Mickey photo

[jiw98]

IMG_0111.jpg

I was wondering if anyone here could help me out with this photo. I’m looking for the year it was published. I was thinking that it’s a Jays Publishing photo, but I can’t find this photo. Any help is appreciated.

[mikecala98]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13524820254...Bk9SR8qSkpXfZA

[jiw98]

Originally Posted by mikecala98

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13524820254...Bk9SR8qSkpXfZA

Thanks for the reply. I didn’t see this Mantle photo in any of the eBay links. I’ve seen many different Mantles, but I can’t find this photo.

[Lucas00]

According to tcdb. I don't think psa is right, but I can't say for certain.

[switcher7]

This is definitely not 1957-59 as PSA states. I do believe it is a Sports Service issue, often believed to be a Jay issue.

[Lucas00]

Originally Posted by switcher7

This is definitely not 1957-59 as PSA states. I do believe it is a Sports Service issue, often believed to be a Jay issue.

PSA Actually states it as '55-'57! To me looking at mantle over his career there's just no way. You can really see micks facial age progression through his career. And to say that even looks like him in his early years is just wrong IMO.

[bcbgcbrcb]

I believe PSA has it identified correctly as 1955-57. All of the Jay issues include the city and team, not just the team name.

[AustinMike]

As others have stated, this is not a Jays Publishing photo and it is definitely not from 1955, 1956, or 1957. TCDB lists it as a Sports Service photo, although I'm not sure where that info comes from. The photo is part of a team set and was issued in a white envelope with a plastic window. This envelope was used every year the photo sets were issued (from 1961 to 1968). I've attached a photo of the envelope. There are no manufacturing identification marks on the envelope. As to the year, it cannot be in the 50s because the set includes Ralph Houk; his first year managing the Yankees was 1961. I think it might also be possible for the set to be from 1962 instead of 1961 or in addition to 1961.

I've also attached the Type 1 photo the set photo is based on. It's interesting in that the bat Mantle is holding is a Yogi Berra bat.

[jiw98]

Thank you all for the information. It is very helpful.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Some of the same images were used in multiple photo packs of the era. Just because one came with the rest of the 1961/1962 Yankees pack doesn’t mean that the same image could not have been part of a 1950’s pack as well.

[AustinMike]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

Some of the same images were used in multiple photo packs of the era. Just because one came with the rest of the 1961/1962 Yankees pack doesn’t mean that the same image could not have been part of a 1950’s pack as well.

That's true. The same Mantle image was used in Jay's Publishing photo packs from 1957 to 1960, albeit with slightly different croppings. And, the Mantle photo used in the 1956 and 1957 Jay's photo packs were the same (I've never seen a Jay's photo pack from 1955).

However, the differences between the 1961/1962 Sports Service photo and the Jay's photos pretty much guarantee that the Sports Service photo was not used in any photo pack from the 1950s. I've attached a scan of the Sports Service photo along side the 1956 Jay's photo. The first thing you notice is the size difference. The next is the different font. The third difference is that in the Jay's photo packs from 1956 to 1960, all of the photos are head shots. For every player. Jay's did not start using partial/full body shots until 1961. Lastly, although you can't see it, there is a difference in the paper stock. The Jay's photo is a little bit sturdier than the Sports Service. So, based on all these differences, I don't believe the Sports Service photo was used in any Jay's photo packs in the '50s.

Also note that the Jay's photos in 1956 and 1957 only include "Yankees" on the photo and not "New York Yankees" as do the Jay's photos from 1958 to 1965. This is contrary to what many believe and this would be the only similarity with the Sports Service photo.