I've had a Yankees team ball in my possession for about 40 years now. My grandmother gave it to me and my brother after the passing of my grandfather, who was a businessman in Miami. According to her, he got the ball at a businessperson's banquet with the Yankees during spring training when the team had their camp in South Florida.
I'm trying to figure out if the Mickey Mantle signature appears authentic. I know his standard signature changed over the years, and that he sometimes had others sign for him. But this appears similar to some of the versions I see online -- more upright and pointed than the better-known rounded signature.
Based on other autographs on the ball (Maris, Berra, Ford, Stottlemyre, Downing, etc), I think this might be from 1964 or 1965. It's obviously not close to mint condition -- my brother actually once took it out and threw with it. That's when I took sole possession!
Any input on the authenticity of the signature would be greatly appreciated.