Seventeen-year-old "Mick" Mantle began his professional career in the Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri (K. O. M.) league with the Independence Yankees in 1949. Quickly moving up the ranks with his incredible ability, Mantle was starring in Yankee Stadium just two years later. The featured item is a program from the 1949 Independence Yankees of the K. O. M. league, but not just any program as it was owned and consigned by the family of Bob Mallon, Mantle's teammate and roommate during their time in the league. Mallon has signed the book on the cover and team shortstop Mantle's bold blue marker signature appears next to his likeness, a bold "9-10" penning. Several of the pages have come loose within the booklet but none are missing. An incredible piece of Mickey Mantle history, provided by his first professional baseball roommate when the Mick was still a teen just out of high school. Full LOA from PSA/DNA as well as James Spence Authentication (JSA).
VIDEO: Kevin Keating PSA Authenticator Discussing Early Mantle Collection