In most homes that have a mantle, personal photographs and keepsakes are proudly displayed for visitors and family members alike to enjoy. And while framed snapshots and little league trophies hold value to the family, for 20 years the Nicklas family had something sitting on their mantle that was worth quite a bit more than sentimental value. Back in the late 1950’s and 60’s, the family patriarch, Randy Nicklas, was the personal charter pilot for the New York Yankees and Football Giants. During the period he flew both teams around the country, Nicklas developed a personal relationship with many of the players, including Yankees superstar Mickey Mantle. After the final game of the 1961 World Series, The Mick handed Nicklas the ball cap he wore during the series in gratitude for the pilot getting he and his teammates to games safe and on time.

Nicklas took the cherished cap home and proudly placed it on the family mantle, where is stayed for two decades as a symbol of his hard work and good fortune. The uniform experts at MEARS have thoroughly examined this Nicklas family heirloom and deemed it a “1961 Mickey Mantle World Series Game Worn New York Yankees Cap.” The navy ball cap is a seven-stitch brim McAuliffe Pro KM model with the famed interlocking “NY” Yankees logo in white embroidery on its front. The cap’s size is 7 ¼, which corresponds to other verified Mantle gamers from this period. The McAuliffe tagging inside the cap is of the style found on 1955-1965 era Yankees caps. The cap shows moderate wear throughout with some loose threads and light toning. The white leather sweatband shows good use but is intact as is the McAuliffe label. The cap comes with a LOA from MEARS (316031) for the game use. Included in this lot are photocopies of two 1958 letters sent to pilot Randy Niklas by United Airlines complimenting him on his service to the New York Yankees and New York Giants as referenced in the Mears LOA.

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