1950 Mickey Mantle Pre Rookie Signature, Rare Early Style Autograph. Auto JSA

Regular price: $4,450.00
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Rare 1950 Pre-Rookie Mickey Mantle Autograph
Auto PSA

This is certainly the first one of these we’ve encountered— a unique grouping of autographs of the 1950 Yankees team featuring Mickey Mantle before he was brought up to the major leagues. Clearly, this autograph book hails from spring training that year when he was just a teenager, at 19 years old. After a brief few weeks, he was sent down to the Joplin (Missouri) Miners farm team, his last stop before his 1951 rookie season the following year. While at Joplin, Mantle won the 1950 batting title with a .383 average and 136 RBI. In July of 1950, he was also rejected by the army and declared 4F—quite remarkable in and of itself.

The autographs—30 in total—were obtained in person by the Yankees bus driver at the Welcome Home Dinner in April, with his notations, address and name included in this booklet. In addition to Mickey Mantle, all the stars are here, including Hall of Famers Mel Allen (signed three times) and Dizzy Dean, who were their radio announcers in 1950. Other signers include manager Casey Stengel, Joe DiMaggio in his final great season, Yogi Berra, rookies Billy Martin and Jackie Jensen (rare), Johnny Mize, coach Bill Dickey, Hank Bauer, Tommy Henrich, Jerry Coleman, Cliff Mapes (who wore uniform number 7 that year), Ralph Houk, Eddie Lopat, Vic Raschi, longtime trainer Gus Mauch, and closer Joe Page.

The Young Mantle Exemplar Signature

This is the first of its kind we've owned, and it is certainly extremely rare, especially in the context of 1950 Yankees team autographs. Mantle's signature here differs significantly from his later 1951 and 1952 versions—it’s more upright, with less slant to the letters, and features a simpler, more "elementary" style. By the next year or two, his autograph flowed more naturally as he became accustomed to frequent signing requests.His signature is dark and strong, and of course fully legible.

We love this youthful, early style, which captures a unique moment in Mantle’s development. Over the decades, his signature evolved dramatically, making these very early examples virtually nonexistent in today’s marketplace. That’s why we made sure to acquire this team-signed book at "whatever it took." Fortunately, we succeeded and now proudly offer it for your consideration. As always, we strive to provide our clients with truly unique and elusive memorabilia, and this piece is no exception!

The Mantle autograph is in pristine condition and can be easily removed from the book without affecting any of the other signatures—a huge advantage for collectors who prefer to encapsulate their prized autographs in protective "slabs." This also holds true for the other autographs, all of which can be removed without issue. Given its pristine state, the Mantle signature is a strong candidate for a very high grade, further enhancing its desirability and value.

A pre-rookie 1950 Mickey Mantle autograph is an exceptionally rare treasure, virtually nonexistent in the hobby. This particular example is a true gem—pristine, beautifully preserved, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for serious collectors. Once it leaves the market, it will be lost to the hobby. It comes with a Letter of Authenticity from JSA, ensuring its provenance and value. For anyone seeking a top-tier Mantle item, this is an unmissable find and a cornerstone addition to any collection.