Extraordinary 1966 Mickey Mantle New York Yankees Game-Used Bat - #7 on the Knob - PSA/DNA GU 10

Sold For:

$72,000

Year:

1966

Auction:

2017 Fall

Lot #:

2022

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

Mickey Mantle H&B signature-model "K90" bat dating from the 1965-1968 manufacturing period. Graded GU 10 by PSA/DNA. This is one of the finest Mantle bats we have ever handled, made all the more desirable by the fact that his number "7" appears on the knob in vintage black marker. While it may come as a surprise to some, most advanced bat collectors realize that Mantle game bats featuring his uniform number on the knob are the exception, not the rule. As PSA/DNA notes on its website "One very interesting aspect to Mantle professional model bats is that the bulk of the known examples do not feature his primary uniform number '7' or rookie season number '6' on the knob or barrel end as he was not nearly as consistent as other players of the era about marking his bats." As such, this bat represents one of the rare examples. The number on the knob notwithstanding, the bat is perfect in all other ways, especially with regard to matching factory records, which help pinpoint its year of production. Although this bat conforms to the general 1965-1968 labeling period, it can be specifically dated to 1966 based upon Mantle's H&B ordering records. According to company shipping documents, Mantle only received a single order of twelve "K90" model bats during the referenced manufacturing period, with that shipment occurring on February 4, 1966. Even more significant is that the order records specify "Mark Weights on Knob." The offered bat bears the original factory weight, "33," written in dark pencil on the knob. This a Mickey Mantle pro-model bat of the highest order, especially with regard to use and player traits. The bat displays an incredible amount of use along its entire length, including a plethora of deeply embedded ball and stitch marks on all sides of the barrel. Also evident are rack marks and pine tar on the handle. Mantle's uniform number ("7") is written on the knob in vintage black marker. Given the amount of use, presence of the vintage uniform number on the knob, and its perfect matching of factory records, this is, by any measure, an impeccable 1960s Mickey Mantle pro-model bat. Perfect in every respect and certainly one of the best Mantle bats we have ever handled. LOA from John Taube of PSA/DNA. Reserve $10,000. Estimate $30,000++.