2019 Winter Auction Closing March 2
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/2/2019
After generating a tremendously all-world season in 1956 where Mantle won the Triple Crown, led the Yankees to another World Series title, and saved Don Larsen’s perfect game with a tremendous back hand grab of Gil Hodges screaming liner, The Mick was rewarded with a generous raise for the 1957 season. This contract calls for Mantle to receive $60,000, a significant increase from the $32,000 he earned in 1956.
The contract derives from the personal collection of the Mantle family, sold in the famous 2003 Mickey Mantle Auction and accompanied by a letter of authenticity signed by Mickey's widow and two of his sons. Listing his home as "Commerce, Oklahoma," the February 6, 1957 dated standard four-page “Uniform Players Contract American League of Professional Baseball Clubs” document designates a salary of $60,000 and is signed on page three by Mantle and general manager and fellow Hall of Famer Lee MacPhail. This Mantle signature is a bold, blue ink highly desirable early career signature. It is interesting to see the changes Mantle made to his signature form the early playing days up to the final show signing he attended.
The Mick won his second consecutive Most Valuable Player Award in 1957. Teams learned from his stellar 1956 season and walked him a career high 146 times, to help give him a career best .512 On Base percentage, to go along with his career best .365 batting average.
All the blue ink is in excellent condition and the contract exhibits original and usual storage folds but no other significant qualifications. This item comes with a letter of provenance from the Mantle family signed by Merlyn, David and Danny Mantle, along with full LOAs from PSA/DNA (S05669) and JSA (X73522).