Lot 103
  • 103

Mickey Mantle Signed H&B 1958 World Series Model Game Bat

Estimate
80,000 - 120,000 USD
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Description

In the 1958 World Series, the defending champion Milwaukee Braves and perennial champion New York Yankees met again for the second time in as many years. The National League champions had surprised everyone the previous year after overcoming an early deficit to dominate their American League rivals for the remainder of the Series. For the first time, (in a long time) the Bronx Bombers were not the heavy favorites after losing two of the last three Fall Classics. It was new territory for Casey Stengel's Yankees and they were determined to even it up. Many New York sports writers had already turned on their home team and several quoted predictions of the end of baseball's greatest dynasty.



The dire predictions looked valid after the first four games left the Braves with a commanding 3-1 lead. But the never say die Yankees stormed back to win three straight, beating the defending champion Milwaukee Braves in seven games for their 18th title, and their seventh in ten years. With that victory, the Yankees became only the second team in Major League Baseball to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven World Series.



Mickey Mantle, the Yankees offensive lightning rod, belted two homers in Game one. Over the course of his career "The Mick" would go on to set the all-time World Series home run record that still stands to this day.



Specially manufactured for Mickey Mantle for that epic Series, this Hillerich & Bradsby model T89 bat is uncracked and shows evidence of outstanding use. Many ball marks and ball stitch impressions are visible on the right, left and back barrel. In addition to Mantle's facsimile signature branding on the barrel, the custom designation "World Series 1952 New York Yankees" is also present. Also visible on the bat are blue bat rack streaks. Mantle's number "7" is on the knob in black marker and Mickey Mantle has added his signature to the right barrel in black marker.



World Series models, such as this, are highly prized among collectors for their scarcity and historical significance. Given the magnitude of Mantle's collector appeal and the fact that he owned the World Series over the course of his 18-year career, this bat is among the finest World Series model bats ever offered publicly. LOAs from David Bushing and John Taube of PSA/DNA (GU10).