Winter Auction 2016 Closing January 30th
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/31/2016
Yet another pivotal turning point year in New York Yankees team history 1951 was Mickey Mantle’s rookie season, Joe DiMaggio’s final season and the one and year that the team held spring training in Phoenix, Arizona. Yankees owner Del Webb also owned lots of property in Arizona where he was a prominent developer creating the retirement community of Sun City. In order to showcase his team to business associates out west he asked New York Giants owner Horace Stoneham if he would agree to swap his spring training site in Phoenix for the Yankees in St. Petersburg, Florida for just the one season. Stoneham agreed and the two teams met in the 9th “Subway Series” at the end of the season with the Yankees emerging victorious. This 13 ½” x 19 ½” black and white 1951 team photo was taken at Yankee Stadium and is presented in 18” x 24” matted frame. Yogi Berra is seated at the far left in the front row sitting next to Phil Rizzuto who is seated next to Billy Martin. Rookie Mantle is standing in the second row to the right and gazing off in that direction. Veteran DiMaggio is standing at the far right of the back row also looking away from the camera with a half-smile on his face. Allie Reynolds, Johnny Mize and Gil McDougald are the first three standing from the far left. The “‘Ol Perfessor” Manager Casey Stengel is being himself seated in the middle of the first row. Bat Boys Joe Carrieri and Joe Call are seated at Casey’s feet. Vintage photo displays some signs of aging with some cracks and possible tears a piece of yellowing paper is taped over Tommy Henrich in the first row where the photo may have been ripped but in general it remains in very good shape and would be a superb addition to any Yankees fans collection.