Winter 2014 Auction Closing Feb 7
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/8/2014
By the summer of 1966, the 15 years of debilitating injuries and fast living was taking it's toll on Mickey Mantle. Though still, if not more so, the idol of almost every American boy, The Mick's career was rapidly drawing to an end, and 1966 would be his final productive season. Taped up like a mummy and silently battling pains and interior demons, Mickey managed to hit .288 that year with 23 home runs. It would be the last roar from one of the game's most popular stars of its greatest era.
Advanced Mickey Mantle collectors will note that this is an exceedingly rare style of bat. Mantle made just two orders of six bats for the Louisville Slugger W215 model. The first was May 6, 1966 with the second order four days later. That means there were but 12 of this particular model bat used by The Mick and out of that dozen it is not known how many of those survive today, but this one sure has. You couldn't ask for more in a game used Mantle bat, simply told, this one has it all. The Mick's Hillerich & Bradsby W215 bat shows tremendous use and is uncracked. Many ball marks and well-defined stitch impressions can be seen on the barrel along with cleat imprints and blue bat rack streaks. A light coat of pine tar remains on the handle. The model number "W215" is stamped into the knob end and the weight "33" is written in pencil. Mantle's famous number "7" has been written on the knob end in black marker, now aged gracefully along with the standard finish on this beautiful piece of ash lumber. Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA who have graded this bat a perfect GU 10 and MEARS who awarded it a likewise perfect score of A10. This is simply one of the most impressive, and rare, Mickey Mantle game used bats extant.