We suspect that this charming handmade banner was constructed for display at Mickey Mantle Day in September of 1965, and then delivered to the honoree himself soon afterwards for signing. His black marker inscription (8.5/10) at lower left reads, “To James & Bob, Best Wishes, Mickey Mantle.” Also included is the July 1966 mailing envelope from Yankee Stadium that contained the returned treasure.

Mickey Charles Mantle (October 20, 1931 – August 13, 1995), nicknamed The Commerce Comet and The Mick, was an American professional baseball player. Mantle played his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career (1951-1968) with the New York Yankees as a center fielder and first baseman. Mantle was one of the best players and sluggers and is regarded by many as the greatest switch hitter in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974 and was elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team in 1999.

Mantle was arguably the greatest offensive threat of any center fielder in baseball history.