October Legends
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2013
When Mickey Mantle made his debut with the Yankees on Opening Day 1951, he was heralded as the next Joe DiMaggio. Unfortunately, the real DiMaggio was still playing center field and didn’t take too kindly to the arrival of his successor. Mantle, who was an immature 19 at the time, had a hard time dealing with his sudden fame. DiMaggio refused to acknowledge him. The press hounded him. Con men and chorus girls circled, sensing an easy mark. Starting off well, the kid began to wear down under the unrelenting pressure. Strike outs mounted and he began to lash out verbally at the fans. It’s interesting to think just what was going through the young Mantle’s mind the evening in June he signed this postal card and mailed it at New York’s Grand Central Station. He’d gone 0 for 4 in the previous day’s game against the Tigers and must have known his days were numbered. Less than a month after this card was posted, Mickey was reluctantly sent down to the minors. It worked out for the best; some tough love from his father and easy AAA pitching helped renew his confidence and by August he was back in New York to stay. This GPC is a great part of Mantle’s earliest days as a Yankee and one of the few that can definitively dated to his rookie season. PSA/DNA has encapsulated the card and graded it a MINT 9.