The Antiques Roadshow appraiser was amazed by a historic baseball bat used by none other than Yankees legend Mickey Mantle.
The appraiser called the 1963 Mickey Mantle bat “one of the best things” he’s ever seen on the Antiques Roadshow – and estimated its auction value at as much as $75,000. In 2009 it was worth $35,000.
The bat came along with a signed photo, news clips and documentation highlighting the heartwarming story.
Nancy, the bat’s owner, said it all started when she was just eight years old, playing for the Little League team and pretending to be a boy – since girls weren’t allowed at the time.
“I went to try out for Little League and there was a Yankee Bat Boy game. Well, girls couldn’t participate, so I made up a name, I put Jimmy Lotze in it,” she told the appraiser.
The appraiser (left) was stunned and said it was one of the best items he has ever seen on the show
The appraiser called the 1963 Mickey Mantle bat “one of the best things” he’s ever seen on Antiques Roadshow and estimated its auction value at as much as $75,000.
“So when they called my house, my mom answered the phone. They said, “Oh, your son Jimmy just won the Yankee Bat Boy contest,” and my mom started laughing. She said, “Well, I don’t have a son, Jimmy, but he’s my daughter, Nancy.”
But when organizers heard of the mix-up, they were charmed by Nancy’s enthusiasm and named her the honorary “bat girl.”
When asked her favorite Yankee, she quickly named Mickey Mantle, paving the way for the sweet friendship.
“So when they found out, they said, ‘Wow, we have to do this.’ You know, make her the honorary bat girl.” So they said to me, ‘Who’s your favorite Yankee?’ And I said, ‘Oh, Mickey Mantle.’ And Mickey Mantle happened to come and talk to me.”
She told how Mantle himself gave her the prized bat after hitting a home run in her honor.
“I had asked him, ‘Oh, Mickey, can you make a run, a home run for me?’ Nancy said.
The appraiser was left stunned.
Nancy still has the bat, along with an autographed photo, news clips and documentation highlighting the heartwarming story
Nancy, the owner of the bat, said it all came down to it when she was just eight years old and played for the Little League team and pretended to be a boy – because girls weren’t allowed back then (she’s pictured on the left alongside Yankee legend Mickey Mantel)
Mantle went above and beyond and sent her an autographed photo with the caption “To Nancy, the cutest bat boy we ever had.” Your friend, Mickey Mantle,” which arrived in her mailbox weeks later
“He said, ‘Well, I can’t promise you anything.’ I said, ‘That’s okay!’ And he hit a home run and came to me. He said, “Here, Nancy, here’s my bat.”
Soon after, Mantle went above and beyond and sent her an autographed photo with the caption “To Nancy, the cutest bat boy we ever had.” Your friend, Mickey Mantle,” which arrived in her mailbox weeks later.
There’s even a photo in the newspaper of Nancy giving Mantle a kiss on the cheek. Life magazine also did a story about her at the time.
The appraiser, who was stunned by the story, said: ‘It’s unbelievable. I was so excited to see this, this is such a beautiful 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.