Rawlings Adirondack "Big Stick" baseball bat owned by Mickey Mantle featuring the actual signatures of the elven men (himself and 10 others) who hit 500-plus home runs: Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Frank Robinson, Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt, Mickey Mantle, Harmon Killebrew, Ted Williams, Willie McCovey, Ernie Banks, Eddie Matthews. This bat features every 500+ home run batter that was alive at the time of the signing.

While there may be other bats on the market with multiple 500 Home Run Club signatures, what makes this particular bat so coveted is that this is the only known to be personally owned by Mickey Mantle himself. The bat was originally sold in The Mickey Mantle Auction on behalf of Mickey Mantle's family conducted by Guernsey's, held December 8, 2003 live at Madison Sqaure Garden in New York City. A copy of the auction catalog from that event is included in the lot.

On May 14, 1967, Mickey Mantle stepped to the plate at Yankee Stadium, and in the bottom of the 7th inning against the Baltimore Orioles slugged a Stu Miller 3-and-2 changeup clear deep into the right-field stands for his 500th career home run The Mother’s Day crowd of 18,872 jumped to their feet, serenading Mantle with cheers as he rounded the bases, and kept at it even after Mantle entered the dugout.

“I don’t care whether it was his first or his 500th,” said Miller, “that means nothing to me. All I know, I was doing my damnedest to get him out, as I always try to do. He hit a good pitch.” And with a great hit off a good pitch, Mantle became the 6th player in MLB history to cross the 500 home run mark, joining legends Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, Mel Ott, Ted Williams and Willie Mays in the illustrious club. Mantle was later joined by Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt, Harmon Killebrew, Willie McCovey, Ernie Banks, Eddie Matthews, all of which signed this bat.

This is an online only sale. Items may be viewed upon appointment in New York City.

Notice to bidders: More detailed condition reports and additional photographs are available by request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that the lot is in excellent condition. Please message us through the online bidding platform or call Guernsey's at 212-794-2280 to request a more thorough condition report.