Your top finds for 2011

[Frozen in Time]

Vintage, Original Type I photo of Mickey dated December 1950 and taken by Orrick Sparlin of Miami, Oklahoma, who covered Mantle exclusively in and around Commerce from 1950-52.

This iconic image (which has been reproduced in a countless number of publications) depicts the 19 year old Mick covered in grease and dust in front of Blue Goose Number One Mine at the Eagle-Picher Lead and Zinc Company where he was working 300 feet down repairing motors for the pump crew. Mickey was also waiting nervously to hear back from the Yankees regarding reporting to Spring Training in Phoenix - but he had no phone at home and Lee MacPhail, director of the farm system, did not know where he worked. Doesn't seem to be bothering him at this moment as indicated by that great smile.

In addition to the fantastic image, what I really like about this photo is the original frame which hung in the main office of Eagle-Picher with the inscription " An Employee of Eagle Picher before Employment by the New York Yankees"

A one of a kind pre-rookie photo of Mantle that sheds some light on what his future might have been had his Dad not been so determined that baseball was his destiny.