1970 New York Yankees Team-Signed Baseball with Thurman Munson and Mickey Mantle (Coach) - PSA/DNA NM+ 7.5

Sold For:

$4,200

Year:

1970

Auction:

2019 Spring

Lot #:

1900

Category:

Autographed Baseballs/Flats/Photos

Exceedingly rare high-grade 1970 New York Yankees team-signed ball featuring the signatures of both Thurman Munson and Mickey Mantle, who was serving briefly as the Yankees first base coach at the time. Graded NM+ 7.5 by PSA/DNA (the signatures grade NM-MT 8 overall; the ball grades NM 7; resulting in an overall grade of NM+ 7.5). What makes this ball so rare is that Mantle was an official coach with club for only one month. Mantle began the 1970 season working as an announcer for the club, but on August 30th he joined Ralph Houk's staff as first base coach. It took Mantle just one month to realize that coaching was not in his future and he respectfully retired as an official coach at the end of the season (he would still serve as a special coach during spring training over the next decade or two). This is the first 1970 New York Yankees team ball we have ever seen that includes Mantle and the fact that it is a high-grade example makes it especially significant. The official American League (Cronin) ball has been signed in blue ink by the following 26 team members: Mantle (coach), Munson, Murcer, Stottlemyre (sweet spot), Keckich (sweet spot), Kline, Cater, Colson, Hegan (coach), Blefary (on ball label), White, Hansen, Hamilton, Clarke, Howser (coach), McDaniel, McCormick, Howard (coach), Bahnsen, Gibbs, Michael, Kenny, Woods, Waslewski, Klimkowski, and Baker. It's interesting to note that Steve Hamilton was selected off waivers by the Chicago White Sox on September 9th, which means that this ball was signed sometime during the ten-day period August 30th to September 9th. Full LOA from PSA/DNA. Pre-certified by Steve Grad and Brian Sobrero/Beckett Authentication Services. Reserve $300. Estimate (open).