Mickey Mantle Corked Yankee Baselball Bat For Auction; Doctored Memorabilia Hits The Auction Block[VIDEO]

A corked bat reportedly swung by Yankees Mickey Mantle during a Yankees game is hitting the auction block.  It is Mickey's first known corked and doctored bat.

Grey Flannel Auctions is auctioning off the Hillerich & Bradsby Co. used by tMickey Mantle himself. It was studied by PSA/DNA authenticator John Taube, whom noticed alterations at the top of the bat's barrel, and X-rays showed that the barrel had been drilled and filled with cork.

"This is the first corked bat of Mantle that we have seen or heard of," Taube wrote in his report.

Doctoring a bat is illegal on the baseball field.  Players have been known to add cork and other substances to bats to improve swing speed in hope of adding extra power.  Corking a bat is like taking steroids; not allowed and takes awayfrom the integrity of America's oldest pastime. Fans are disappointed by the revelation. But people are still lining up to purchase the Yankee memorabilia. Seems like lots of players cheat at baseball:

Cubs star Sammy Sosa was suspended for eight games in 2003 after his bat shattered during a game, sending pieces of cork flying. Busted!

Last month, a bat used by Pete Rose bat also featured a hidden cork panel sold for $8,000 at auction.

Mantle slugged 536 home runs during his Hall of Fame career with the Yankees, helping the team win seven World Series championships.

Should we take back the trophies or let the deception go? I think we'll let Mantle get away with it. He'll always be a baseball legend, no matter what he hid in his bat.