Geppi's Memorabilia Road Show had a late addition to its catalog for the auction that ends Sept. 12. Cleats that Phil Rizzuto says he received from Mickey Mantle in Mantle's rookie season have been added to the auction. Rizzuto says he knows it was 1951 when he received the shoes because they were a gift related to the birth of his son, but authenticators didn't find rock-solid empirical evidence.
Said John Snyder, executive VP of Geppi's Memorabilia Road Show, "Authenticators reported back to us that there was not enough to substantiate that these came from Mantle's rookie season. Absent that, we believe that the word of Phil Rizzuto is honor enough for this great item, and a letter of authenticity from Phil accompanies the shoes."
The auction estimate is $40,000-$60,000. The auction house's website is www.gmrs.com.
