Iconic Mickey Mantle Jersey Expected to Fetch Seven Figures at Auction
One lucky sports collector is about to own a piece of Yankees history, as a jersey worn by Mickey Mantle during one of the most illustrious games of his career is currently up for auction by Goldin, an online marketplace for collectibles and memorabilia. And it's expected that the iconic piece of sports memorabilia will sell for seven figures.
Mantle, who is widely regarded as one of the best baseball players and switch-hitters of all time, wore the jersey on July 23, 1957, when he achieved his only career cycle. In baseball terms, a cycle is when a player manages to hit a single, double, triple, and home run in a single game. And not only did Mantle complete the cycle, but the home run in itself was also notable.
The Oklahoma native nailed the dinger a whopping 465 feet from home plate, which the Herald Tribune famously described in a headline as being "Almost Out of the Stadium." To this day, it's one of the most talked about home runs in Yankee history.
Mantle's triple was also noteworthy, in that he scored three runs at his last at-bat in the seventh inning that helped the Yankees clinch a win against the Chicago White Sox 10–6.
"Original 1950’s jerseys are extremely rare, let alone game-worn by one of baseball’s most famous players,” said Ken Goldin, Founder & CEO of Goldin. "Not only is this jersey straight from the back of Mickey Mantle, but it was worn during one of the most significant moments in his career."
Adding to the value of the piece is that it's one of just ten known photo-matched jerseys, and just one of three worn during a home run game. At the time, jerseys were often recycled down to the minor leagues, however this one was preserved and restored by a professional authenticator. The pinstripe jersey also features stitching of Mantle’s name, his number seven, and the year '57 to highlight when it was worn.
The auction opened on April 19 and is set to commence on June 1. Currently, the bidding stands at a modest $375,000.