I wish I still had - or could remember the name of an autograph book I use to own.

Mantle did actually use to sign with more pointed 'M' s (not as dramatic as this) and was 'trained' to sign the 'looping' signature by his secretary for a couple of reasons:

1) He had so many requests for autos that his regular auto took too long so she created the 'looping' sig

2) He had to learn how to do it so his 'in person' sig didn't vary so much from his 'ttm' sig.

The book I had included and entire chapter just on Mantle's sig because of his popularity... in fact, his facsimile sig on some of his earlier cards is how he originally signed like the image below:



I have only seen a couple of legitimate ones like that though.

If you decide to sell the ball, I might be interested as I collect vintage/older baseballs (with or without sigs)...

- Chris