Vintage New York Yankees Batting Helmet

We think it is safe to say this piece is one-of-a-kind. Certainly we have not seen anything like it before. It is signed by both Mantle and DiMaggio, both of whom generally refused to put their names on any piece of memorabilia other than baseballs and photographs. Moreover, DiMaggio’s aversion to lending his name to anything Mantle previously had signed is common knowledge within the hobby.

The Yankee Clipper believed that once he added his name to a Mantle-signed item, that piece of memorabilia would be worth exponentially more in value. That is something he simply could not allow, the upshot being that he was not properly compensated vis a vis the item’s new value on the open market. Yes, Joltin Joe was a shrewd businessman….and a bit, shall we say, parsimonious at that.

Autographed by 10 Yankees who are enshrined in the Hall of Fame, they are as follows: Mantle and DiMaggio ; Yogi Berra ; Lefty Gomez (d.1989); Bill Dickey (d.1993); Joe Sewell (d.1990); Phil Rizzuto; Whitey Ford; Reggie Jackson; and Johnny Mize (d.1993). Two others have also signed: Gene Woodling (d.2001) and Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm (d.2002), bringing the total to 13 signers, all in silver Sharpie pen. The contrast against the navy-blue background of the helmet is excellent.

Accompanied by the all-important Letter of Authenticity from the JSA Company, the hobby’s preeminent third party authentication service.