Auction handler: Great treasures of Mantle's career
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Arlan Ettinger
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(CNN) -- Some of the most cherished items of legendary baseball player Mickey Mantle will be auctioned off Monday at Madison Square Garden in New York. Mantle's family wants to raise money for his grandchildren by selling, among other objects, Mantle's MVP trophies, home run baseballs, gloves and playing contracts.
CNN anchor Jim Moret spoke Sunday with Arlan Ettinger, president of Guernsey's Auction House, which is handling the Mantle auction.
MORET: For folks like me, who are not avid sports fans, the name Mickey Mantle still has come to represent the best in American sports. What, in your view, is the significance of this auction?
ETTINGER: Mickey was an icon it seems like no other. Much more than a baseball player. People from every corner seemed to just love him and respect him. It doesn't matter today if you are 70 or 17. The reaction we're getting is overwhelming.
A true American icon. And what we have here are truly the great treasures of his career.
MORET: Let's look at a couple of [the items] now. The 1962 MVP award, it's a beautiful trophy. Mickey Mantle won three of these. And in the past, these trophies have gone for as much as $170,000 from other players. What is your guesstimation of the value of these trophies?
ETTINGER: You know, an auction is a very unpredictable type of event. And there are many items in this sale that will go for a thousand or a few thousand dollars. But the MVP trophies are clearly special.
Could they bring $200,000, $300,000 or more? Your guess is as good as mine.
MORET: We have the 1956 batting award. That was the Babe Ruth Sultan of Swat Award. Talk about the significance of the award and the significance in the auction.
ETTINGER: This was the first time that award was ever granted back in '56 at a banquet to honor the Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital. It was one of Mickey's greatest treasures, brought him great joy. There are many, many photographs of Mickey jauntily wearing that crown. And again, we're honored to have it.
MORET: We have seen fans in stands go crazy fighting for an errant ball that is hit. And there is a Mantle playing ball that is included in this auction. Is there more sentimental value or is there intrinsic value in a playing ball?
ETTINGER: Well, we have roughly 50 baseballs in the sale, some of which denote Mickey's home run accomplishments. Others are very touching in that a ball written by Roger Maris to Mick says, "Mick, you were the greatest, love them all -- buds (ph) always, Roger." And another one from Joe DiMaggio, "Mick, you did the Yankees proud."
So these balls mean different things depending on which one you buy.
MORET: And there is perhaps nothing more personal to a baseball player than his glove. A previous glove owned by Mickey Mantle went for $250,000. Your guesstimation is this particular glove you are auctioning is worth more. Why?
ETTINGER: Well, we have four gloves, but the one that you are referring to was used during the heart of Mickey's career in 1962 and '63. We have been told by the Rollings Company that made the glove this was an absolute custom made glove with many modifications, and the one that is most well remembered.
MORET: Now, these items are obviously very expensive. You have some 300 items, I understand, up for auction. What about the average person who may want to get a piece of memorabilia? How and where would they go about that?
ETTINGER: Well, thank goodness the storm is gone, the streets are clear. The sun is coming out. And tomorrow is the auction, Monday in two sessions, at 2:00 in the afternoon and 7:00. If you can't be here in New York, by calling Guernsey's, we can arrange for telephone bidding, fax bidding. Half the auction is on eBay live. So if one goes simply to guernseys.com, one can find out how to do it. And if there's a will, there's certainly a way.
MORET: And we did hear one of the reasons perhaps for this auction is to raise money for Mickey Mantle's grandchildren to attend college. In your best guesstimate, that should not be a problem based on what you hope to bring in?
ETTINGER: I don't think so. ...This has been a moving experience, a difficult experience for the Mantles. I know in going through some of the items, particularly items from Mickey's early days with Merlyn back in Commerce, Oklahoma, it's brought back many memories for them. And the motives for doing this sale are the purest of all, the care for Mickey's grandchildren.
