(LOT 258)
Pair of Mickey Mantle Items - 1968 Retail Model of Mickey Mantle's Game Glove and Signed 8" x 10" PSA/DNA
When Sotheby's auctioned off Barry Halper's famous collection in 1999, the only object it featured on the cover of its case housing three catalogs was Mickey Mantle's game-used XPG3 glove from the early 1960s with its beautiful and distinctive custom-made spiral "Pro-H" web. News that comedian Billy Crystal forked out $239,000 ($451,000 in today's dollars) went viral. Unbeknownst to the vast majority of collectors, in 1968 Rawlings experimented with a top-of-the-line $39.95 ($361 today) retail XPGH model that is indistinguishable from Crystal's holy relic other than the model number. Very few were made and even fewer survived, according to John Taube, PSA's glove authenticator. He was lucky enough to snag one at the time to use in high school. It is the closest 99.99% of collectors will ever get to a Mantle gamer. Judging from vintage photos and baseball cards, the spiral web was a true novelty.

Only a couple of big leaguers besides Mantle played with one, including Gold Glover Brooks Robinson in 1969. The mystery of why the retail version was so short lived and remains so rare may have to do with how labor intensive it was to make and its fragility compared to other webs. Of course, Mantle had an equipment manager at his disposal for quick relacing. This particular gem is in Excellent+ condition with all original lacing, sharp stampings of Mantle's signature in the pocket and special features such as Heart of the Hide, and a perfect Rawlings label. The glove includes striking companion pieces further enhancing its mystique: a 1964 Sport magazine with an iconic Ozzie Sweet photo of Mantle posing with the spiral web, a vintage 8" x 10" print of the Sweet photo licensed by Mantle's sons (LOA), a different signed 8" x 10" color photo of Mantle wearing it (PSA/DNA LOA), and a copy of an article from the Rawlings Catalog Source Book detailing the XPGH's history.

MIN BID $750
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