Opening Day Auction 2014
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/26/2014
Don Wingfield was the famed New York Yankee photographer, working for the Bronx Bombers as well as The Sporting News, the Washington Senators and the Topps Company. He also free-lanced work for national magazines such as LIFE and LOOK. His friendly nature and true professionalism endeared him to many players, who many years later would speak fondly of Don. During the 1952 World Series, Don was working the annual Yankee – Dodgers tilt for The Sporting News and snapped this photo of a young Mickey Mantle, an image later used for Mickey Mantle related cards including his very scarce “1951 Wheaties” issue.
Our photo features Mantle in a batting pose taken before the 6th game of the 1952 World Series, a tightly contested game which saw the Yankees clinging to a 2-1 lead going into the top of the 8th inning, and behind in the Series 3 games to 2. Then Mantle connected on a Bill Loes pitch to give the Yankees a 3-1 lead, eventually winning the possible elimination game 3-2. Mantle also walked twice in the contest. Mickey would eventually hit the Game 7 go ahead home run a day later.
The reverse has the desirable “PHOTO BY DON WINGFIELD” stamp with his address, and “Mickey Mantle” written THREE TIMES, one in black felt tip marker, one in blue ink and one in pencil. The stamp “00351” also appears. There is a “Hillerich & Bradsby, Inc.” stamp and handwritten “H&B 901”, indicating this exact photo was at one time part of the H&B Archives at the Louisville Slugger bat maker’s headquarters. To avoid any issue with ownership, this photo also comes with a Hillerich & Bradsby LOA, signed by John Hillerich IV and was part of their Louisville Slugger Museum Auction on November, 6, 2004.
We can definitely date this photo to October 6, 1952. When researching the history of this photo, we came across a thread on a vintage sports website which the discussion centered on this image. One reader, who is well known as a Mantle photo enthusiast (claimed to have over 150 rookie Mantle images!), has a copy of this photo with same Don Wingfield photo stamp, but also the “OCT 6, 1952” date stamp. This makes sense, as the stadium background appears to be Ebbetts Field, the upper deck contains a few red-white-and-blue buntings, and Mantle is in his road gray jersey. Interestingly, while Mantle is clearly in his road grays, the scarce Wheaties card image of Mantle with this pose has airbrushed in Yankee pinstripes.
The condition is fabulous, much better than you would expect from a photo which was likely well-handled. It contains some crinkling of the heavy gloss coating in several corners, and a crease in the upper left. None of these issues affect the pristine youthful appearance of one of the most charismatic baseball players of all time.
The photo has been sent to PSA/DNA where their experts agreed it was a TYPE 1, Mickey Mantle Original Don Wingfield Photograph, circa 1950s, but our additional efforts have narrowed it down to a World Series turning home run game by Mantle. PSA/DNA has encapsulated this photo in their protective holder, issuing a certification number of 1P04862, with the corresponding numbered sticker affixed to the lower left corner on the reverse.
How many of these actual period photos have you seen of Mantle offered on the market? Not many. We haven’t seen many offered for sale, either. This is one of the most iconic images of a young Mickey Mantle, taken on a day he literally changed the entire epic 1952 World Series, and would be one of the highlights of any vintage photo collection. PSA/DNA, Type 1 Original Photo, cert number 1P04862.