HINTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Robert Ray Brown, a Hinton resident and lifelong baseball fan, is looking to sell a rare signed Mickey Mantle painting — not for profit, but to bring a dream to life.
Brown first acquired the limited-edition print in 1989 while living in Sarasota, Florida.
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The artwork, one of only 1,000 ever made, features legendary New York Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle in various poses wearing his iconic pinstripes, along with the years he played for the team.
Brown was able to get the print signed by Mantle himself in 1990.
Now, decades later, Brown is ready to part with the treasured memorabilia — but only to help fund the construction of a “Field of Dreams.”
“I’ve had the painting since 1989. Mickey signed it in 1990 down in Sarasota,” Brown said.
His connection to Mantle runs deep.
Brown met the Yankees legend when he was just 12 years old in 1961 during a special game the team played in St. Louis for the Boys Clubs of America. After the game, Brown and the other kids had the chance to meet the team.
“Mickey was always my hero for baseball. And Roger Maris also — he had 61 home runs in 1961. I was amazed,” Brown recalled.
“And then that same year, I pitched what they told me had never been done in the name of baseball. In Little League, I pitched a game — seven innings — and no one hit a foul ball. I threw all strikes for the whole game.”
Brown’s baseball story didn’t stop in childhood.
After moving to Florida in 1981, he spent years immersed in the spring training scene, watching teams like the White Sox, Rangers, and Pirates, and even meeting stars like Frank Thomas and Michael Jordan during their stints with the White Sox.
Brown believes that the spirit of the game, and the inspiration it offers, can take root through a proper baseball field.
While he hasn’t specified the exact location for the proposed “Field of Dreams,” his goal is clear: sell the Mickey Mantle print and use the proceeds to create a lasting baseball legacy for future generations.
Brown says he would like to sell the painting to Hollywood actor Kevin Costner — star of the 1989 Field of Dreams film.
Even if Costner isn’t interested, Brown is hopeful the painting will find a home with someone who appreciates its history and purpose.
“I just want it to go to the right person, and I want to do something good with the money,” he said.
