09/02/2026
The first-ever dual auto has a mystery behind it 👀
Before pack-pulled certified autographed cards became a regular staple in the trading card industry, Upper Deck had the foresight to put together a dual signature card that remains one the most recognizable cards from the 1990s. The 1994 Upper Deck Mickey Mantle/Ken Griffey Jr. dual autograph features hard-signed signatures from two of the most notable five-tool players to ever patrol centerfield, putting 1,116 career home runs, eight American League home run titles, and 33 All-Star selections onto one power-packed card. Upper Deck had perfect timing with the release, as Mantle tragically passed away in 1995 at age 63, leaving this card as one of the few hard-signed certified autograph cards that feature him.
Both players penned their names in black over an artistic likeness painted by Jody Eastman, and Upper Deck produced 1,000 cards that showcased both players’ signatures (as well as 1,000 with only Mantle’s signature and 1,000 with only Griffey’s signature) and seeded them into Series 1 packs. Due to the borderless design of Eastman’s beautiful artwork, examples of the card often show chipping along the edges, so collectors rarely find high-grade offerings.
