The Value of a 1967 Mickey Mantle Beer Stein

The Ballplayer

• Mickey Mantle, from Commerce, Oklahoma, was discovered by a Yankees scout in 1948, and first played for the major leagues in 1951. During his 18 years with the Yankees, he led the team to seven world championships. He holds the record for the most World Series home runs ̵2; 18 ̵2; and was named to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. He died in 1995.

The Year

• A significant year in Mickey Mantle's career, 1967 was when he hit his 500th career home run, on May 14. His last home run, number 536, and his last game, versus the Red Sox on September 28, came the following year.

The Memorabilia

• Mickey Mantle's baseball cards are "highly sought by collectors," according to Collectors Weekly, but other collectibles ̵2; a 1950s board game, bottle caps, books, vinyl records, photographs, personal autographs, even a 1970 endorsement for a TV remote control, and, of course, balls and bats signed by "The Mick" ̵2; remain popular. In 1999, actor and Mantle fan Billy Crystal ̵2; who in 2001 directed "61," a movie about the ballplayer ̵2; paid more than $200,000 for a 1960 glove made by Rawlings for Mantle.

The Stein

• Beer stein collectors have their own collector sites, including those for baseball teams and heroes. Many steins were made as collector̵7;s series, such as one by the Danbury Mint in 2004. The ceramic stein features the New York Yankees' dark blue logo. A 1996 lidded stein was made by Longton Crown. Various steins featuring Yankee players were advertised for less than $100 on beer-steins.com.

Bottom Line

• The value of a 1967 Mickey Mantle beer stein likely depends on whether it is an original 1960s collectible or a more recent commemorative. In addition, the price of any collectible depends on the rarity and condition. Best bet: Take photos of your mug, and check with an appraiser or an online site such as Heritage Auctions, which has a free "What's It Worth?" feature. Heritage Auctions' site cautions that many such items are manufactured collectibles, likely valuable only to fans who love them. On eBay, steins were advertised recently from 99 cents to $39.95.