This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/30/2012
All one has to do is look at the number 7 framed by the Yankee pinstripes and you immediately conjure up the image of the great Mickey Mantle blasting homeruns at Yankee Stadium. As collectors, we all followed the natural progression from card collector, to autograph collector, to the pinnacle, game worn jersey collecting. With high grade examples of Mantle jerseys selling in the $400,000-$500,000 range, this lot offers collectors the rare chance to own an authentic Mantle gamer without having to spend nearly a half of million dollars. Consigned via the Clete Boyer family. A signed letter from Boyer accompanies this lot. Per the evaluation of Dave Grob:
Size: Tagged as and measures as size 44 and this is the true size of the jersey. The size of the jersey was confirmed by comparing it a common player 1966 Spalding product also in a size 44. The 1966 Street & Smith Yearbook lists Mantle at 6’, 201lbs. A size 44 jersey is also consistent with other period Mantle Spalding and MacGregor products in the MEARS data base, including another 1966 Mantle home jersey manufactured by Spalding that I examined in 2011. As such I would consider this to be an appropriate sized garment for Mantle at this point in his career. (PLATE I)
Manufacturer: The jersey is identified as a Spalding product by the manufacturer's label (c 1957-
1970) in the lower left front tail of the jersey. Spalding is a known and confirmed supplier of uniforms to the New York Yankees (in particular, the home jerseys) during this time frame. All manufacturers tagging, to include the supplemental laundry instructions is considered team, period and manufacturer appropriate. (PLATE II)
Construction: The jersey is constructed of a professional grade wool blend flannel. This was confirmed by comparing the offered jersey with the fabrics from a period Spalding major league baseball uniform and then conducting comparative analysis of them using a digital microscope. The jersey features Set-In sleeves and this too is period/team/manufacturer appropriate. Sleeve length is 3 1/2” and this too appears to be appropriate for Mantle. Of interest to note is the spatial alignment of the top two (2) buttons on this jersey. These buttons are spaced very close together (2” from center of button hole to center of button hole) and not often found in this configuration for jerseys that do not have lettering spanning the upper chest and necessitating this placement. Period images however do confirm that this is something I should have expected to see in at least the Spalding products from this time. This jersey also compares very favorably in all facets of construction with a 1966 Ruben Amaro New York Yankees home jersey in the MEARS database. (PLATE II-III)
Use/Wear/Condition: The jersey shows signs of moderate use and wear. Appearance of the jersey is
negatively affected by foxing on the front of the jersey, predominately on the right chest and into the placket area. Foxing is a term used in garment/conservation circles to describe a type of staining that appears as small rust like spots and typically caused by a fungus growing on or in the fabric. The inside of the underarm gussets feature some staining in the form fabric bleed from an undergarment. This does not extend to the exterior of the jersey and as such has no negative impact on the cosmetic display of the garment. The back of the jersey features a navy numeral seven (7) that has been restored to the garment. Restoration is obvious and apparent given the clear and strong outline of the number 33 that was once on the jersey.
With the restored number, attribution to Mickey Mantle relies on the supplemental tagging in the
collar that features “Mantle” embroidered onto a felt swatch and it is this swatch that has been affixed to the garment through the front fabric panel in the collar. This area was examined in great detail to determine if the swatch was added at the time of manufacture or post manufacture. Tracing and counting the seam lines in this area, lead me to conclude that the swatch was affixed at the time the jersey was manufactured and not added at a later point in time. As such, I consider the player identification to be original to the garment and thus attribute the jersey to Mantle. I found no signs of open seam holes or trace evidence on the front of the jersey to indicate anything was ever affixed to the front of the garment other than the NY crest on the right breast. As such, I consider the NY crest to be original to the jersey. All seven (7) buttons are firmly affixed to the jersey and they too are assessed as being original to the jersey.
In looking at the left shoulder area, I found no signs that the 100th Anniversary patch (worn in 1969) was ever affixed to the jersey. #33 was a non-roster number for the New Yankees from 1964-1973. With the logo being assessed as original, the number change indicates use of the jersey in an extended organizational capacity for the Yankees (likely in spring training in 1967 or 1968).
Provenance: No provenance or history of the uniform was offered or provided at the time of my
evaluation. (NOTE: At the original time of evaluation, the letter from Boyer was not provided. It was included with the jersey when it was offered for auction)
Opinion: In my opinion this jersey possesses all the characteristics you would expect to see in jersey manufactured in 1966 by Spalding for use and wear by Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees.
Attribution to Mickey Mantle is possible based on the combination and totality of the information listed above as the NY logo and the supplemental player swatch are assessed as being original to the garment.
The MEARS worksheet and grading criteria provides for 5 categories for which points may deducted, I
found these reasons to deduct points.
Category 4: -3; Number restored
Category 5: -1; foxing or staining
Category 4: -0; Multiple player use. No points were deducted because the restorations are a function
of this. To deduct additional points for this, would in my opinion, be penalizing the jersey for the same thing twice.
Final Grade for jersey bearing hologram # 312710 is A6
Dave Grob
MEARS
PLATES I-IV
A letter dated January 5, 1988 on New York Yankees letterhead which has been signed by former Mantle teammate Clete Boyer will also attend.
(A0254)
(JSA Auction Letter)