Show everything & anything of "The Mick"

[thekingofclout]

Here's a very tough c.1964 Mickey Mantle Linen Photo Emblem - A terrific piece still in it's original packaging. Now, if I could just find the original TYPE 1 photo that was used to make this patch...

1964MantlePatch.jpg

[thekingofclout]

and I'm pretty sure that some of you guys have picked up some Mantle pieces since then. As well as all the new members in the last year, there's got to be some Mantle fans amongst you. Let's see your stuff!

This was my last pick-up of the Mick from last December. The M & M Boys. 1961 Original TYPE 1 photograph...

1961M&Mphoto.jpg

[GKreindler]

Wow, Jimmy, I can't believe that it's been that long since you picked up a Mantle piece! You HAVE been away for a long time. Either way, I'm hoping you'll remedy that soon. Or else.

I had been searching for these two photos for almost 8 years now.





I had seen them together on a plaque in an image search, but could never found out where the originals came from. Immediately, I fell in love with the poses, as they're pretty perfect for those panoramic paintings I love to do. It wasn't until earlier this year that I found out that they were from an issue of Sports Illustrated from '56, which was just blind luck for me to fall upon. And thank god I did.

It's amazing how powerful the man was.

Graig

[71buc]

I just finished reading Jane Leavy's The Last Boy. At the risk of sounding like a heretic, I have never understood collectors fascination with Mantle. Don't get me wrong I have a number of items related to Mantle myself to include cards, autographs, figurines, and magazines with him on the cover, etc. Although I realize his significance to the game I don't get why he is held in such high esteem. I don't think he can be considered in the same class as or Aaron as a player or Clemente as a man. I began collecting in 1970 at age 7 so I obviously missed seeing him play. My father is of the generation that enjoyed watching him play and although he is a die hard Yankee hater he professes a love for Mantle to this day. When I ask him about it he says, "You have to have been there to know what he meant to people that watched him." I often wonder what his significance would have been if he played in Milwaukee or Pittsburgh rather than New York. When I read the rehashed stories of his exploits off the field and his battles with injury and alcoholism I don't see nobility. Instead I see a player who never fully developed his God given talent. He appears to be a more of cautionary tale. I don't mean to sound derogatory or minimize his impact and the passion others feel about him. However, the fascination he evokes in fans and collectors has always been more interesting to me than the man himself. Perhaps a Mantle fan out there can help me understand what I am missing?

[doug.goodman]

In honor of Albert in the WS, here is a scorecard from Mantle's only career 3 HR game :

[MVSNYC]

game used bat 1955-1958

upper deck signed ball

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by MVSNYC

game used bat 1955-1958

upper deck signed ball

WoW Mike That Mick Gamer is Awesome!

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by GKreindler

Wow, Jimmy, I can't believe that it's been that long since you picked up a Mantle piece!
Graig

Not by choice Brutha, not by choice.

I've been looking and looking and looking some more. So even though there's a whole lot of photos for sale out there, it's still slim pickens more times than not.

[Lordstan]

Graig,
I think you should paint them together like this!



They'll look great.

Jimmy,
I agree with your point above. There seems to be a bit of a lull in the picture market recently. Now that you got me hooked...Damn.

Best,
Mark

[roarfrom34]

Mantle/Brooks Robinson wire photo from 1964

[Frozen in Time]

Since Mickey has been the primary focus of my collection, I am a little frustrated that I can not share more of it with you at the moment - hopefully that will change soon when the house remodeling is finished.

If I may add my 2 cents to the question of Mantle's enduring popularity (which has already been addressed beautifully by others on this forum and more extensively in a countless number of columns, documentaries and books).

Aside from his natural baseball abilities (explosive power from both sides of the plate -longest HR's ever recorded, world class sprinter speed - as a rookie 3.1 sec from home to first from the right-side of the plate and 2.9 sec from the left), if you saw him play in the '50's you just wanted to be him! Not only hit and run like him, but look like him, walk like him, talk like him. It remains a form of hero worship that is difficult to explain to those who as young boys did not experience it first hand and is still a mystery to those of us that did.

This is one of my favorite photos - a Type I taken on Sept.14, 1950 in his Joplin uniform and used by the press as he was about to start a 2 week travel run with the Yankees which began on Sept 20. On the back of the photo , in addition to the photographer's name, written in pencil "to the Yankees".

Another Type I from June of 1951, shortly before Mickey was sent down to the KC Blues which clearly shows the effect of the enormous pressure he was under during his first 3 months in the majors.