Displayed is a unique offering: An Official American League Ball (Harridge) signed by Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and all six umpires for the 1951 World Series. The '51 Series was a "Subway Series," when the New York Yankees and the New York Giants fought for the World Championship. Mays and Mantle were both rookies in '51. In that season, Mays took over center field for the Giants and became the National League's Rookie of the Year. Mantle played mostly in right field for the Yankees, in deference to Joe DiMaggio, who was still in center field. In Game 2, in the 5th inning, Willie Mays hit a soft fly to right center field. Normally, a center fielder has precedence over the other outfielders, but Yankee manager Casey Stengel had told right fielder Mantle, "Go for everything." Mantle and DiMaggio almost collided. DiMaggio called, "I got it." Mantle tried to stop running, and he caught his cleats on an outfield drain, severely spraining his right knee and tearing cartilage. The incident connected Mantle, DiMaggio, and Mays - three Hall of Fame center fielders on New York teams. The Yankees went on to win the '51 Series in six games.

Willie Mays signed the ball on a side panel, crafting his unusual, flowing signature in black ink. The Mays auto is under signatures of two of that year's World Series umpires, Johnny Stevens and Artie Gore, both signing in blue ink. Mantle signed the ball on a side panel, close to no other signatures. Mantle's beautiful penmanship is on display as he signed in blue ink. Hall of Fame umpire Al Barlick signed in blue ink on a side panel, under the writing of an unknown person, writing in blue ink, who scripted "World Series Umpires 1951." Umpires Lee Ballanfant and Bill Summers signed in blue ink on another side panel. Umpire Joe Paparella signed in blue ink on the sweet spot, but his signature is very light and faded, with both his first name and the beginning of his last name very faint. The ball has moderately darkened from the passage of time. The signed ball comes with a PSA LOA for the signatures. The signed ball, linking Mays and Mantle through their signatures, plus the autographs of the complete umpiring crew, makes an unusual remembrance for a memorable Fall Classic.

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