Mickey Mantle’s “Corked” Bat Pulled From Auction, Family Outraged at Claims

Baseball didn’t just create legends, it created Gods among mere mortals but some mortals are attempting to storm the gates and take a God down. Earlier this month Mickey Mantle made headlines when a bat supposedly belonging to him went up for auction — only this bat was unique in that it was reportedly corked.

Corking your bat, to those who don’t know, means cork is inserted into the barrel of the bat to give the ball more pop and bounce when it’s hit on the sweet spot. It essentially makes the baseball into a rubber ball that soars when hit, and it’s very illegal. Some may remember the last shreds of Sammy Sosa’a dignity were scattered all over Wrigley Field when his corked bat shattered, thus busting him as a corker among other things.

But the revelation that Mantle corked his bat would be devastating to not only Yankees fans but baseball fans everywhere as it would reveal one of the greatest players ever to be a cheat. So, understandably, Mantle’s surviving family is outraged at the claim this bat belonged to their father and are seeking legal action to get it off the market.

Mantle’s family issued a statement on Monday condemning the item and defending their father’s legendary status.

"“Let us be clear: Dad didn’t need and never used a corked bat. Mickey Mantle was honest about the way he played the game that he loved and to which he devoted his professional life. He was one of the best who ever played the game because of his natural talents and abilities – and his heart. Our Dad’s legacy must be protected and the injury to his reputation must be corrected – he does not deserve to be the subject of these outrageous fabrications.”"

The Mantle’s sought legal action and the bat has since been taken off the auction block, although the site apparently did so very quietly and haven’t responded to claims of it’s authenticity or requests for forensic testing.

Mantle’s bat becoming the center of an auction controversy comes on the heels of Kobe Bryant’s auction controversy where he is trying to block his mother from selling items from his childhood and is also using legal action to do so.

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