Mickey Mantle is one of the most revered figures in sports and this summer a piece of equipment that was reportedly his will hit the auction block in the form of a corked bat.
According to the NY Post, the bat, which is reportedly the first known doctored bat for the Yankees legend, will be auctioned by Grey Flannel Auctions and the the Hillerich & Bradsby Co. bat was looked at by PSA/DNA authenticator John Taube. The bat was confirmed to have alterations and the x-ray of the bat showed that it was corked.
The bat is covered in pine tar on the handle and Mantle is not the first major leaguer to have one, as Sammy Sosa was caught with one in a game that he said was used during batting practice.
"This is the first corked bat of Mantle that we have seen or heard of," Taube wrote in his report.
