A Mickey Mantle jersey that he wore during a 1958 game recently set a new auction record after it fetched $4.68 million. It was part of the entire sale of Mantle-related items that went for nearly $10 million.
Over the weekend, a fan paid the astonishing amount for this piece of pinstripes at a Heritage Auctions event. This price was more than twice the previous record for a Mickey Mantle jersey. Alongside that, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card in almost perfect condition was also sold during the auction, fetching $4.5 million. This sale marked the highest price paid for a sports card this year and the fourth-highest price ever recorded for a card. In total, the combined sales of the jersey and the card reached $9.2 million.
Mickey Mantle’s jersey
The jersey was mostly worn by Mickey Mantle during the Yankees’ 1958 season. Photo evidence confirms that the jersey matches events from nine different dates in 1958 and 1959. Mickey Mantle wore this jersey during the team’s first game of the 1958 season and also during an All-Stars exhibition held at Yankee Stadium after the season concluded.
The jersey received a grade of 9.5 out of 10 and is nearly in its original, unaltered condition, missing only one button.
Heritage Auctions sports auctions director Chris Ivy told CBS Sports that seeing an all-original Yankees jersey from that era is uncommon. He also mentioned that having a Mickey Mantle pinstripes jersey from the 1950s in its original state and linked to several games through photo matching is quite rare.
During the 1958 season, Mickey Mantle had a batting average of .304, hit 42 home runs, drove in 94 runs, and scored 127 runs. He made his seventh consecutive All-Star appearance that year and also played a key role in leading the Yankees to a World Series victory, which was his fifth championship with the team. Mickey Mantle spent his entire 18-season career with the Yankees before retiring in 1968. His impressive career included seven World Series titles, 20 All-Star selections, and three MVP awards. He was honored with an induction into the Hall of Fame in 1974.
The jersey and card represent the most recent significant baseball items to be auctioned this year. The auction company has the potential to surpass the $5.4 million the Babe Ruth jersey fetched.
In April, a Babe Ruth bat used during the 1920 and 1921 seasons was sold for a record $1.85 million. This bat received a perfect grade of 10. During the 1921 season, Ruth hit an impressive 59 home runs, setting a single-season record at that time. Additionally, an autographed ball from Mike Trout’s Little League days fetched $15,600 in April. Notably, a baseball from Yankees star Aaron Judge’s record-breaking 62nd home run last season was sold at auction for $1.5 million in December.
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