A 1952 baseball card in mint condition of Mickey Mantle was sold at auction for 12.6 million dollars. The highest amount ever paid for baseball memorabilia. It eclipsed the 7 mil auctioned off for a Honus Wagners card. In 1957 I was stricken with polio. I was bed ridden and every muscle in my body ached.. I received the 3 polio shots and our local Doc did house calls and gave me penicillin shots after his practice closed. I finally started to recover and one day my Mom gave me a 5 X 7 envelope she got in the mail. It had a NY Yankee logo, Yankee stadium, Bronx NY with a .03 cent stamp on the envelope. WhenI I opened it there was a personal letter on NY Yankee letterhead and a 5 X7 photo of Mickey Mantle, both signed. He was my favorite player and my uncle knew it. He was a 20 year U.S. Navy sailor who traveled the world on Navy destroyers and had an uncanny ability to meet famous people on his travels. He obtained a pearl rosary blessed by Pope Pius 12 (Who was canonized a saint) and sent it to my mother. He was able to see Mickey Mantke in person and after telling him my story got him to send the letter and photo. My Dad had it framed and it is also in mint condition.I have contacted the auction company to discuss the feasibility of putting these items up for auction.

 

Ray, before you sign with the auction company, please consider contacting this one: https://www.lelandlittle.com/
They specialize in handling high-end collectables and may be able to get you top dollar, or refer you to an auction house who handles sports memorabilia. Worth a shot!

 

Kind of funny, I suspect that Mickey Mantle never earned that much money in his career ? What do you guys think.

 

I think some people have WAY to much $ and WAY to big egos - enough to WASTE almost $13M on a piece of paper! But some seller is smiling all the way to bank. Ray, you may be sitting on a real nest egg. I have autographs from my heroes - Stirling Moss, Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, John Fitch, Phil Walters, David Ash, James Hunt, and other great drivers. I know they are not rare but they mean a great deal to me. But the memories of seeing them drive means even more.

 

I have some nice autographs from Alex Zanardi and Greg Moore (RIP) , from events where I seen them race. Those two mean a lot to me, not really worth any money though.

 

He made 100k in his prime. So did Willie Mays and I believe Ted Williams. A lot of money in that era.

 

In 2021 the sports memorabilia grew to 26 billion dollars. Predictions are that it will grow to 227 billion in less than a decade. I just want a small piece of that action. Yeah, those little pieces of paper trump a lot of stock portfolios.

 

Thanks Gene. I will definitely check it out.

 

My letter and photo have been valued at the auction house for between $500 and & $1000.00. The rare baseball card from 1952 was the only few in existence from what they know, thus the 12.6 mil selling price. I am not selling as the psychological effect I had helped me recover from polio.I just cancelled my order for a new Ferrari.

 

Ray how old were you when you had polio? Do you have any of the post polio syndrome? A former co-worker had polio as a child. He was about six and spent time in the iron lung. He had a fair amount of damage to his foot and muscle on one leg and has experienced some post polio syndrome, but is still very active.

I'm glad to hear you are keeping your letter and photo.