Presented is a 1956 Mickey Mantle signed and inscribed ("No.7") Sports Illustrated magazine. A portrait color photograph of the Hall of Fame center fielder, in New York Yankees cap and pinstripes, is on the cover of the June 18th issue. Mantle had an incredible year in '56. In leading the Yankees to yet another World Championship, Mantle tore up American League pitching, winning the Triple Crown and the AL MVP. In '56, Mantle led the AL in batting average (.353), home runs (52), RBIs (130), runs (132), slugging (.705) and OPS (1.169). This '56 year was Mickey Mantle at his peak, and the cover photo is an outstanding shot that captures Mantle's youth. Mantle raced Roger Maris in 1961 as the Yankee teammates competed to pass Ruth's single-season home run record of 60. Mantle was neck-and-neck with Maris, his friend, in that historic home run race in '61, but Mickey missed games because of an abscess and fell short. Mantle's lifetime home run total of 536 is still the highest home run total of any switch-hitter in history. The offered signed and inscribed Sports Illustrated measures 8.3x11.5" and has 76 pages. There is a four-page story by Robert Creamer on Mantle, called "The Mantle of the Babe" and a second Mantle story, titled "Breakfast With Mickey" by Joan Flynn Dreyspool, a page long. The magazine shows slight wear and some crinkling along the spine, corners, and page edge, with a few minor stains on the cover and some minor darkening, corner wear, and very small stains in a few other areas. but overall, even with some imperfections, the magazine is in very good condition. Mantle exhibited his usual beautiful handwriting as he scripted a big and bold signature and a neatly written inscription of "No. 7". The offering comes with a PSA/DNA Letter of Grading and Authenticity (Certification Number: AO07210) that certifies the signature as Authentic and grades the autograph as 9.