19091

HSC: Very Early Mickey Mantle Signed Photograph P

Currency:USD Category:Sports - Cards & Fan Shop / Sports - Autographs (Original) Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,000.00 USD
HSC: Very Early Mickey Mantle Signed Photograph P
<B>Early 1950's Mickey Mantle Signed Photograph.</B></I> This one-of-a-kind photograph was snapped in April of 1951, mere days before the Commerce Kid would take his first regular season swings in the Majors. The Yankees were passing through Houston for an exhibition game with the Buffaloes of the old Texas League, and Mantle took time out to visit the University of Houston's annual "Frontier Fiesta," an Old West-themed fundraising event with temporary rustic buildings and talent shows with extravagant costumes. Above the entrance to the "town" was a sign warning "No Yankees Allowed After Sundown." Having failed to heed this warning, the nineteen-year old Mantle was thrown in the pokey, where he is seen being guarded by our consignor on the left and, interestingly, Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey's father on the right. In the Spring of 1954, our consignor found himself living in Washington, D.C. and made a point of tracking down Mickey during a Yankee visit to the Senators' ballpark. He gave Mantle a copy of this photograph, and had another signed, which we present here. Perfect 10/10 blue ink in the Hall of Famer's early, childlike style reads, "To Tom, Thanks a lot fun a very enjoyable night, Mickey Mantle." The photograph itself is in equally fine condition, free of any noteworthy flaws and measuring 7.5x9.5" in size. A letter of provenance from our consignor is included in the lot. <I>LOA from Steve Grad & Zach Rullo/ PSA DNA.</B></I>