Mantle Opinion

dapro

Any Mantle experts here to verify this is legit?

Thanks

magikbilly

Hello again dapro,

You know I don't do sports, but if you post or link several unquestioned genuine exemplars from the same period (on balls) I will give it a whirl. Unlike your bat and recent boxing ticket here, I have at least seen this signature before

Best wishes,
Eric

dapro

Thanks Eric! Here are couple of PSA passed Mickey Mantle I have.

magikbilly

Hey there,

do you have any more "authenticated" scans? And larger? Some thing "unquestioned" like a check or contract?

Best wishes,
Eric

magikbilly

Hi dapro,

Any more exemplars? I can only really see the middle one on the signed balls you posted. So far, it's looking like a pretty clever forgery, but I need more

Best wishes,
Eric

dapro

Eric, here are authentic exemplars of Mickey Mantle.

AUthentic exemplars of signed baseball.

magikbilly

Hey dapro,

Thanks. From what you have shown, I believe that is a forgery.

Best wishes,
Eric

magikbilly

Hello dapro,

what was your opinion of this signed ball?

Best wishes,
Eric

dapro

I think its the real deal.

magikbilly

Hi dapro,

if you look at all you sent me at once, scaled to each other, upside down and backward - you may come to a different conclusion.

I noticed it seemed to large. Structure looks odd - basic shapes and loops/slants are off. It was nowhere near as fluid, even though on a ball. I did not see many with a skipped pen as on yours. The dot over the "i" - the stroke seems deliberate and of the wrong shape. The usual breaks in the signature are not all there. Baseline is off. Form of the "M"'s seem self conscious. Execution and form of the "ckey" are rather different - the first stroke of the "y" especially. Few show the change in pen direction in the first stroke of the "y" as well. The cross on the "t" is formed in a different way. Perhaps I am being overly cautious, but the sheer number of forgeries, Operation Bullpen aside, make me very wary. The last three loops in "Mantle" and their relationship to each other appear different. What can you add? Anyone else seen this ball? Other opinions?

Best wishes,
Eric

LochNESS

I know nothing about signature authentication or handwriting science ... but I thought it was the real deal. To me it resembles the signature on the baseball on the far right (second row; if they were a number keypad it would be #6).

LochNESS

Just want to add: I really appreciate this thread, it was very cool to see all those Mantle sigs on baseballs. When I was a kid, the idea of a baseball signed by Mantle was a real daydream. Mostly because my parents are from Queens and my dad talked excessively about the golden age of NY baseball (and Mantle, Yogi, and Ruth).

I have a Sandy Koufax card but alas it ain't signed.

dapro

I somehow became a Mantle ball collector. haha I got five balls signed by the Mic!

magikbilly

It is great see life on these boards!


Eric

LochNESS

Dapro, I don't suppose you have a story there? Surely with five of 'em there must be at least one story

My first major league game was at Shea stadium (I know, wrong team...) anyway it was me + dad + my two favorite uncles. After that I was hooked on baseball for a good while. The following Summer I was talking to my uncle Eddie about collecting bball cards and he whipped out the Koufax. Five minutes later he gave me my first gold coin, too. A quarter eagle. That was a good Summer