For a generation of American’s growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, Mantle was synonymous with baseball. Offered for your consideration is a 34” H&B Mickey Mantle Signature Model K55 bat. The bats is identified as an “Index Bat”, or one that does not show up as a function dimension or model in a players personal order sheet. Did the Yankees order bats for organizational and player use? They did. Are there documented instances where Mantle swung bats not found in his personal ledger? There are.
Consider:
“Mickey Mantle used lots of different H&B bats, but seldom used the one with his signature on it. Mantle would just pick up any bat that was handy.” Page 15 of America’s Bat: The History of Louisville Slugger-The Bats and the Players Who Used Them.
Mickey Mantle at the plate in Yankees Stadium against the Baltimore Orioles finishing a swing with what appears to be the player # 11 or #17 on the knob of the bat. Page 172 of One Hundred Years-The New York Yankees: The Official Retrospective.
In episode #3 of the 1960 TV Series Home Run Derby, Mickey Mantle faced Red Sox Slugger Jackie Jensen. After Mantle got off to a commanding lead early in the match, show's host Mark Scott talks to Jensen about being behind. Jensen remarked to Scott "What's making this worse is he's using my bat."
Did Mantle order bats at lengths of less than 35” during this labeling period? He did.
Model L16: 34” (1951)
Model M110: 34” (1952)
Model S2: 34.5” (1952)
Model W148: 34.5” (1956)
Did Mantle order K55s during this period? He did in 1953 and 1955.
Decide for yourself on the likelihood that Mantle may have been a user of Team Index Bats. Accompanying this lot will be a detailed article and analysis written by Dave Grob on this very subject.
Player: Mickey Mantle
Block/Script Name: script
Label Period: 1950-60
Year/s Used: 1951-60
Teams Played During Era of Bat: New York Yankees
Other Teams Played:
Mfg: H&B
Model Number: K55
Length: 34"
Weight: 31.4
Game Use: heavy
Ball Marks:
Swelling: heavy swelling on top of barrel nearing back of barrel
Grain Separation: light on face of barrel
Cleat Marks: yes, just a few
Rack Marks: no color rack marks visible
Cracked: no
Pine Tar: no
Handle Tape: no
Handle Crack: no
Barrel Crack: no
Dents/Gouges: yes, a few scattered dents on face of barrel
Autographed: no
Uniform Number: no
Knob Markings: some pen mark, there is black in model number but not readable
Barrel Markings: no
Finish: ash
Provenance: no
Factory Records:
Player Traits:
Grade: MEARS A7.5
Collection of MEARS Staff
(MEARS LOA)