In 2008, we auctioned what was at that time the only known ticket stub depicting Mantle printed in conjunction with any U.S. Tour of Japan. That ticket realized $1,099. The ticket was issued by the Mainichi Newspaper, and was awarded to a lucky reader. As such, it had no printed ticket price. It was also in Fair to Good condition with writing on the back. Eight years later, we have finally found another ticket to the same 1953 Ed Lopat Tour of Japan game. This one is better in every way. This example is a regular game ticket, and not a contest winner. It is in far better condition than the previous example and does not have handwriting on the back Moreover, the ticket auctioned in 2008 was blank backed. On the back of this recently discovered ticket, printed in Japanese, is a roster of the 1953 Major League All Star Team scheduled to play Japan's best. Names printed on the ticket include Tour participants Bob Lemon, Robin Roberts, Yogi Berra, Nellie Fox, Eddie Mathews, Enos Slaughter, etc. Intriguingly, the names of Mickey Mantle, Warren Spahn and Pee Wee Reese also appear. These players were not part of the Tour which raises the question of whether they were originally scheduled to be part of the team. It is also quite unusual that while Mickey Mantle did not participate in this Tour, he is prominently featured on the ticket!  This is a truly rare item which would be at home in the collection of any Mantle fan. The game was played on October 31, 1953 at Nishinomiya Stadium near Osaka, with the Lopat All Stars winning by a score of 7-3.

Size: 4 5/8" x 2 1/8"

Condition: Would be Ex/Mt except for a vertical crease.