A rare 1955 American League Championship ring belonging to Mickey Mantle is currently being auctioned by Goldin. Remarkably, this is the inaugural instance of any of his championship rings being offered for sale. The auction experts have projected a potential selling price in the range of $300,000 to $500,000 for this significant piece of memorabilia.
According to CBS Sports, Ken Goldin, the CEO, and founder of Goldin Auctions, mentioned that Mickey Mantle’s sports memorabilia hold immense attraction since those are rarely available for purchase. He explained that these items are typically retained by the player’s family or kept in museums, making them exceptionally difficult for baseball fans to acquire.
“Mickey Mantle awards — whether it’s an MVP award or a championship ring — they are not only extremely desirable, they never come up for sale,” he said. “Most of the items are owned by the family or in a museum, so they are virtually impossible to get.”
The ring showcases the iconic Yankees’ “bat and hat” emblem adorned with various precious stones.
The history of Mickey Mantle’s 1955 ring
After experiencing his first World Series defeat in 1955, Mickey Mantle chose to gift this ring to his brother, Ray. That particular season saw Mantle leading the AL with an impressive 37 home runs. However, his participation in the World Series was limited to just 10 plate appearances across three games due to injuries.
In a seven-game series, the Yankees were bested by the Brooklyn Dodgers, marking their initial World Series loss since 1942 and only their second since 1926. Mickey Mantle’s response to this loss was evident in his subsequent performance, as he made a strong comeback and enjoyed what is now regarded as the pinnacle of his career in 1956.
Following Mickey Mantle’s death, Ray made the decision to sell the ring to a private collector of Yankees memorabilia. In a letter dated May 12, 2000, he certified the ring’s authenticity.
It reads: “The purpose of this letter is to verify and authenticate Mickey Mantle’s 1955 World Series ring. In 1955, the New York Yankees were the American League Champions defeated by the Brooklyn Dodgers in seven games. The players received the 1955 World Series ring on opening day in 1956. My brother, Mickey Mantle, gave me this ring in 1956. It has been in my possession until now.”
The Goldin 100
The Mickey Mantle ring is a part of the Goldin 100 collection, a compilation spotlighting rare and high-value collectibles, which is likely to carry a value of more than $100,000.
Another highlight of this auction encompasses a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, which has been identified by the auction house as “the most iconic post-war card globally and the most sought-after gum card depicting Mickey Mantle ever produced.” Notably, this card boasts an NM-MT 8 grade from PSA, with a mere 14 other versions attaining a higher grade among over 1,875 recorded copies documented in PSA’s census report. The potential exists for this card to achieve a selling price of $1 million, according to Goldin.
The Goldin 100 assortment also encompasses noteworthy items, including the earliest documented instance of game-worn Michael Jordan shoes. These sneakers, distinct from Air Jordans, are Nike Air Ship sneakers that Jordan wore during his fifth NBA game. Additionally, a 1916 Babe Ruth rookie card and a 1954 Topps Hank Aaron rookie card with a PSA grade of MINT 9 are featured.
The ongoing auction is currently accessible for bids and will remain open until September 13th.
How much do you think the 1955 Mickey Mantle ring can fetch? Leave your comment below.
