2002 SP Babe Ruth Mickey Mantle Joe DiMaggio Ken Griffey Jr. Sammy Sosa, Mark Mcgwire cut auto 1/1

There has never been a 6 player auto cut card produced. Not just of this group, but any group of six! There have been six player autos with stickers of active players, but never 6 cuts let alone the significance of this group. There has been a nine player plaque produced, and 5 player cuts, but not a card sized 6 cut.

Mantle, Ruth, and DiMaggio have appeared on a cut card only once before or since. It was the 2004 Yankees Classics Scripts Quad. Sosa, McGwire, and Griffey have only appeared three times on an auto card together, including this one.

The chances of these six ever being on a card together again is slim to none. How can we say that? With player exclusives, card companies are limited with who they can use, season to season. They might have 4 of the six guys this season, and a different mix of 5 the next season. For UD or Topps to hold rights for all six of these guys, at one time, is very rare.

This card shows one of the earliest know versions of Mickey Mantle signature. It appears to have been signed in the early 1950's. Note the less familiar "M" style that changed soon after. While Mantle signatures as a whole are not hard to find. This version is! Few cuts have been issued on cards with this style signature. You can compare this signature favorably with the one on his original Yankee contract! Could this be a 1951 signature? If not, it's very close.