Corked Mantle Bat Up For Auction

The New York Post reported that a Mickey Mantle owned bat is up for bidding by Grey Flannel Auctions. Memorabilia authenticator John Taube examined the bat and found the top was altered. An X-Ray showed the bat had been corked.

Here's my issue with this right off the bat - where is the proof that a.) the bat actually was one of Mantle's and b) how do they know the bat was actually ever used in a Major League baseball game?

The Mick was never known to use an illegally altered bat and no bat of his that was previously sold was tampered with.

I am not dismissing the possibility that it could have happened - Mickey was an imperfect man - but this sounds like a good way to drum up publicity to me.