What a moment this had to be for a young rookie from Oklahoma as he posed sandwiched between the two best hitters in baseball over the last twenty years at the ballpark. Mickey Mantle had the weight of the world on his shoulders and all the pressure to go along with it, and moments like this probably did not help. He was purposely placed with the two superstar veterans Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams as Mantle was given the title of the next big star in the game. While it would indeed take him some time to get there, Mantle did not disappoint! The offered image is a clear and original piece of photography and while it is most likely a re-strike from the late 1950's or early 1960's (within ten years of the original) it is stamped on the back from the New York Daily News and looks fantastic. The stamp was used throughout the 1950's but was in heavy usage closer to the end of the decade and the pre-zip code establishes it as pre-1963 for sure. Condition is quite nice with some creasing and wear at the lower right being the only flaw. One of the most important Mantle rookie images out there!
Size: 8x10
Designation: Vintage 2
Condition: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Overall Grade: 9/10