Mickey Mantle Souvenir Baseball Listed As Authentic Autographs--You Have To Read This!!!

Immediately below are links to previous blogs on "Examples Of Mickey Mantle Forgeries."

https://live.autographmagazine.com/forum/topics/most-common-mantle-...

https://live.autographmagazine.com/profiles/blogs/most-common-mantl...

When I spotted the below listing on Ebay, I had to read the auction description twice.

This is listed by Ebay seller Brucejoan93.

The title reads Mickey Mantle Signed Baseball!!  Also Brooks Robinson, Willie Stargell And 5 More.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/276825743204

Let's look at the "autographed baseball."

This is a souvenir baseball.  The "signatures" are stamped on the baseball.

Read the auction description below.  Total BS story!!!

As you can clearly observe, this is a souvenir baseball.  The names are stamped on the baseball.

Here's the description:

The product is a Mickey Mantle signed Rawlings baseball. See the photos. The baseball is not authenticated and each of the eight autographs on this baseball are authentic and original.


I got this ball with my son in around 1990-1994 when Mickey Mantle and several other baseball greats were signing only a very few autographs during a special metro Orlando “old timers” event during Spring training.


My son Alex was about 3-5. He is 35 now. Many people in the crowd were hollering for Mickey to sign their baseball as he strided past the stands. My son and I were quiet and just enjoying the spectacle.


My wife always dressed our very young sons well for occasions like a baseball game. Mr. Mantle noticed my son Alex sitting politely in his cute kid’s baseball player shorts, shirt, and baseball cap.


Mr. Mantle veered left directly over to Alex. Then he looked at me and asked, “Are you a memorabilia dealer?” “Are you just going to sell this ball tomorrow if I sign it for this young man?” I assured Mr. Mantle that I was not a memorabilia dealer, adding that we just came to see some baseball. I sincerely didn’t know it was a special day at the ball park.


Satisfied with my answer, Mr. Mantle addressed Alex and said, “I’m going to sign this ball right here in the sweet spot-the best spot for a signature.” I instructed Alex to say thank you to Mr. Mantle. Then Mr. Mantle called some other players over and said, “this is Alex”. He asked them all to sign Alex’s baseball too. What a great bunch of guys and what a wonderful day for Alex and me. The players all said “hi Alex”, tussled his hair through the cap, and they all signed his baseball.


That’s why, in addition to Mickey Mantle, this ball is also signed by: Billy Williams, Tim McCarver, Brooks Robinson, Rick Reinhardt, Jim Lefebvre, Willie Stargell, and Luis Tiant.


UPDATE ABOUT ALEX: A few years later, Alex was selected to be the Oscar Meyer Weiner Kid for the Northeastern US. He spoke with radio and TV news people about his “job” riding in the Weiner mobile for a day. The Oscar Meyer folks subsequently took Alex to his elementary school where he invited his schoolmates inside the Weiner Mobile for a tour-a few of his 15 minutes of fame.


At 10, he stared as Amahl in a professional opera production of Amahl And The Night Visitors.


At 17, he was a violin soloist for a national broadcast of NPR’s From The Top staring Christopher O’Riley. From The Top is a national showcase for some of the nation’s most talented young musicians.


Today, Alex is a hard working musician. He is working as tenured violinist with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and also as Concertmaster of the Summerville Symphony Orchestra. In Summertime, Alex plays violin with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.


Disclosure: Alex and his brother get their talent and good looks from their mom.


WHY SELL NOW: Alex recently suggested that this baseball is an important bit of history and therefore needs to go to a new home where it will be properly preserved. Alex reminded me that there is some slight scuffing on the ball stemming from the one time he unknowingly decided to use this ball to play catch until I noticed a few minutes later. The ball has lived in this protective encasement ever since. You’ll see from the pics that the scuffing is minimal, but Alex wanted me to mention it.


Life’s a great ride!

Even an authentic set of autographs with the likes of Mickey Mantle, Willie Stargell, etc., wouldn't sell close to the seller's Buy It Now of $1,200.00.

I've exposed thousands of forgeries and sellers of forgeries, but this seller's story takes the cake.

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Comment by Steve Zarelli on January 23, 2025 at 2:52pm

Like you, Chris, I have read thousands over the years. This is the GOAT of phony autograph stories. 

You just have to tip your cap. 

Although, you cut it too short. The seller goes on and on about what his son, "Alex" is up to these days and how "Alex" felt it was important to sell this important historical artifact so someone else could appreciate it's grandeur. 

Comment by terrier8HOF on January 23, 2025 at 3:24pm

what I find additionally comical, is the asking price for this $5 dollar ball, is more than what an authentic version would be with these signers!  Clueless

Comment by CJCollector on January 23, 2025 at 4:54pm

Steve, you hit the nail on the head; It is the "Goat of phony autograph stories."

Comment by Steve on January 24, 2025 at 9:29am

I guess the true sign of a liar is that they have no idea when to stop and believe that everyone will believe their b*******!

Comment by Steve Zarelli on January 24, 2025 at 10:26am

Bottom line: The longer the story, the faker the autograph.

Comment by CJCollector on January 24, 2025 at 11:50am

The "story" from that seller is the most creative of the thousands of sellers I've exposed.

Comment by CJCollector on January 24, 2025 at 12:00pm

Steve Z, I posted the second part of of the auction description.

Comment by Yony Mark on January 27, 2025 at 1:13pm

Life truly is a great ride with absolutely pathetic and cringey stories like this one.

Comment by CJCollector on January 27, 2025 at 2:18pm

Sure is, Yony.

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