The Antiques Roadshow appraiser was stunned to see a historic baseball bat used by none other than Yankees legend Mickey Mantle.
The appraiser called Mickey Mantle’s 1963 bat “one of the coolest things” he’s ever seen on the Antiques Roadshow and estimated its auction value at a whopping $75,000. In 2009, it was worth $35,000.
The bat arrived along with an autographed photograph, news clips and documentation highlighting the touching story.
Nancy, the bat’s owner, said it all started when she was just eight years old and tried out for the Little League team by pretending to be a boy, since girls were not allowed at the time.
“I went to try out for Little League and they had a Yankee hitter contest. Well, the girls couldn’t participate, so I made up a name, I put it Jimmy Lotze,’ he told the appraiser.
The appraiser (left) was stunned and said it was one of the best items he had ever seen on the show.
The appraiser called Mickey Mantle’s 1963 bat “one of the coolest things” he’s ever seen on the Antiques Roadshow and estimated its auction value at a whopping $75,000.
‘So when they called my house, my mother answered the phone. They said, ‘Oh, your son Jimmy just won the Yankee bat boy contest,’ and my mother started laughing. She said, ‘Well, I don’t have a son, Jimmy, but he’s my daughter, Nancy.’
But upon hearing about the mix-up, organizers were delighted with Nancy’s enthusiasm and dubbed her the honorary ‘bat girl.’
When asked who his favorite Yankee was, he was quick to name Mickey Mantle, setting the stage for the sweet friendship to develop.
“So when they found out, they said, ‘Wow, we have to do this.'” You know, make her the honorary bat girl. Then they said to me, ‘Who’s your favorite Yankee?’ And I said, ‘Oh, Mickey Mantle.’ And she just so happened to have Mickey Mantle come talk to me.
She told how Mantle himself gave her the prized bat after hitting a home run in her honor.
“I asked him, ‘Oh, Mickey, can you hit a run, a home run for me?’ Nancy said.
The appraiser was stunned.
Nancy still has the bat along with an autographed photo, news clips and documentation highlighting the touching story.
Nancy, the owner of the bat, said it all started when she was just eight years old and tried out for the Little League team posing as a boy, since girls were not allowed at that time (she is pictured on the left next to the Yankees legend). Mickey mantle)
Mantle went all out and sent her an autographed photo addressed to “To Nancy, the cutest bat boy we’ve ever had.” Your friend, Mickey Mantle,” which arrived in his mailbox weeks later.
“He said, ‘Well, I can’t promise you anything.'” I said, ‘Okay!’ And he hit a home run and came up to me. He said, “Here you go, Nancy, here’s my bat.”
Shortly after, Mantle went all out and sent her an autographed photo addressed “To Nancy, the cutest bat boy we’ve ever had.” Your friend, Mickey Mantle,” which arrived in his mailbox weeks later.
There’s even a photo of Nancy giving Mantle a kiss on the cheek in the papers. Life magazine also did an article on her at the time.
The appraiser, who was stunned by the story, said, “It’s incredible.” He was so excited to see this, it’s such a wonderful story. This happened in 1963.’
‘You really can’t get a better bat than this. A home run bat, this kind of documentation,’ he said.