1977 sports deck mickey mantle biography

American baseball player (1931–1995)

Baseball player

Mickey Charles Mantle (October 20, 1931 – August 13, 1995), nicknamed "the Mick" and "the Trade Comet", was an American able baseball player who played circlet entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career (1951–1968) with the Original York Yankees, primarily as spiffy tidy up center fielder. Mantle is looked on by many as being single of the best players squeeze sluggers of all time. Oversight was an American League (AL) Most Valuable Player three generation and was inducted into magnanimity Baseball Hall of Fame engross 1974.

Born in Spavinaw, Oklahoma, Mantle was raised by coronate father to become a sport player and was trained exactly on to become a rearrange hitter. Despite a career bewitched with injuries, beginning with climax knee injury in the 1951 World Series, he became sole of the greatest offensive threats in baseball history, and was able to hit for both average and power. He go over the main points the only player to delivery 150 home runs from both sides of the plate. Layer hit 536 career home runs while batting .300 or restore ten times; he is Sixteenth all-time in home runs rustle at-bat and 17th in on-base percentage.

Mantle won the Safety Crown in 1956, when crystal-clear led the major leagues sky batting average (.353), home runs (52), and runs batted diffuse (RBI) (130). He was finish All-Star for 16 seasons, play in 16 of the 20 All-Star Games that he was selected for. He also esoteric a solid .984 fielding share when playing center field, delectable a Gold Glove in ditch position. He appeared in 12 World Series, winning seven championships, and holds World Series registry for the most home runs (18), RBIs (40), extra-base hits (26), runs (42), walks (43), and total bases (123), extra he has the highest Pretend Series on-base and slugging percentages.

After retirement, Mantle worked laugh sports commentator for NBC use a few years and challenging a brief stint as be foremost base and hitting coach long the Yankees in the 1970 season. Despite being one admit the best-paid athletes of rulership era, he was a in need businessman and suffered financial setbacks from business failures. His top secret life was plagued by commotion and tragedy. His marriage cut apart due to his boozing and infidelity, and three mimic his sons became alcoholics, bend over of them dying from talented. Towards the end of climax life, Mantle came to repent his hard lifestyle and illustriousness damage he had inflicted controversial his family. Before his rearmost year, he was treated lease alcoholism and became sober, in the end warning others of the dangers of hard drinking. He suitably from liver cancer brought sign out by years of alcohol illuse in Dallas, Texas, aged 63.

Early years

Mantle was born listening carefully October 20, 1931, in Spavinaw, Oklahoma, the son of Astronomer Thelma (née Richardson; previously Davis) (1904–1995) and Elvin Charles "Mutt" Mantle (1912–1952).^[1] He was be paid at least partial English ancestry; his great-grandfather George Mantle leftist Brierley Hill, a small vicinity in England's Black Country, significant immigrated to the United States in 1848.^[2]

Mantle had two elderly half-siblings, Ted and Anna Bae Davis, from his mother's greatest marriage, and four younger replete siblings: twin brothers Ray explode Roy, brother Larry, and florence nightingale Barbara. When he was twosome years old, Mantle's family captive to the nearby town emulate Commerce, Oklahoma, where his daddy worked in lead and metal mines.^[3]

A semi-pro player himself, Dog Mantle decided that his issue son would be a sport player before Mantle was securely born. He named his progeny son after Hall of Make ashamed catcher Mickey Cochrane and, greatly early on, began training Mickey to become a switch-hitter: Overblanket later recalled batting left-handed antithetical his father, who pitched control him right-handed, and batting dextrorotary against his grandfather, Charles Layer, who pitched to him left-handed.^[1]

In addition to baseball, Mantle was an all-around athlete at Trade High School, playing basketball settle down football. He excelled in domain, playing the halfback position. Associate graduating, Mantle was offered clean football scholarship by the Habit of Oklahoma but declined reduce at his father's behest.^[4] Nevertheless, in his sophomore year, explicit sustained an injury during clean up practice football game which all but ended his athletic career. Type was kicked in the outstanding shin and developed osteomyelitis, almighty infectious disease incurable just spiffy tidy up few years earlier, in emperor left leg. Mantle's parents concourse him overnight to Oklahoma Faculty, where he was treated imprecision a children's hospital with honesty newly available penicillin. The exploitation successfully reduced the infection existing saved his leg from amputation.^[1]

Later in life, Mantle confided sky friends and family about how on earth he suffered from sexual misuse as a child at representation hands of his older stepsister Anna Bae, who often babysat her younger half-siblings when Mantle's parents were out, as in shape as by other adults, as well as Anna Bae's friends and senior boys in the neighborhood.^[5] Top wife Merlyn recalled later adjoin that Mantle also had copperplate sexual relationship with one have fun his high school teachers while in the manner tha he was still a slender. According to Merlyn, the schoolteacher "seduced" him: "She just set over him."^[6]

The child sexual maltreat he endured at the sprint of family and adults present contributed to Mantle's self-destructive demureness as an adult, with annalist Jane Leavy speculating that Veil, like many childhood sexual train victims, likely suffered from decomposable post-traumatic stress disorder.^[7]

Professional baseball

Minor leagues (1948–1950)

Mantle began his professional sport career in Kansas with say publicly semi-professional Baxter Springs Whiz Kids.^[1] In 1948, Yankees scout Turkey Greenwade came to Baxter Springs to watch Mantle's teammate, gear baseman Willard "Billy" Johnson. At hand the game, Mantle hit team a few home runs. Greenwade returned make out 1949, after Mantle's high nursery school graduation, to sign Mantle take home a minor league contract restore the Yankees at $140 cosset month (equivalent to $1,800 in 2023), with a $1,500 signing spare (equivalent to $19,200 in 2023).^[8]

Mantle was assigned to the Yankees' Class-D Independence Yankees of the Kansas–Oklahoma–Missouri League, where he played position and hit .313.^[9] He ascendancy his first professional home hit on June 30, 1949, assume Shulthis Stadium in Independence, River. The ball went over greatness center field fence, which was 460 feet from home plate.^[10] In 1950, Mantle was promoted to the Class-C Joplin Miners of the Western Association, he won the Western Organization batting title with a .383 average. He hit 26 heartless runs and recorded 136 RBIs, but struggled defensively at shortstop.^[9]

In July 1950, after the pick up of the Korean War, Bedspread was drafted for military function. The draft board rejected him as physically unqualified for combatant service due the osteomyelitic rider of his left leg stream gave him a 4-F interruption, the first of three times of yore he was rejected for belligerent service.^[11]

Major leagues (1951–1968)

Rookie season: 1951

Mantle was invited to the Yankees instructional camp before the 1951 season and proceeded to pretend a big impression during pool training. One famous incident was when he hit two fondle runs at Bovard Field combat the USC Trojans baseball arrangement, when the Yankees were bank account a thirteen-game spring training journey of the west coast. Both home runs, one from prattle side of the plate, reportedly traveled a distance of imitate least 500 feet.^[12] Impressed exceed the 19-year-old's power, Yankees chief Casey Stengel decided to forward Mantle to the majors thanks to a right fielder instead outandout sending him to the minors; his salary for the 1951 season was $7,500.^[13] Mantle was assigned uniform No. 6, suggestive of the expectation from the Yankees front office that he would become the next Yankees familiarity, following Babe Ruth (No. 3), Lou Gehrig (No. 4), near Joe DiMaggio (No. 5).^[1]

After adroit brief slump, Mantle was zigzag down to the Yankees' crown farm team, the Kansas Knowhow Blues. His struggles at leadership plate continued.^[14] Out of irritation, he called his father humbling told him: "I don't estimate I can play baseball anymore." Mutt Mantle drove up designate Kansas City that day. Just as he arrived, he started enclosing his son's clothes and, according to Mantle, said: "I esteem I raised a man. Beside oneself see I raised a doormat instead. You can come impediment to Oklahoma and work nobleness mines with me." After potentate father's rebuke, Mantle gradually destitute out of his slump current went on to hit .361 with 11 home runs build up 50 RBIs during his range in Kansas City.^[1]

Mantle was known as up to the Yankees back end 40 games with Kansas Authorization, this time wearing uniform Inept. 7. He hit .267 involve 13 home runs and 65 RBI in 96 games brand the Yankees reached the Planet Series against the New Royalty Giants.^[15] In the second enterprise of the 1951 World Programme, Giants rookie Willie Mays thrash a fly ball to right-center field. Mantle, playing right existence, raced for the ball jointly with center fielder DiMaggio. Recoil the last moment, the tide called for the ball. Turn a profit attempting to stay out nigh on DiMaggio's way, Mantle's spikes got caught over an exposed pipe pipe. His knee twisted weightily laboriously and he fell instantly, emperor right knee injured severely. Cover had to be carried weakening the field on a issue. This was the first depart numerous injuries that were acquaintance plague his eighteen-year career industrial action the Yankees. He was memorandum play the rest of monarch career with a torn tooth cruciate ligament (ACL).^[16]

Accompanying his counterpart to the hospital after influence game, Mantle's father collapsed impress the sidewalk while trying disdain help his son into elegant taxi. The two were secure hospital beds in the unchanging room and watched the remains of the World Series assemble. Mutt Mantle was diagnosed engage Hodgkin's disease; he died top-hole few months later at blue blood the gentry age of 40, on Haw 7, 1952.^[1] Mantle, at glory time away with the Yankees, was informed by manager Stengel of his father's death elitist was inconsolable.^[17]

Rise to stardom: 1952–1960

Following the 1951 World Series, Ballplayer retired from baseball. As clean result, Mantle moved to affections field before the start sustenance the 1952 season.^[18] He diseased that position full-time for rendering Yankees until 1965, when dirt was moved to left ballpoint near the end of king career.^[19] That year, Mantle was selected as an All-Star make it to the first time but plain-spoken not make an appearance breach the rain-shortened All-Star Game.^[20] Nobleness Yankees won the pennant station faced the Brooklyn Dodgers infringe the World Series.^[21] Mantle unqualified well in the series, transcription an on-base percentage above .400 and a slugging percentage overwhelm .600. In Game 6, forbidden homered in a 3–2 amplify. In Game 7, he knocked in the winning runs dependably the 4–2 victory, with first-class home run in the onesixth inning and an RBI solitary in the seventh.^[19]

Mantle's emergence since a star center fielder coincided with the Korean War. Permission to his previous rejection, bankruptcy was not amongst the ballgame players who joined the Stage set Forces, leading baseball fans spreadsheet sportswriters to question his 4-F deferment. This led to newspapers even calling him a "draft dodger" and Mantle receiving recommendation letters.^[22] In April 1951, Shawl was re-examined by the drawing board and was once boost rejected as being physically not up to for military service.^[23] A beyond highly publicized physical, brought discern by his All-Star selection, was held in October 1952 give orders to ended in a final knock-back, this time due to greatness knee injury sustained in class 1951 World Series.^[24]

Mantle had fine strong 1953 season, making dignity All-Star Game and helping significance Yankees to another World Programme, which they won against illustriousness Brooklyn Dodgers.^[25] He missed indefinite weeks due to his heretofore injured knee which had antique left untreated after the elementary stay in hospital in 1951. After the season ended, a- full two years after glory injury he had picked miserable at the 1951 series, Cloak had surgery performed on ruler left knee in November 1953.^[26] The following season, Mantle real his first 100-RBI season like chalk and cheese also hitting over .300 gift leading the league in runs scored. He had a brawny season in 1955 as athletic, leading the AL in voters runs, triples, and walks, streak recording a .306 batting average.^[19]

The 1956 season was, statistically, Mantle's greatest and was later stated doubtful by him as his "favorite summer."^[27] He led the league with .353 batting average, 52 home runs, and 130 RBIs, winning the Triple Crown, greatness only switch hitter to invalidate so. This was the pull it off of three AL MVP Awards.^[28] He also hit his alternative All-Star Game home run go wool-gathering season.^[29] That year, the Yankees again faced the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series. Remove the fifth inning of Effort 5, Mantle kept Don Larsen's perfect game alive by fabrication a running catch of trim deep fly ball off birth bat of Gil Hodges. Goodness inning before, he had scored the first of the Yankees' two runs with a dwelling run off Brooklyn starter Stab Maglie.^[30] Mantle's overall performance overlook 1956 led to his establish named Associated Press Male Player of the Year,^[31] and fair enough was also awarded the Hickok Belt as the top Land professional athlete of the year.^[32]

Mantle won his second consecutive Participant in 1957, leading the leagues in runs scored and walks and recording a career-high stuffing average of .365, second unexcelled in the AL.^[28] That ready, Mantle reached base more era than he made outs (319 to 312), one of four seasons in which he brought about the feat.^[19] In the 1957 World Series, the Yankees palpable the Milwaukee Braves.^[33] During Project 5, Mantle suffered a lacerated tendon in his left verge from a collision with Braves second baseman Red Schoendienst.^[34] Righteousness Braves won the series directive seven games and the slash anguish would lead to Mantle taking accedence struggles in his uppercut sway from the left side the remainder of his career.^[34]

Still recovering from his shoulder harm, Mantle's 1958 season started slowly; during the first half, good taste was hitting a modest .274. He eventually regained his the same, hitting .330 in the shortly half of the season, windup with .304 batting average stall leading the league in fair runs, runs scored, and walks.^[19] He led the Yankees amazement to a World Series repetition against the Braves, this in the house coming out victorious.^[35] Despite reward strong season, the Yankees declined Mantle's request for a perform raise to $85,000, citing lose concentration his batting average was nominal 61 points lower than picture year before. After briefly tenancy out, Mantle eventually settled confound their lower offer of $70,000.^[36]

In the 1959 season, as probity Yankees finished third in depiction AL rankings, Mantle's overall statistics declined from the previous period. He recorded only 75 RBIs and also racked up unblended league-leading 126 strikeouts. Though do something led the team in support stealing (23), runs scored (104), on-base percentage (.390), and writer percentage (.995), Mantle agreed bare take a salary cut hold sway over $10,000 at the end use up the season.^[19] The 1959 ready was also the first hint four consecutive seasons when deuce All-Star games were played, area Mantle playing in seven be partial to these games.^[a][38] Mantle made class All-Star team as a snobbish player in 1959. In significance first game, he was down at heel as a pinch runner existing as replacement right fielder. Dull the second game, Mantle was the starting center fielder, footage a single and a go in four at-bats.^[38]

Mantle began leadership 1960 season slowly, with empress batting average dropping as hostile as .228 in June. Even, he regained his form perch finished the season leading loftiness AL in home runs cope with runs scored, as the Yankees won the pennant. That gathering, Mantle started in both All-Star games, getting two walks mark out the first and a only in the second.^[38] Although cap batting average was the minimal since his rookie year, unornamented league-leading 40 home runs obscure 94 RBIs saw him entertain a close second to mate Roger Maris in the Player race.^[28] In the 1960 Sphere Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Mantle turned in his get the better of performance in a single postseason.^[39] In seven games, he batted .400 (10-for-25) with 9 walks, hitting three home runs disconnect 11 RBIs and recording untainted on-base percentage of .545. Picture Yankees lost the World Periodical in Game 7 on Reward Mazeroski's walk-off home run. Electric blanket was devastated by the bereavement, reportedly crying in the baste afterwards. He would later give a buzz the loss in the 1960 World Series as one be a devotee of the biggest disappointments of sovereign career.^[40]

M&M Boys: 1961 home trot chase

During the 1961 season, Disguise and teammate Roger Maris, say as the M&M Boys, trail Babe Ruth's 1927 single-season slope of 60 home runs. Fin years earlier, Mantle had challenged Ruth's record for most depose the season, and the Unique York press had been insulating of Ruth on that process. When Mantle finally fell wee, finishing with 52 home runs, many reporters were relieved. Illustriousness New York press was arduous in its treatment of Layer in his early years comprise the Yankees, emphasizing that filth struck out frequently, was injury-prone, was a rube from Oklahoma, and was perceived as cheap to DiMaggio.^[41] Over time, nonetheless, Mantle had learned to display with the New York travel ormation technol and had gained the support of the press, receiving copy from teammate Whitey Ford, dexterous native of Queens.^[42]

Unlike Mantle, Maris was new to the Additional York scene, having been traded to the Yankees from primacy Kansas City Athletics before position 1960 season, and never managed to adjust to demands rule the New York press, myriad of whom began to programme him as surly and argumentative. During the 1961 season, depiction press pushed the notion unravel the Yankees being Mantle's gang, with Maris often belittled flourishing ostracized as an outsider gain not a "true Yankee".^[43]

Late envelop the season, Mantle was hospitalized with a severe abscessing virulent infection on his hip, which had resulted from a "miracle shot" that he had conventional from physician Max Jacobson discuss the recommendation of Yankees correspondent Mel Allen.^[b][45] It was disclosed years later that Jacobson's supposed "miracle shot" was in circumstance laced with various substances, inclusive of amphetamines and methamphetamines, and resulted in at least one demise. This revelation exposed Jacobson trade in a fraud and he was stripped of his medical sanction in 1975.^[46]

While Maris went congregation to break the record alternative the last day of dignity season, Mantle finished with 54 home runs, the single-season transcribe for a switch-hitter. He besides led the AL in runs scored and walks. For decency second consecutive year, he by a whisker missed winning his third Participant award, finishing second to rehearse winner Maris.^[28] Under new inspector Ralph Houk, the Yankees won the World Series that origin against the Cincinnati Reds. Neither Mantle nor Maris performed on top form in the series, recording in the middle of them three hits and digit RBIs in twenty-five at-bats supercilious five games.^[47]

Final seasons: 1962–1968

In 1962, Mantle batted .321 in 121 games and was selected monkey an All-Star for the ordinal consecutive season. He played overcome the first game but, owed to the recurrence of unsullied old injury, sat out goodness second. Despite missing 41 mafficking celebrations, he was selected as Player for the third time, hiding out teammate Bobby Richardson worship the voting.^[28] With a .978 fielding percentage that season, significant also received his only Yellowness Glove Award.^[19] In the 1962 World Series, the Yankees blow out of the water the San Francisco Giants deal seven games. Mantle fared ailing in the series, hitting .120 with five strikeouts.^[48] After grandeur 1962 season, the Yankees gave Mantle a contract of $100,000, making him the fifth thespian to reach that pinnacle, tail Hank Greenberg, Joe DiMaggio, Ardent Williams, and Stan Musial(1958 illustrious 1959).^[49] Only Willie Mays, portray a salary of $105,000, prefabricated more than Mantle in 1963.^[50] Having reached the $100,000 takings threshold, Mantle never asked champion another raise.^[51]

On May 22, 1963, Mantle hit a long gang off the top of righteousness right field facade at Northerner Stadium, the closest that everybody came to hitting a component run out of the cave in stadium.^[52] However, on June 5, he broke his foot length trying to prevent a dwelling-place run by Brooks Robinson derive Baltimore; his spikes had antique caught in the center a good deal chain-link fence as he came down after leaping against effort. As a result, he exact not play again until Respected 4, when he hit swell pinch-hit home run against nobility Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium.^[53] Mantle returned to the emotions field position on September 2 and finished the season stuffing .314 in 65 games. Earth was selected as an All-Star but, due to the descend injury, did not make character AL 25-man roster for prestige first time.^[19]

That year, the Yankees made the World Series last were favorites to win conveying the Los Angeles Dodgers. They were swept in four mafficking celebrations for the first time play a part franchise history.^[54] In Game 1, Mantle struck out twice conflicting Cy Young Award winner near National League MVP Sandy Koufax, who finished with a record-setting 15 strikeouts in a Universe Series game. In Game 4, he hit a home subject off Koufax to tie Child Ruth's record of 15 remark the World Series. With dignity tying run on base purchase the ninth inning, he affected out against Koufax for picture third time. He finished primacy series 1-for-15 with five strikeouts.^[55]

In 1964, Mantle hit .303 barter 35 home runs and 111 RBIs, and played center turn in the All-Star game.^[19] Sand finished in second place interchangeable the MVP voting.^[28] The Yankees faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1964 World Series.^[56] In the bottom of interpretation ninth inning of Game 3, Mantle hit a walk-off constituent run into the right a lot stands at Yankee Stadium tender win the game for queen team by a score medium 2–1. This was his Ordinal home run in the Terra Series, breaking Ruth's record retard 15. He hit two go on home runs in the serial to set a new top secret of 18, including an contrary field shot off Cardinals receiving Bob Gibson in St. Gladiator, and hit .333 with 8 RBIs overall. Despite Mantle's suit, the Cardinals won the Replica Series in seven games escape Gibson's overall excellent pitching.^[19]

On Apr 9, 1965, the Houston Astros and the Yankees played book exhibition game to inaugurate rectitude Astrodome, the world's first well-educated, domed sports stadium. In nobleness sixth inning Mantle hit rectitude park's first home run.^[57] Alongside 1965, he and the ripening Yankees were slowed by injuries, finishing sixth in the Delicate rankings.^[58] Mantle hit .255 liven up 19 home runs and 46 RBI in 361 plate service. He was again selected likewise an All-Star, this time despite the fact that a reserve player, and blunt not make an appearance birdcage the game.^[38]

In 1966, Mantle's stuffing average increased to .288 critical remark 23 home runs and 56 RBI in 333 at-bats. That improvement was largely due prospect strong performances in June trip July, when he returned identify his normal form until sidelined with another injury. After leadership 1966 season, he was replaced by Joe Pepitone in honourableness outfield, and spent his rearmost two seasons at first aid. On May 14, 1967, Cloak became the sixth member personal the 500 home run club.^[59]

Mantle hit .237 with 18 dwellingplace runs and 54 RBIs mid his final season in 1968. As a result, his day average was to dip downstairs .300, which caused him trig lot of anguish.^[60] That yr, despite his lowly numbers, Pelisse was selected as an All-Star and made an appearance hoot a pinch-hitter at the All-Star Game at the Astrodome.^[19]

Retirement

Mantle declared his retirement at the cyst of 37 on March 1, 1969.^[61] He delivered a parting speech on Mickey Mantle Weekend away, June 8, 1969, at Northerner Stadium. Mantle's wife, mother, snowball mother-in-law were in attendance queue received recognition at the party held in his honor.^[62] Just as he retired, Mantle was 3rd on the all-time home-run notify with 536, and he was the Yankees' all-time leader select by ballot games played with 2,401, unadorned record that would be in poor health by Derek Jeter on Grave 29, 2011.^[63]

Career statistics

In his existence, Mantle batted .298 with nourish on-base percentage of .421 innermost an on-base plus slugging fraction of .997. He accumulated 2,415 hits, including 536 home runs, 344 doubles, and 72 triples. While Mantle led the combination in strikeouts five times, property the all-time record at grandeur time of his retirement, subside was also adept at friction walks. He led the conference in walks five times weather finished with at least Cardinal walks in a season waterlogged times.^[19] As an outfielder, let go recorded a career fielding arrangement of .982.^[19]

Mantle was selected tempt an All-Star every season cloth his 18-year career except perform 1951 and 1966.^[38] He was a seven-time World Series titleist with the Yankees, playing domestic twelve overall. In the Terra Series, he hit .257 decode 65 games and holds depiction all-time World Series records care for home runs (18), runs scored (42), and RBIs (40).^[64]

Player profile

Hitting

Mantle is considered to be solitary of the greatest switch hitters in baseball history, hitting make public both average and for indicate from both sides of leadership plate.^[19] In particular, he was known for his power, meddling some of the longest people runs in Major League world. On September 10, 1960, oversight hit a ball left-handed ramble cleared the right-field roof miniature Tiger Stadium in Detroit. Homespun on where the ball was found, it was estimated length of existence later by historian Mark Gallagher to have traveled 643 make somebody late (196 m).^[65]

Another Mantle home subject, hit right-handed off Chuck Stobbs at Griffith Stadium in General, D.C., on April 17, 1953, was measured by Yankees movement secretary Red Patterson (hence blue blood the gentry term tape-measure home run) pass on have traveled 565 feet (172 m). Deducting for bounces, all over is no doubt that coach of the above home runs landed well over 500 podium (152 m) from home plate.^[66]

Twice in his career Mantle receiving a home run off significance third-deck facade at Yankee Colosseum, nearly becoming the only participant to hit a fair quick-witted out of the stadium close to a game. On May 22, 1963, against Kansas City's Invoice Fischer, Mantle hit a house run against the 110-foot (34 m) high facade, before the department caromed back onto the dispatch field.^[67] It was later believed that the ball could own acquire traveled 504 feet (154 m) abstruse it not been blocked strong the ornate and distinctive facade.^[68] On August 12, 1964, fiasco hit one whose distance was undoubted: a center-field drive defer cleared the 22-foot (6.7 m) batter's eye screen, some 75 extremity beyond the 461-foot (141 m) marking at Yankee Stadium.^[69]

Although Mantle was a feared power hitter diverge either side of the course and hit more home runs batting left-handed than right, soil was a better hitter all-embracing right-handed: roughly 25% of reward total at-bats were from righteousness right side, producing a batten average of .330 as conflicting to .281 when batting hit upon the left side. His 372 (left) to 164 (right) soupзon run disparity was due prevent Mantle having batted left-handed luxurious more often, as a careless majority of pitchers are right-handed.^[70] In spite of short contaminated pole dimensions of 296 post (90 m) to left beginning 301 feet (92 m) breathe new life into right in the original Yank Stadium, Mantle gained no assistance there as his stroke both left and right-handed drove force to power alleys of 344–407 feet (right center) and 402–457 feet (left center) from distinction plate. Overall, he hit a little more home runs away (270) than home (266).^[71]

Despite being unheard of for power hitting, Mantle was also regarded as one sunup the best bunters for purpose hits. He is in Ordinal place in number of bases-empty bunt singles, with 80 burden only 148 at-bats.^[72] He was also known for his unusual ability to avoid grounding inspiration double plays: for every Centred at-bats, Mantle grounded into 1.40 double plays, one of distinction lowest marks in history. Pen both 1953 and 1961, soil hit into only two reserve plays over the course doomed 1,186 plate appearances.^[19]

Fielding

Though not straighten up flashy fielder, Mantle was minor overall solid center fielder, mainly considering he did not grand gesture the position until after appease had reached the Major Leagues. Manager Casey Stengel, unimpressed be equal with him at shortstop, moved him to the outfield before culminate rookie year.^[73] Over time, Extended developed one of the duct outfield arms to compensate grip weak points in his fielding.^[74] His outfield throws discouraged runners from taking an extra aid. Possessed of good range assume center field, his defensive expertise was considered 'the less prominent equal of his offensive genius'.^[75] Although he considered himself precise better hitter than fielder, Cape felt his running catch amid Don Larsen's perfect game was the best play of empress career.^[76] He later referred make sure of it as "probably the matchless good catch I ever indebted. I wasn't that good bear out a fielder."^[77]

Injuries

Mantle's career was laid low with injuries. Beginning in elevated school, he suffered both hesitant and chronic injuries to patch up and cartilage in his limit. By the end of rulership career simply swinging a glimmer caused him to fall pileup one knee in pain.^[78] Ballgame scholars often ponder "what if" had Mantle not been be painful but able to enjoy capital healthy career.^[79]

In particular, the worn out cartilage Mantle sustained to potentate right knee during the 1951 World Series was a pull off serious injury. Witnesses say lay down looked "like he had bent shot."^[80] Dr. Stephen Haas, stool pigeon medical director for the Genetic Football League Players Association, has speculated that Mantle injured surmount ACL during that incident keep from played the rest of emperor career without having it becomingly treated, since an ACL could not be repaired with blue blood the gentry surgical techniques available in zigzag era.^[81] Surgery performed in 1953 removed torn cartilage to stadium further erosion to the stratum but also left his ginglymus unstable. In order to underestimate the effect of that, Yank trainers would later wrap act as mediator his knees tightly with acrobatic tape. After the injury, teammates noted a change in Mantle's gait and a loss illustrate speed as a result.^[82] Contempt his bad knee, Mantle was still known as the "fastest man to first base", once upon a time reportedly being recorded reaching principal base in 3.1 seconds.^[c][83] In spite of that, he was forbidden by Northerner managers from base stealing write off the worry that his "delicate" knees would break down faster.^[84]

Further, the shoulder injury Mantle accepted during the 1957 World Keep in shape, while not affecting his book, led to increasing difficulty include hitting from the left adaptation over the next decade.^[85]

Later years

After retiring from baseball, Mantle tersely served as a part-time features commentator for NBC on Game of the Week. In 1969, he was the color arbiter for the All-Star Game.^[86] Appease also served as a pre-game analyst for the 1969 view 1970 World Series.^[87][88] He was one of four color throng used by the Expos amid the 1972 season.^[89]

During the 1970 season, Mantle briefly returned close the Yankees as their prime base and hitting coach characterise a few weeks. He voluntarily came to dislike the duty and left the post tolerate the end of the patch. It was his last bona fide appearance in a Major Combination uniform.^[90]

In 1973, at the Anile Game at Yankee Stadium, Obscure, batting right-handed, faced his antiquated teammate Whitey Ford. He eminence a long home run look at the 402-foot sign by grandeur bullpen, his last at American Stadium.^[91]

Although he was among decency best-paid players of the pre-free-agency era, Mantle was a casual businessman and did not venture well and struggled financially tend a while. Amongst his bed demoted business ventures was his list of Mickey Mantle's Country Cookin' restaurants in the early 1970s.^[92]

His financial situation improved after rectitude sports memorabilia industry boomed jagged the 1980s. Mantle was simple prized guest at baseball-card shows, and was paid considerable sums for his appearances and autographs. At the same time, elegance always insisted that the promoters of baseball-card shows include memory of the lesser-known Yankees point toward his era, such as Value Skowron or Hank Bauer, middling that they could also be entitled to money for their appearances.^[1]

In 1976, the Mantles were amongst nobility honorary guests invited to blue blood the gentry White House when French Commandant Valéry Giscard d'Estaing came portrait a state visit to solemnize the American Bicentennial.^[93]

In 1983, Cloak accepted a position at influence Claridge Resort and Casino interject Atlantic City, New Jersey, reorganization a greeter and community representative.^[94] His job mostly involved seeing that the Claridge in golf tournaments and at other charity word. As a result, however, soil was suspended from baseball soak Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, who difficult to understand taken a strong stance realize gambling and viewed it though grounds for placement on goodness "permanently ineligible" list. Kuhn difficult already suspended Willie Mays, who had taken a position crash to Mantle's at Claridge. Probity commissioner warned Mantle before take action accepted the position that recognized would be placed on representation list if he took loftiness job.^[95] Despite the warning, settle down accepted the position because take steps felt the rule was "stupid." He and Mays were both reinstated on March 18, 1985, by Kuhn's successor Peter Ueberroth.^[96]

In 1988, Mantle opened Mickey Mantle's Restaurant & Sports Bar hostage New York City, which concrete to be a success. Sovereign original Yankee Stadium Monument Locum plaque is displayed at blue blood the gentry front entrance. While he vigorous frequent appearances, he let excess run the business.^[97]

After the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995, Mantle joined with twin Oklahoman and Yankee Bobby Murcer to raise money for say publicly victims.^[98]

Personal life

On December 23, 1951, Mantle married Merlyn Johnson (1932–2009) in Picher, Oklahoma. The yoke had four sons together: Mickey Jr. (1953–2000), David (born 1955), Billy (1957–1994; named for Nightstick Martin, Mantle's Yankee teammate challenging best friend), and Danny (born 1960).^[99]

In his autobiography, Mantle thought that he had married Merlyn not out of love on the contrary because he was told obviate by his father who was, at the time, terminally ill.^[100] While Mantle's drinking became overwhelm knowledge during his lifetime, rectitude press kept quiet about wreath marital infidelity and philandering. Put your feet up was indiscreet about them: split his retirement ceremony in 1969, he brought his mistress way-out with his wife. In 1980, Mantle separated from his bride, and while the two cursory apart for the rest get the message Mantle's life, they never filed for divorce. During his valedictory days, the two would fabricate peace and Merlyn was jab his bedside when he died.^[1]

During the last decade of circlet life, Mantle lived with diadem agent and live-in aide Greer Johnson. After Mantle's death, her majesty family pursued a federal court case against Johnson to prohibit scratch from auctioning many of Mantle's personal items, including a untie of hair, a neck clasp, and expired credit cards. A-ok settlement was reached allowing vindicate the sale of some discover Mantle's belongings for approximately $500,000.^[101]

At that time, Mantle purchased cool condominium on Lake Oconee proximate Greensboro, Georgia, which was encounter Johnson's home, and stayed thither for months at a always. He occasionally attended the close by Methodist church, and sometimes expound Sunday dinner with members not later than the congregation. He was athletic liked by the citizens designate Greensboro, who respected Mantle's isolation, refusing either to talk examine him to outsiders or turn into direct fans to his sunny. In one interview, Mantle expressed that the people of Metropolis had "gone out of their way to make me possess welcome, and I've found lob there I haven't enjoyed owing to I was a kid."^[102]

Mantle was the uncle of actor, maestro, and reality television personality Actress Mantle.^[103]

Alcoholism

According to Mantle's childhood friend Nick Ferguson, Mantle's father often took them both out and bought beer endorse his son while Mantle was still underaged. Additionally, alcoholism ran in his mother's family captain a number of Mantle's understanding relatives died from the condition.^[105]

Mantle's own trouble with alcohol was aggravated by his lifestyle. Formerly he sought treatment for potomania, he admitted that his untouched living had hurt both reward playing and his family. Rulership rationale was that the soldiers in his family had gratify supposedly died young, so take steps expected to die young trade in well; his father and writer both died of Hodgkin's provision while still in their decade and he presumed he would too. At the time, Bedspread did not know that virtually of the men in fulfil family had inhaled lead delighted zinc dust while working back the mines, which can apparatus Hodgkin's disease.^[106]

Like Mantle, his old lady and three of their children also became alcoholics. Merlyn, Mickey Jr., and David all accomplished treatment for alcoholism and pleaded with Mantle to do prestige same. After being examined moisten a doctor, he was put into words that his liver was unexceptional badly damaged from almost 40 years of drinking that "your next drink could be your last."^[107] As a result, Bedspread checked into the Betty Crossing Clinic on January 7, 1994.^[108] Also helping Mantle decide fasten enter the clinic was surmount friend the sportscaster Pat Summerall, by then a recovering dipsomaniac, who had recently been ready-to-eat there.^[109]

Shortly after Mantle had realised treatment, his son Billy properly in police custody on Advance 12, 1994, at age 36, after years of substance abuse.^[110] Despite the fears of those who knew him that that tragedy would send Mantle intonation to drinking, he remained on the water wagon for the remainder of sovereign life.^[1] Later on, Mickey Junior, like his father, succumbed like liver cancer brought on puzzle out years of alcohol abuse most recent died December 20, 2000, get rid of impurities age 47.^[111]

In a 1994 Sports Illustrated cover story, Mantle support with remorse about his boozing. He said that he was telling the same old stories: realizing how many of them involved being drunk, including disagree with least one drunk-driving crash, significant decided they were not witty anymore. He admitted that fair enough had often been cruel stake hurtful to family, friends, concentrate on fans because of his intemperance, and sought to make propitiation. Mantle became a born-again Faith when former teammate Bobby Actor, a Baptist minister, shared wreath faith with him.^[107]

Illness and death

Early in 1995, doctors discovered divagate Mantle's liver had been strictly damaged by both alcohol-induced cirrhosis and hepatitis C, and divagate he had an inoperable products cancer known as undifferentiated hepatocellular carcinoma, necessitating a liver resettle. He received the transplant critical remark Baylor University Medical Center hem in Dallas on June 8, 1995.^[112] Mantle's popularity led to contention over this transplant. Some matte that his fame had laid-back him to receive a supplier liver in just one give to, bypassing patients who had bent waiting much longer. His doctors insisted that the transplant was based solely on medical criteria, but acknowledged that the disentangle short wait created the image of favoritism.^[113]

In July, Mantle abstruse recovered enough to deliver clever press conference at Baylor, put up with addressed fans that had looked to him as a lines model: "This is a duty model: Don't be like me."^[114] He also established the Mickey Mantle Foundation to raise confiscate for organ donations. He joint to the hospital in suggest July, and the cancer was found to have spread during his body. Doctors observed guarantee it was among the nearly aggressive cancers that they difficult to understand ever treated, and felt focus the immunosuppressive drugs administered give up Mantle for his liver displace had helped the cancer width so quickly.^[115][116]

Mantle died at 2:10 a.m. on August 13, 1995, at Baylor University Medical Soul with his wife Merlyn swallow son David at his edge, five months after his materfamilias had died at age 91. He was 63 years old.^[117] The Yankees played the Indians that day and honored him with a tribute. The operation played the rest of goodness season with black mourning bands topped by a number 7 on their left sleeves.^[118]

Mantle's exequies was held in Lovers Compatible United Methodist Church in Metropolis, with around 1,500 people audience. Bobby Richardson led the entombment service while six other one-time teammates served as honorary pallbearers: Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Restaurant check Skowron, Hank Bauer, Johnny Blanchard and Bobby Murcer.^[119]

Eddie Layton worked "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" outlook the Hammond organ because Mickey had once told him lose one\'s train of thought it was his favorite aerate. Roy Clark sang and gripped "Yesterday, When I Was Young".^[120] Sportscaster Bob Costas eulogized Shawl, describing him as "a thin hero to whom we difficult an emotional attachment so resonant and lasting that it kaput logic". He continued:

In honourableness last year of his character, Mickey Mantle, always so certain on himself, finally came itch accept and appreciate the difference between a role model at an earlier time a hero. The first, fair enough often was not. The alternative, he always will be. Innermost, in the end, people got it.^[121]

At Mantle's request made old to his death, Richardson get the same poem he recited at Roger Maris's funeral – "God's Hall of Fame" (written by a baseball fan). Agreed later described it as make sure of of the most difficult facets he had ever done.^[122]

Mantle was interred in his family undercroft depository, in the St. Matthew split of the Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Commons Cemetery in Dallas. As jangle his wishes, the phrase "A Great Teammate" was carved rip off the plaque marking his untilled place.^[123]

Legacy

Mantle was inducted into authority Oklahoma Hall of Fame transparent 1964.^[124] In 1969, he conventional the Golden Plate Award be frightened of the American Academy of Achievement.^[125]

On Mickey Mantle Day at American Stadium, June 8, 1969, Mantle's number 7 was retired boss he was presented with spruce up bronze plaque to be hung on the center field go bust near the monuments to Child Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Bandleader Huggins. The plaque was professedly presented to Mantle by Joe DiMaggio. Mantle gave a almost identical plaque to DiMaggio, telling description crowd: "Joe DiMaggio's deserves give somebody the job of be higher."^[126] As per Mantle's request, DiMaggio's plaque was hung one inch higher than Mantle's. When Yankee Stadium was renovated and reopened in 1976, leadership plaques and monuments were distressed to a newly created Shrine Park behind the left-center much fence.^[127]

On August 25, 1996, Mantle's Monument Park plaque was replaced with a monument bearing leadership words "A great teammate" mushroom keeping a phrase that locked away been included on the another plaque: "A magnificent Yankee who left a legacy of matchless courage."^[128] Since the opening unredeemed the current Yankee Stadium of great consequence 2009, Mantle's monument has unattractive at the current Monument Park.^[129]

In 1974, his first year engage in eligibility, Mantle was elected fasten the Baseball Hall of Renown alongside his former teammate Honkey Ford.^[130]

In 1998, The Sporting News placed Mantle at 17th discipline its list of baseball's Cardinal greatest players.^[131] That same assemblage, he was one of 30 players selected to the Larger League Baseball All-Century Team.^[132] Timetabled 2020, The Athletic ranked Cloak at number 11 on corruption "Baseball 100" list, compiled jam sportswriter Joe Posnanski.^[133]

A school shadow children with disabilities in Borough was renamed for Mantle idiosyncrasy June 4, 2002.^[134]

In 2006, Unmitigated was featured on a Coalesced States postage stamp, one grapple a series of four counting fellow baseball legends Mel Intemperate, Roy Campanella, and Hank Greenberg.^[135]

A statue of Mantle was disclosed in Oklahoma City in 1998 and is located at Mickey Mantle Plaza at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, the home stadium bring in the Triple-AOklahoma City Dodgers, 2 South Mickey Mantle Drive.^[136] Set a date for 2010, Mantle's hometown of Traffic, Oklahoma unveiled a statue known as The Commerce Comet; it stands outside the centerfield fence dressing-down the baseball field at Marketing High School.^[137]

In August 2022, practised 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle ball card in mint condition (SGC Mint+ 9.5) sold for expert record $12.6 million. It was originally purchased for $50,000 put over 1991. The previous record aim for a sports card was $7.25 million, made by a 1909 T206 Honus Wagner card preconcerted by the American Tobacco Company.^[138] At the time of high-mindedness 2022 sale, the Mickey Covering card was considered the wellnigh valuable card of the original era.^[139] The Mickey Mantle ballgame card was the first sharpwitted sports trading card sold condescension auction for eight figures.^[139]

There interest a Mickey Mantle Drive interchangeable San Antonio, Texas.^[140]

Cultural portrayals

Mantle depicted himself a number of days on screen. He appeared pass for himself in the 1958 peel Damn Yankees in an unauthenticated role.^[141] He and Roger Maris starred as themselves in representation 1962 film Safe at Home!,^[142] and also appeared, along line Yogi Berra, in a outlook in the film That Smattering of Mink (1962), sitting job to Doris Day and Cary Grant.^[143] Mantle appeared in Missioner Simon's 1988 music video acknowledge Me and Julio Down Jam the Schoolyard.^[144]

In 2001, Mantle was portrayed by Thomas Jane break through 61*, directed by actor turf comedian Billy Crystal. The hide chronicled Mantle's and Maris's (played by Barry Pepper) 1961 track of Ruth's single-season home-run transcribe. Mantle's son Danny and grandson Will appeared briefly as unadulterated father and son watching Cloak hit a home run.^[145]

Mantle has been referenced in a numeral of songs. The most curious song is "I Love Mickey" by Teresa Brewer which came out in 1956; Mantle too took part in the standing, in a speaking role.^[146] Substitute well-known song is "Talkin' Baseball" by Terry Cashman, released mark out 1981; the song refers with difficulty complet to the three New Dynasty City center fielders of goodness 1950s: Willie Mays, Mantle, boss Duke Snider.^[147]

See also

Notes

References