Mantle photo help

[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.

[brian1961]

In a way, I feel kinda nuts for suggesting the exact date be found; in actuality, whittling down the time frame of the photograph to the 1952 World Series is so special in and of itself.

Some might think this is nuts, but I really wish Topps had taken better advantage of this picture for their 2006 Opening Day issue. What they achieved in colorizing the photo was average at best. Had they really taken the time, trouble, tender lovin' care and expense to give that image a jolly good effort at colorizing, with deep blue sky, while adding two medium-size puffy clouds for contrast. What I am thinking of was used to great effect on the 1952 Topps card of Yankees future World Series star, Johnny Mize. That card is perfection.

But you know, emerald grass field, and bring out the advertising signs in more high definition with the actual colors used, as well as the color of the seats of Ebbets Field at that time. It would probably take some good research, but it would make a dynamite colorized card. This next time Topps should do it in their orginal '52 size format, with a little less of those gargantuan white borders, and more of this extraordinary photo.

Just my five cents worth of consultant work!

This has been a swell thread. ---Brian Powell

[pawpawdiv9]

@AustinMike: I also want to add the wherabouts possibly on the HA auction you provided- i could not find it in the archives, but found a auction dated 2012 here of it:

http://www.paragonauctionsite.com/lot-1869.aspx

Photograph of Mickey Mantle taken at the 1952 World Series, showing Mantle in his batting stance. Tape on three corners with the number "120" on the bottom right corner, handling marks and a crease in the upper right corner. Verso has glue residue with notation "World Series 1952-Ebbet Field-10/6/52-negative #4 Mickey Mantle, Yankee outfielder" applied with tape. Stamped "Photo by Donald W. Wingfield of The Sporting News" and with pencil notations. Provenance: The Sporting News Collection and John Rogers Photo Archives.


Further Notes:
The previous post i made with the Type I photo, i also found a auction site that listed it as 1955
http://www.paragonauctionsite.com/lot-791.aspx

[AustinMike]

Chris,

Many thanks for the links! I only searched Heritage Auctions and didn't think to do a general search. It's interesting that the second auction lists it as circa 1955 even though the Letter of Provenance lists it as circa 1950s. I guess the auction house was going with the middle of the decade. Thanks again!