottom. The photo I have was included with a team issued set of 12 photos. I believe they are from 1953 based on the other players in the set. I've attempted to upload an attachment with the photo. Sorry about the quality of the photo of the photo, I took it with my phone since I do not have a flatbed scanner.

[AustinMike]

I've gotten a couple more Mantle photos using the same image. The first photo has a facsimile auto in the lower right corner. It was probably a premium of some sort. The second photo was obtained on eBay. The third photo is the back of the second photo. It indicates it is a Don Wingfield photo taken on 10/2/52 at Ebbets Field at the '52 World Series. The eBay auction description said this is a Type 2 photo. The top loader it came in has a Heritage Auction auction sticker on the back indicating is was lot #81866 from auction #7120. I did a search for that and couldn't find it. If anyone can find it, it may have a more complete description.

[brian1961]

This has been a most fascinating thread to me. It confirms what I have long suspected about a certain set.

Given that the elegant and regal posed photograph of Mickey Mantle was snapped by Donald W. Wingfield of The Sporting News on October 2, 1952, this was prior to the second game of the great 1952 World Series. This contest was held at Ebbets Field, and saw the Bombers clobber the Bums, 7 to 1. Mickey went 3 for 5.

Naturally, since Don was taking pictures for the illustrious Sporting News for their World Series coverage, the publication was creating up-to-the-minute photographs. Mickey is obviously wearing his 1952 road gray uniform, and the uniform also naturally does not have the 1951 patch trumpeting the 50th anniversary of the American League.

Now, why the uniform does not have the patch representing the 50th anniversary of the New York Yankees organization, this I could not say and would like to know.

Be that as it may, the photograph hails from the 1952 World Series. Among the obvious conclusions and/or repercussions of the research of this photo is that the 1951 Wheaties premium set is either an outright fake produced by enthusiasts in the 1970s; or, in perhaps more probability, the earliest date for the Wheaties premium set would of a certainty be 1953.

I'm not trying to stir up trouble, mind you. However, the date of the photograph presents some glaring concrete evidence.

What are your thoughts and reactions, collecting compadres? --Brian Powell

[pawpawdiv9]

Re-hashing the Wheaties thing again. Here some more stuff from 2013 when we discussed the dating of it and evidence.
http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...light=wheaties

[AustinMike]

Originally Posted by brian1961

Be that as it may, the photograph hails from the 1952 World Series. Among the obvious conclusions and/or repercussions of the research of this photo is that the 1951 Wheaties premium set is either an outright fake produced by enthusiasts in the 1970s; or, in perhaps more probability, the earliest date for the Wheaties premium set would of a certainty be 1953.
--Brian Powell

Brian, I agree with you 100%. The "1951" Wheaties is not from 1951. Now if we can just get PSA to change their labels.

Chris, thanks for posting the link to that thread. I remember reading it when it first ran. What I didn't realize until now is that the photo I recently acquired with the '52 date on the back was posted in that thread.

[brian1961]

My thanks to you as well, Chris, for providing the link to the 2013 discussion. I must not have been visiting the Net54 chat boards at that time, because I have no recollection of that interesting thread.

Now as to whether the exact date of the photo is October 2nd or 6th, I would like that pinned down. Mickey had a terrific day on the 2nd, but the 6th of October was game 6, in which he blasted a key home run against the Brooks.

It was also during this World Series when the sixth and final series of the Topps banner 1952 set was being released to the public and beginning its impact on baseball card fans. The seemingly few who took the trouble to bother with the final series that Topps finally put on the market were in for a treat, weren't they?.......

No doubt about it, that's one regal pose of Mr. Mantle, taken at a very special time in his career. He was becoming the toast of the town in New York. ----Brian Powell

Yeah, Mike, if only PSA would read the evidence, make an intelligent decision, and cut "a special re-holder deal" for those who paid the piper handsomely to have their expensive, no doubt, Wheaties Premiums graded in the first place. I honestly feel for them.

[pawpawdiv9]

I was gonna add these F&B pics of an original photo Type I, but still doesnt pin-point a date.




And heres a description, from when it was at Goldin auction: http://goldinauctions.com/1952-Micke...o-LOT8720.aspx

Don Wingfield was the famed New York Yankee photographer, working for the Bronx Bombers as well as The Sporting News, the Washington Senators and the Topps Company. He also free-lanced work for national magazines such as LIFE and LOOK. His friendly nature and true professionalism endeared him to many players, who many years later would speak fondly of Don. During the 1952 World Series, Don was working the annual Yankee – Dodgers tilt for The Sporting News and snapped this photo of a young Mickey Mantle, an image later used for Mickey Mantle related cards including his very scarce “1951 Wheaties” issue. Our photo features Mantle in a batting pose taken before the 6th game of the 1952 World Series, a tightly contested game which saw the Yankees clinging to a 2-1 lead going into the top of the 8th inning, and behind in the Series 3 games to 2. Then Mantle connected on a Bill Loes pitch to give the Yankees a 3-1 lead, eventually winning the possible elimination game 3-2. Mantle also walked twice in the contest. Mickey would eventually hit the Game 7 go ahead home run a day later. The reverse has the desirable “PHOTO BY DON WINGFIELD” stamp with his address, and “Mickey Mantle” written THREE TIMES, one in black felt tip marker, one in blue ink and one in pencil. The stamp “00351” also appears. There is a “Hillerich & Bradsby, Inc.” stamp and handwritten “H&B 901”, indicating this exact photo was at one time part of the H&B Archives at the Louisville Slugger bat maker’s headquarters. To avoid any issue with ownership, this photo also comes with a Hillerich & Bradsby LOA, signed by John Hillerich IV and was part of their Louisville Slugger Museum Auction on November, 6, 2004. We can definitely date this photo to October 6, 1952. When researching the history of this photo, we came across a thread on a vintage sports website which the discussion centered on this image. One reader, who is well known as a Mantle photo enthusiast (claimed to have over 150 rookie Mantle images!), has a copy of this photo with same Don Wingfield photo stamp, but also the “OCT 6, 1952” date stamp. This makes sense, as the stadium background appears to be Ebbetts Field, the upper deck contains a few red-white-and-blue buntings, and Mantle is in his road gray jersey. Interestingly, while Mantle is clearly in his road grays, the scarce Wheaties card image of Mantle with this pose has airbrushed in Yankee pinstripes. The condition is fabulous, much better than you would expect from a photo which was likely well-handled. It contains some crinkling of the heavy gloss coating in several corners, and a crease in the upper left. None of these issues affect the pristine youthful appearance of one of the most charismatic baseball players of all time. The photo has been sent to PSA/DNA where their experts agreed it was a TYPE 1, Mickey Mantle Original Don Wingfield Photograph, circa 1950s, but our additional efforts have narrowed it down to a World Series turning home run game by Mantle. PSA/DNA has encapsulated this photo in their protective holder, issuing a certification number of 1P04862, with the corresponding numbered sticker affixed to the lower left corner on the reverse. How many of these actual period photos have you seen of Mantle offered on the market? Not many. We haven’t seen many offered for sale, either. This is one of the most iconic images of a young Mickey Mantle, taken on a day he literally changed the entire epic 1952 World Series, and would be one of the highlights of any vintage photo collection. PSA/DNA, Type 1 Original Photo, cert number 1P04862.