A historic collection of telegrams, sent to Mickey Mantle, commemorating his 500th home run.

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.

The cheers from the fans in attendance were just the beginning of the congratulations that flooded in from across the nation as the beloved living legend known as “The Mick” accomplished the historic achievement.

This lot features (26) Western Union Telegrams of congratulations from friends and fans alike sent in the days following his 500th home run (Dated: May 14-16, 1967).

A notable message from the controversial chairman of the New York Mets, M. Donald Grant reads “WHILE WATCHING MY TEAM I TWIRLED TO YOUR GAME AND CAUGHT YOU HITTING YOUR 50TH IT COULDN’T HAPPEN TO A NICER GUY I HOPE YOU HIT 500 MORE CAUSE YOU’VE ALWAYS BATTED 1000 ME - MR AND I DO MEAN MR DON GRANT”. The “50th” being a clerical typo but also quite possibly a friendly slight from an intercity rival who ends the note with kind words”

Another from “Mr. Atlantic City’ and 500 Club owner Paul “Skinny” D’Amato reads “WELCOME TO THE “500” CLUB”.

Other telegrams from across the country include one from Bill Grive in Yonkers, NY (believed to be a typo and from Bill Grieve, an umpire who spent 18 years in the American League), another from a barber in New Jersey offering “A FREE HAIRCUT AND SHAVE”, one from a fan in California says “YOU ARE THE GREATEST EVER” and another from out of the country marked West Indies that states “CONGRATULATIONS ON THE 500, EXPECTING 600 SOON PLEASE”.

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