How History Unfolds on Paper: Important Americana from the Eric C. Caren Collection, Part X

The Southwestern
Joplin, Missouri, Friday, March 30, 1951. Vol. 17, No. 6. Printed newspaper. Folio. 4 pp. Creased from original fold. Toned.

On the cusp of entering the majors to play for the New York Yankees, a young Mickey Mantle is profiled here in Joplin, Missouri's hometown newspaper. Featuring a front-page, above-the-fold, image of young Mick, the earliest front-page newspaper image of the baseball legend and Hall of Famer, followed by four columns dedicated to the rising star.

Named after the Yankee legend Mickey Cochrane, Mickey Mantle's upbringing is described within as being "steeped in Yankee lore." The paper notes that his formal baseball education started as soon as he could lift a bat and throw a ball, creating a year-round atmosphere of baseball heavily infused with "Yankeeism." Mantle began his professional career in 1948 in Kansas with the Baxter Springs Whiz Kids. His talent was quickly spotted by Yankees scout Tom Greenwade, leading to a rapid promotion to the minor leagues. In 1949, he was assigned to the Yankees' Class-D Independence team in the Kansas–Oklahoma–Missouri League, where he played shortstop and posted a .313 batting average. The following year, he was promoted to the Class-C Joplin Miners of the Western Association. As depicted in the accompanying image from the 1950 spring training in Branson, Mantle excelled in Joplin, winning the Western Association batting title with a .383 average. Recognized as "baseball's most publicized rookie," Mantle was invited to the Yankees' instructional camp prior to the 1951 season. He subsequently joined the major league roster that year, playing right field. As the lengthy profile concludes, "We predict that the young, hopeful ballplayers of America are going to have a fine hero to pattern after."

Exceedingly rare: According to RBH, we cannot locate another copy of this paper at auction, and it is perhaps the only obtainable copy in private hands.

Together with:

The Sporting News The Base Ball Paper of the World
St. Louis, April 25, 1951. Volume 131, Number 12. Folio. 37, (3) pp. Toned; wear along edges; closed tear traversing center of pp. 3/4.

Featuring an early cover illustration of Mantle as a young Yankees rookie, dated only four weeks after the above paper.

Together with:

The Sporting News The Base Ball Paper of the World
St. Louis, January 31. 1951. Volume 130, Number 26. Folio. 26, (2) pp. Toned; foxing and wear along edges.

On p. 5 is an early report on Mantle: "Yanks to Take Early Look at Mantle, Rated Top Prospect in Minors at 19".