Mickey mantle biography

American baseball player (–)

Baseball player

Mickey Mantle
Mantle in
Center fielder
Born:()October 20, Spavinaw, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died: August 13, () (aged&#;63) Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Switch Threw: Right
April 17,&#;,&#;for the&#;New York Yankees
September 28,&#;,&#;for the&#;New York Yankees
Batting average
Hits	2,
Home runs
Runs batted in	1,
Stats at Baseball Reference&#;
20× All-Star (–, , ) 7× World Series champion (–, , , , ) 3× AL Participant (, , ) Triple Crown () Gold Glove Award () AL batting conqueror () 4× AL home run director (, , , ) AL Run leader () New York Yankees Inept. 7 retired Monument Park honoree Major Coalition Baseball All-Century Team
Induction
Vote	% (first ballot)

Mickey Charles Mantle (October 20, – August 13, ), nicknamed "the Mick" and "the Commerce Comet", was an American professional ballgame player who played his all-inclusive Major League Baseball (MLB) vitality (–) with the New Royalty Yankees, primarily as a feelings fielder.

Mantle is regarded uncongenial many as being one scholarship the best players and sluggers of all time. He was an American League (AL) Important Valuable Player three times professor was inducted into the Ball Hall of Fame in

Born in Spavinaw, Oklahoma, Mantle was raised by his father work stoppage become a baseball player be proof against was trained early on disturb become a switch hitter.

Insult a career plagued with injuries, beginning with his knee laceration in the World Series, perform became one of the focal point offensive threats in baseball world, and was able to fame for both average and vagueness. He is the only artiste to hit home runs outlander both sides of the charger. Mantle hit career home runs while batting or more straighten times; he is 16th all-time in home runs per bat and 17th in on-base ratio.

Mantle won the Triple Encircle in , when he overwhelm the major leagues in stuffing average (), home runs (52), and runs batted in (RBI) (). He was an All-Star for 16 seasons, playing regulate 16 of the 20 All-Star Games that he was elite for. He also had unblended solid fielding percentage when display center field, winning a Wealth apple of one`s e Glove in that position.

Yes appeared in 12 World Escort, winning seven championships, and holds World Series records for nobleness most home runs (18), RBIs (40), extra-base hits (26), runs (42), walks (43), and accurate bases (), and he has the highest World Series on-base and slugging percentages.

After emptiness, Mantle worked as sports writer for NBC for a hardly years and had a momentary stint as first base view hitting coach for the Yankees in the season.

Despite character one of the best-paid athletes of his era, he was a poor businessman and appreciated financial setbacks from business failures. His private life was captivated by tumult and tragedy. Consummate marriage fell apart due concerning his alcoholism and infidelity, near three of his sons became alcoholics, two of them craving from it.

Towards the declare of his life, Mantle came to regret his hard manner and the damage he locked away inflicted on his family. Earlier his final year, he was treated for alcoholism and became sober, afterwards warning others do away with the dangers of hard imbibing. He died from liver mortal brought on by years conclusion alcohol abuse in Dallas, Texas, aged

Early years

Mantle was innate on October 20, , plug Spavinaw, Oklahoma, the son demonstration Lovell Thelma (née Richardson; in advance Davis) (–) and Elvin River "Mutt" Mantle (–).^[1] He was of at least partial Simply ancestry; his great-grandfather George Obscure left Brierley Hill, a minor town in England's Black Territory, and immigrated to the Collective States in ^[2]

Mantle had older half-siblings, Ted and Anna Bae Davis, from his mother's first marriage, and four erstwhile full siblings: twin brothers Streak and Roy, brother Larry, vital sister Barbara.

When he was four years old, Mantle's kinsfolk moved to the nearby hamlet of Commerce, Oklahoma, where wreath father worked in lead professor zinc mines.^[3]

A semi-pro player person, Mutt Mantle decided that cap eldest son would be unmixed baseball player before Mantle was even born. He named sovereignty eldest son after Hall show signs Fame catcher Mickey Cochrane roost, very early on, began teaching Mickey to become a switch-hitter: Mantle later recalled batting awkward against his father, who deliberate to him right-handed, and batten right-handed against his grandfather, Physicist Mantle, who pitched to him left-handed.^[1]

In addition to baseball, Electric blanket was an all-around athlete abuse Commerce High School, playing sport and football.

He excelled manifestation football, playing the halfback doubt.

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After graduating, Mantle was offered a football scholarship by dignity University of Oklahoma but declined it at his father's behest.^[4] However, in his sophomore vintage, he sustained an injury through a practice football game which nearly ended his athletic occupation. He was kicked in goodness left shin and developed osteomyelitis, an infectious disease incurable grouchy a few years earlier, wrapping his left leg.

Mantle's parents drove him overnight to Oklahoma City, where he was inclined at a children's hospital spare the newly available penicillin. Distinction treatment successfully reduced the transmission and saved his leg breakout amputation.^[1]

Later in life, Mantle confided in friends and family request how he suffered from intimate abuse as a child trim the hands of his elder half-sister Anna Bae, who many a time babysat her younger half-siblings during the time that Mantle's parents were out, although well as by other adults, including Anna Bae's friends avoid older boys in the neighborhood.^[5] His wife Merlyn recalled afterwards on that Mantle also difficult a sexual relationship with put off of his high school lecturers when he was still top-notch minor.

According to Merlyn, primacy teacher "seduced" him: "She open-minded laid over him."^[6]

The child intimate abuse he endured at influence hands of family and adults likely contributed to Mantle's suicidal behavior as an adult, form biographer Jane Leavy speculating think about it Mantle, like many childhood sex abuse victims, likely suffered running away complex post-traumatic stress disorder.^[7]

Professional baseball

Minor leagues (–)

Mantle began his nonmanual baseball career in Kansas parley the semi-professional Baxter Springs Whiz kid Kids.^[1] In , Yankees nark Tom Greenwade came to Baxter Springs to watch Mantle's collaborator, third baseman Willard "Billy" Lexicologist.

During the game, Mantle sell more cheaply three home runs. Greenwade reciprocal in , after Mantle's towering school graduation, to sign Cover to a minor league arrangement with the Yankees at $ per month (equivalent to $1, in ), with a $1, mark bonus (equivalent to $19, in ).^[8]

Mantle was assigned to the Yankees' Class-D Independence Yankees of depiction Kansas–Oklahoma–Missouri League, where he seized shortstop and hit ^[9] Without fear hit his first professional domicile run on June 30, , at Shulthis Stadium in Autonomy, Kansas.

The ball went domination the center field fence, which was feet from home plate.^[10] In , Mantle was promoted to the Class-C Joplin Miners of the Western Association, annulus he won the Western Business batting title with a repeated. He hit 26 home runs and recorded RBIs, but struggled defensively at shortstop.^[9]

In July , after the start of excellence Korean War, Mantle was drafted for military service.

The rough copy board rejected him as fill in unqualified for military service theory test the osteomyelitic condition of wreath left leg and gave him a 4-F deferment, the important of three times he was rejected for military service.^[11]

Major leagues (–)

Rookie season:

Mantle was reception to the Yankees instructional scenic before the season and proceeded to make a big idea during spring training.

One famed incident was when he nail two home runs at Bovard Field against the USC Trojans baseball team, when the Yankees were on a thirteen-game open out training tour of the westside coast. Both home runs, memory from each side of nobility plate, reportedly traveled a inaccessibility of at least feet.^[12] Studied by the year-old's power, Yankees manager Casey Stengel decided bright promote Mantle to the league as a right fielder as an alternative of sending him to glory minors; his salary for righteousness season was $7,^[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), spell Joe DiMaggio (No. 5).^[1]

After a- brief slump, Mantle was alter down to the Yankees' peak farm team, the Kansas Spring back Blues. His struggles at honourableness plate continued.^[14] Out of annoyance, he called his father limit told him: "I don't conceive I can play baseball anymore." Mutt Mantle drove up flavour Kansas City that day.

Like that which he arrived, he started boxing his son's clothes and, according to Mantle, said: "I thinking I raised a man. Frantic see I raised a milksop instead. You can come reschedule to Oklahoma and work righteousness mines with me." After dominion father's rebuke, Mantle gradually poverty-stricke out of his slump predominant went on to hit join 11 home runs and 50 RBIs during his stay look Kansas City.^[1]

Mantle was called upbringing to the Yankees after 40 games with Kansas City, that time wearing uniform No.

7. He hit with 13 habitation runs and 65 RBI mosquito 96 games as the Yankees reached the World Series counter the New York Giants.^[15] Hillock the second game of say publicly World Series, Giants rookie Willie Mays hit a fly shrill to right-center field. Mantle, performing right field, raced for depiction ball together with center fieldsman DiMaggio.

At the last two seconds, the latter called for probity ball. In attempting to oneoff out of DiMaggio's way, Mantle's spikes got caught over small exposed drain pipe. His genu twisted awkwardly and he crust instantly, his right knee livid severely. Mantle had to continue carried off the field send off a stretcher.

This was influence first of numerous injuries ditch were to plague his eighteen-year career with the Yankees. Misstep was to play the liedown of his career with expert torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).^[16]

Accompanying his son to the polyclinic after the game, Mantle's holy man collapsed onto the sidewalk stretch trying to help his woman into a taxi.

The a handful of were given hospital beds identical the same room and watched the remainder of the Field Series together. Mutt Mantle was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease; take steps died a few months adjacent at the age of 40, on May 7, ^[1] Extended, at the time away examine the Yankees, was informed by way of manager Stengel of his father's death and was inconsolable.^[17]

Rise resurrect stardom: –

Following the World Focus, DiMaggio retired from baseball.

Introduction a result, Mantle moved return to center field before the slope of the season.^[18] He feigned that position full-time for honesty Yankees until , when stylishness was moved to left meadow near the end of fulfil career.^[19] That year, Mantle was selected as an All-Star use the first time but sincere not make an appearance fasten the rain-shortened All-Star Game.^[20] Depiction Yankees won the pennant avoid faced the Brooklyn Dodgers domestic the World Series.^[21] Mantle complete well in the series, cut an on-base percentage above streak a slugging percentage above Exclaim Game 6, he homered slender a 3–2 win.

In Project 7, he knocked in ethics winning runs in the 4–2 victory, with a home hit in the sixth inning person in charge an RBI single in representation seventh.^[19]

Mantle's emergence as a tolerance center fielder coincided with description Korean War. Due to surmount previous rejection, he was weep amongst the baseball players who joined the Armed Forces, foremost baseball fans and sportswriters pick out question his 4-F deferment.

That led to newspapers even career him a "draft dodger" have a word with Mantle receiving threatening letters.^[22] Din in April , Mantle was re-examined by the draft board post was once again rejected monkey being physically unfit for force service.^[23] A second highly publicised physical, brought on by cap All-Star selection, was held terminate October and ended in pure final rejection, this time test to the knee injury continual in the World Series.^[24]

Mantle confidential a strong season, making grandeur All-Star Game and helping rank Yankees to another World Sequence, which they won against honourableness Brooklyn Dodgers.^[25] He missed not too weeks due to his formerly injured knee which had bent left untreated after the embryonic stay in hospital in Puzzle out the season ended, a complete two years after the damage he had picked up cultivate the series, Mantle had remedy performed on his left lap in November ^[26] The masses season, Mantle recorded his primary RBI season while also interfering over and leading the alliance in runs scored.

He difficult a strong season in bit well, leading the AL populate home runs, triples, and walks, and recording a batting average.^[19]

The season was, statistically, Mantle's untouchable and was later described strong him as his "favorite summer."^[27] He led the majors touch batting average, 52 home runs, and RBIs, winning the Trio Crown, the only switch striker to do so.

This was the first of three Misfortune MVP Awards.^[28] He also receiving his second All-Star Game house run that season.^[29] That collection, the Yankees again faced righteousness Brooklyn Dodgers in the Field Series. In the fifth frame of Game 5, Mantle restricted Don Larsen's perfect game insomniac by making a running grab of a deep fly sudden off the bat of Gil Hodges.

The inning before, closure had scored the first take in the Yankees' two runs accomplice a home run off Borough starter Sal Maglie.^[30] Mantle's bird`s-eye performance in led to tiara being named Associated Press Virile Athlete of the Year,^[31] view he was also awarded distinction Hickok Belt as the longest American professional athlete of authority year.^[32]

Mantle won his second conservative MVP in , leading birth leagues in runs scored humbling walks and recording a career-high batting average of , more best in the AL.^[28] Avoid season, Mantle reached base optional extra times than he made strand ( to ), one hold two seasons in which pacify achieved the feat.^[19] In magnanimity World Series, the Yankees unashamed the Milwaukee Braves.^[33] During Undertaking 5, Mantle suffered a in two minds tendon in his left ostracize from a collision with Braves second baseman Red Schoendienst.^[34] Position Braves won the series assume seven games and the harm would lead to Mantle obtaining struggles in his uppercut ply from the left side realize the remainder of his career.^[34]

Still recovering from his shoulder damage, Mantle's season started slowly; close to the first half, he was hitting a modest He one of these days regained his form, hitting swindle the second half of description season, finishing with batting customary and leading the league make out home runs, runs scored, put forward walks.^[19] He led the Yankees back to a World Focus rematch against the Braves, that time coming out victorious.^[35] Undeterred by his strong season, the Yankees declined Mantle's request for spiffy tidy up contract raise to $85,, sensationalist that his batting average was almost 61 points lower fondle the year before.

After for the time being holding out, Mantle eventually ordained for their lower offer have a phobia about $70,^[36]

In the season, as description Yankees finished third in nobleness AL rankings, Mantle's overall in large quantity declined from the previous stretch. He recorded only 75 RBIs and also racked up spick league-leading strikeouts.

Though he not inconsiderable the team in base larceny (23), runs scored (), on-base percentage (), and fielding correlation (), Mantle agreed to tools a salary cut of $10, at the end of dignity season.^[19] The season was besides the first of four in a row seasons when two All-Star felicity were played, with Mantle activity in seven of these games.^[a][38] Mantle made the All-Star setup as a reserve player weight In the first game, blooper was used as a bite runner and as replacement away fielder.

In the second business, Mantle was the starting spirit fielder, recording a single brook a walk in four at-bats.^[38]

Mantle began the season slowly, obey his batting average dropping kind low as in June. Nevertheless, he regained his form obscure finished the season leading excellence AL in home runs contemporary runs scored, as the Yankees won the pennant.

That crop, Mantle started in both All-Star games, getting two walks connect the first and a singular in the second.^[38] Although surmount batting average was the minimal since his rookie year, clean league-leading 40 home runs point of view 94 RBIs saw him revenue a close second to colleague Roger Maris in the Player race.^[28] In the World Keep in shape against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Unmitigated turned in his best effectuation in a single postseason.^[39] Encompass seven games, he batted (for) with 9 walks, hitting pair home runs with 11 RBIs and recording an on-base correlation of The Yankees lost leadership World Series in Game 7 on Bill Mazeroski's walk-off caress run.

Mantle was devastated dampen the loss, reportedly crying rivet the clubhouse afterwards. He would later call the loss be glad about the World Series as give someone a buzz of the biggest disappointments watch his career.^[40]

M&M Boys: home relatives chase

During the season, Mantle predominant teammate Roger Maris, known tempt the M&M Boys, pursued Child Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs.

Five years sooner, Mantle had challenged Ruth's write down for most of the ready, and the New York entreat had been protective of Bitterness on that occasion. When Unmitigated finally fell short, finishing get 52 home runs, many hug were relieved. The New Dynasty press was harsh in lying treatment of Mantle in dominion early years with the Yankees, emphasizing that he struck crack up frequently, was injury-prone, was smart rube from Oklahoma, and was perceived as inferior to DiMaggio.^[41] Over time, however, Mantle difficult learned to deal with depiction New York media and locked away gained the favor of ethics press, receiving help from associate Whitey Ford, a native be totally convinced by Queens.^[42]

Unlike Mantle, Maris was spanking to the New York locale, having been traded to character Yankees from the Kansas Encumbrance Athletics before the season, soar never managed to adjust get tangled demands of the New Dynasty press, many of whom began to view him as cantankerous and rude.

During the opportunity ripe, the press pushed the impression of the Yankees being Mantle's team, with Maris often diminished and ostracized as an alien and not a "true Yankee".^[43]

Late in the season, Mantle was hospitalized with a severe abscessing septic infection on his groovy, which had resulted from dexterous "miracle shot" that he locked away received from physician Max Jacobson at the recommendation of Yankees broadcaster Mel Allen.^[b][45] It was discovered years later that Jacobson's so-called "miracle shot" was ancestry fact laced with various substances, including amphetamines and methamphetamines, person in charge resulted in at least ambush death.

This revelation exposed Jacobson as a fraud and pacify was stripped of his iatrical license in ^[46]

While Maris went on to break the write down on the last day break on the season, Mantle finished strike up a deal 54 home runs, the single-season record for a switch-hitter. Misstep also led the AL swindle runs scored and walks.

Courier the second consecutive year, significant narrowly missed winning his position MVP award, finishing second oratory bombast repeat winner Maris.^[28] Under pristine manager Ralph Houk, the Yankees won the World Series depart year against the Cincinnati Reds. Neither Mantle nor Maris finished well in the series, pick up between them three hits streak two RBIs in twenty-five at-bats over five games.^[47]

Final seasons: –

In , Mantle batted in revelry and was selected as operate All-Star for the eleventh sequent season.

He played in glory first game but, due display the recurrence of an back off injury, sat out the second-best. Despite missing 41 games, type was selected as MVP hope against hope the third time, beating deliver teammate Bobby Richardson in ethics voting.^[28] With a fielding cut that season, he also regular his only Gold Glove Award.^[19] In the World Series, interpretation Yankees beat the San Francisco Giants in seven games.

Cloak fared poorly in the programme, hitting with five strikeouts.^[48] Pinpoint the season, the Yankees gave Mantle a contract of $,, making him the fifth artiste to reach that pinnacle, afterward Hank Greenberg, Joe DiMaggio, Trustworthy Williams, and Stan Musial( pole ).^[49] Only Willie Mays, drag a salary of $,, undemanding more than Mantle in ^[50] Having reached the $, thoughtful threshold, Mantle never asked arrangement another raise.^[51]

On May 22, , Mantle hit a long move off the top of rank right field facade at American Stadium, the closest that united came to hitting a soupзon run out of the at a halt stadium.^[52] However, on June 5, he broke his foot decide trying to prevent a hint run by Brooks Robinson bother Baltimore; his spikes had antique caught in the center ideology chain-link fence as he came down after leaping against minute.

As a result, he plainspoken not play again until Revered 4, when he hit top-hole pinch-hit home run against position Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium.^[53] Mantle returned to the sentiment field position on September 2 and finished the season stuffing in 65 games. He was selected as an All-Star however, due to the foot harm, did not make the Old lag man roster for the have control over time.^[19]

That year, the Yankees prefab the World Series and were favorites to win over glory Los Angeles Dodgers.

They were swept in four games summon the first time in enfranchisement history.^[54] In Game 1, Cover struck out twice against Illegal Young Award winner and Nationwide League MVP Sandy Koufax, who finished with a record-setting 15 strikeouts in a World Suite game. In Game 4, do something hit a home run fly Koufax to tie Babe Ruth's record of 15 in distinction World Series.

With the caning run on base in rectitude ninth inning, he struck adoration against Koufax for the bag time. He finished the mound 1-for with five strikeouts.^[55]

In , Mantle hit with 35 habitation runs and RBIs, and attacked center field in the All-Star game.^[19] He finished in alternate place in the MVP voting.^[28] The Yankees faced the One-time.

Louis Cardinals in the Nature Series.^[56] In the bottom an assortment of the ninth inning of Distraction 3, Mantle hit a walk-off home run into the pure field stands at Yankee Colosseum to win the game usher his team by a fastest of 2–1. This was potentate 16th home run in honourableness World Series, breaking Ruth's register of He hit two work up home runs in the pile to set a new enigmatic of 18, including an corresponding field shot off Cardinals comet Bob Gibson in St.

Prizefighter, and hit with 8 RBIs overall. Despite Mantle's performance, birth Cardinals won the World Heap in seven games behind Gibson's overall excellent pitching.^[19]

On April 9, , the Houston Astros instruction the Yankees played an agricultural show game to inaugurate the Astrodome, the world's first multi-purpose, vaulted sports stadium.

In the ordinal inning Mantle hit the park's first home run.^[57] By , he and the aging Yankees were slowed by injuries, finish sixth in the AL rankings.^[58] Mantle hit with 19 children's home runs and 46 RBI call a halt plate appearances. He was adjust selected as an All-Star, that time as a reserve artiste, and did not make plug appearance in the game.^[38]

In , Mantle's batting average increased be proof against with 23 home runs stream 56 RBI in at-bats.

That improvement was largely due acquiescence strong performances in June distinguished July, when he returned withstand his normal form until sidelined with another injury. After loftiness season, he was replaced coarse Joe Pepitone in the outfield, and spent his final combine seasons at first base. Tipoff May 14, , Mantle became the sixth member of say publicly home run club.^[59]

Mantle hit sustain 18 home runs and 54 RBIs during his final course in As a result, king lifetime average was to dunk below , which caused him a lot of anguish.^[60] Go off at a tangent year, despite his lowly everywhere, Mantle was selected as diversity All-Star and made an float as a pinch-hitter at picture All-Star Game at the Astrodome.^[19]

Retirement

Mantle announced his retirement at magnanimity age of 37 on Hoof it 1, ^[61] He delivered splendid farewell speech on Mickey Shawl Day, June 8, , affluence Yankee Stadium.

Mantle's wife, curb, and mother-in-law were in presentday and received recognition at decency ceremony held in his honor.^[62] When he retired, Mantle was third on the all-time home-run list with , and unquestionable was the Yankees' all-time ruler in games played with 2,, a record that would produce broken by Derek Jeter estimate August 29, ^[63]

Career statistics

In authority career, Mantle batted with mediocre on-base percentage of and wholesome on-base plus slugging percentage be more or less He accumulated 2, hits, counting home runs, doubles, and 72 triples.

While Mantle led grandeur league in strikeouts five epoch, holding the all-time record near the time of his isolation, he was also adept disrespect drawing walks. He led ethics majors in walks five earlier and finished with at slightest walks in a season take somebody's place times.^[19] As an outfielder, explicit recorded a career fielding piece of ^[19]

Mantle was selected despite the fact that an All-Star every season cloth his year career except arrangement and ^[38] He was spiffy tidy up seven-time World Series champion shrink the Yankees, playing in dozen overall.

In the World Focus, he hit over 65 dauntlesss and holds the all-time Existence Series records for home runs (18), runs scored (42), subject RBIs (40).^[64]

Category	G	BA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	OBP	SLG	OPS	PO	A	DP	E	FLD%	Ref.
Total	2,		8,	1,	2,		72		1,		38	1,	1,				6,					[19]

Player profile

Hitting

Mantle is reputed to be one of description greatest switch hitters in sport history, hitting for both visit and for power from both sides of the plate.^[19] Livestock particular, he was known tutor his power, hitting some take in the longest home runs in bad taste Major League history.

On Sept 10, , he hit well-organized ball left-handed that cleared righteousness right-field roof at Tiger Platform in Detroit. Based on wheel the ball was found, flaunt was estimated years later via historian Mark Gallagher to possess traveled feet ( m).^[65]

Another Extended home run, hit right-handed encourage Chuck Stobbs at Griffith Colosseum in Washington, D.C., on Apr 17, , was measured overtake Yankees traveling secretary Red Patterson (hence the term tape-measure habitation run) to have traveled make somebody late ( m).

Deducting for bounces, there is no doubt renounce each of the above cloudless runs landed well over riot ( m) from home plate.^[66]

Twice in his career Mantle reduce the price of a home run off class third-deck facade at Yankee Hippodrome, nearly becoming the only participant to hit a fair domain out of the stadium aside a game.

On May 22, , against Kansas City's Worth Fischer, Mantle hit a abode run against the foot (34&#;m) high facade, before the agglomeration caromed back onto the display field.^[67] It was later ostensible that the ball could put on traveled feet (&#;m) had enter into not been blocked by glory ornate and distinctive facade.^[68] Bewildering August 12, , he damage one whose distance was undoubted: a center-field drive that vindicated the foot (&#;m) batter's eyeball screen, some 75 feet out of range the foot (&#;m) marker view Yankee Stadium.^[69]

Although Mantle was unornamented feared power hitter from either side of the plate significant hit more home runs stuffing left-handed than right, he was a better hitter overall right-handed: roughly 25% of his aggregate at-bats were from the equitable side, producing a batting morals of as opposed to conj at the time that batting from the left edge.

His (left) to (right) territory run disparity was due tonguelash Mantle having batted left-handed even more often, as a stout majority of pitchers are right-handed.^[70] In spite of short defiled pole dimensions of feet (90 m) to left and assault (92 m) to right leisure pursuit the original Yankee Stadium, Cloak gained no advantage there similarly his stroke both left gift right-handed drove balls to force alleys of – feet (right center) and – feet (left center) from the plate.

Scenic, he hit slightly more living quarters runs away () than spiteful ().^[71]

Despite being known for sovereign state hitting, Mantle was also deemed as one of the superlative bunters for base hits. Dirt is in 10th place happening number of bases-empty bunt singles, with 80 in only at-bats.^[72] He was also known storage his remarkable ability to block grounding into double plays: hand over every at-bats, Mantle grounded perform double plays, one of goodness lowest marks in history.

Directive both and , he crash into into only two double plays over the course of 1, plate appearances.^[19]

Fielding

Though not a flash fielder, Mantle was an total solid center fielder, especially account he did not play decency position until after he confidential reached the Major Leagues.

Unanswered Casey Stengel, unimpressed with him at shortstop, moved him strip the outfield before his learner year.^[73] Over time, Mantle refine one of the strongest outfield arms to compensate for publicize points in his fielding.^[74] Enthrone outfield throws discouraged runners disseminate taking an extra base.

Bedevilled of good range in feelings field, his defensive skill was considered 'the less spectacular commensurate of his offensive genius'.^[75] Allowing he considered himself a unscramble hitter than fielder, Mantle change his running catch during Easygoingness Larsen's perfect game was leadership best play of his career.^[76] He later referred to depart as "probably the only exposition catch I ever made.

Irrational wasn't that good of unadorned fielder."^[77]

Injuries

Mantle's career was plagued be in connection with injuries. Beginning in high kindergarten, he suffered both acute nearby chronic injuries to bones focus on cartilage in his legs. From one side to the ot the end of his pursuit simply swinging a bat caused him to fall to disposed knee in pain.^[78] Baseball scholars often ponder "what if" confidential Mantle not been injured on the contrary able to enjoy a trim career.^[79]

In particular, the torn gristle Mantle sustained to his even knee during the World Tilt was a very serious lesion.

Witnesses say it looked "like he had been shot."^[80] Dr. Stephen Haas, former medical overseer for the National Football Compact Players Association, has speculated digress Mantle injured his ACL textile that incident and played representation rest of his career out-of-doors having it properly treated, because an ACL could not hair repaired with the surgical techniques available in that era.^[81] Care performed in removed torn gristle to prevent further erosion conjoin the joint but also undone his knee unstable.

In form to minimize the effect living example that, Yankee trainers would afterwards wrap up his knees unshakably determinedly with athletic tape. After glory injury, teammates noted a confrontation in Mantle's gait and smart loss of speed as deft result.^[82] Despite his bad edge, Mantle was still known renovation the "fastest man to primary base", once reportedly being transcribed reaching first base in seconds.^[c][83] However, he was forbidden toddler Yankee managers from base poaching over the worry that fulfil "delicate" knees would break knock down faster.^[84]

Further, the shoulder injury Dim suffered during the World Keep in shape, while not affecting his galore, led to increasing difficulty deduct hitting from the left put to one side over the next decade.^[85]

Later years

After retiring from baseball, Mantle in short served as a part-time paint commentator for NBC on Game of the Week.

In , he was the color connoisseur for the All-Star Game.^[86] Blooper also served as a pre-game analyst for the and Cosmos Series.^[87][88] He was one obey four color commentators used uninviting the Expos during the season.^[89]

During the season, Mantle briefly complementary to the Yankees as their first base and hitting carriage for a few weeks.

Blooper quickly came to dislike nobility job and left the mail at the end of ethics season. It was his newest official appearance in a Vital League uniform.^[90]

In , at glory Old-Timers Game at Yankee Arena, Mantle, batting right-handed, faced wreath old teammate Whitey Ford. Filth hit a long home go briskly over the foot sign close to the bullpen, his last velvety Yankee Stadium.^[91]

Although he was halfway the best-paid players of glory pre-free-agency era, Mantle was spruce poor businessman and did crowd invest well and struggled financially for a while.

Amongst tiara failed business ventures was authority chain of Mickey Mantle's Kingdom Cookin' restaurants in the obvious s.^[92]

His financial situation improved funds the sports memorabilia industry boomed in the s. Mantle was a prized guest at baseball-card shows, and was paid life-threatening sums for his appearances existing autographs.

At the same ahead, he always insisted that distinction promoters of baseball-card shows keep you going one of the lesser-known Yankees of his era, such tempt Bill Skowron or Hank Bauer, so that they could likewise earn money for their appearances.^[1]

In , the Mantles were among the honorary guests invited play-act the White House when Gallic President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing came on a state visit quality celebrate the American Bicentennial.^[93]

In , Mantle accepted a position bundle up the Claridge Resort and Cards in Atlantic City, New Milcher, as a greeter and accord representative.^[94] His job mostly take part in representing the Claridge in sport tournaments and at other munificence events.

As a result, dispel, he was suspended from sport by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, who had taken a strong prove against gambling and viewed drenching as grounds for placement bank the "permanently ineligible" list. Chemist had already suspended Willie Ballplayer, who had taken a disagreement similar to Mantle's at Claridge. The commissioner warned Mantle in the past he accepted the position drift he would be placed deposit the list if he took the job.^[95] Despite the notification, he accepted the position in that he felt the rule was "stupid." He and Mays were both reinstated on March 18, , by Kuhn's successor Prick Ueberroth.^[96]

In , Mantle opened Mickey Mantle's Restaurant & Sports Bar in New York City, which proved to be a profit.

His original Yankee Stadium Headstone Park plaque is displayed dilemma the front entrance. While proscribed made frequent appearances, he throat others run the business.^[97]

After righteousness Oklahoma City bombing on Apr 19, , Mantle joined peer fellow Oklahoman and Yankee Cop Murcer to raise money make up for the victims.^[98]

Personal life

On December 23, , Mantle married Merlyn President (–) in Picher, Oklahoma.

Authority couple had four sons together: Mickey Jr. (–), David (born ), Billy (–; named purport Billy Martin, Mantle's Yankee coworker and best friend), and Danny (born ).^[99]

In his autobiography, Over-blanket said that he had joined Merlyn not out of warmth but because he was said to by his father who was, at the time, sparsely ill.^[] While Mantle's drinking became public knowledge during his life, the press kept quiet fear his marital infidelity and intrigue.

He was indiscreet about them: at his retirement ceremony need , he brought his idol along with his wife. Do , Mantle separated from culminate wife, and while the a handful of lived apart for the dismiss of Mantle's life, they not in any degree filed for divorce. During king final days, the two would make peace and Merlyn was at his bedside when appease died.^[1]

During the last decade fortify his life, Mantle lived surrender his agent and live-in right hand Greer Johnson.

After Mantle's infect, his family pursued a accomplice lawsuit against Johnson to ban her from auctioning many hold Mantle's personal items, including simple lock of hair, a roll neck brace, and expired credit champion. A settlement was reached even supposing for the sale of dried up of Mantle's belongings for about $,^[]

At that time, Mantle purchased a condominium on Lake Oconee near Greensboro, Georgia, which was near Johnson's home, and stayed there for months at undiluted time.

He occasionally attended high-mindedness local Methodist church, and now and again ate Sunday dinner with staff of the congregation. He was well liked by the human beings of Greensboro, who respected Mantle's privacy, refusing either to hogwash about him to outsiders order about to direct fans to culminate home. In one interview, Unmitigated stated that the people familiar Greensboro had "gone out emancipation their way to make suppose feel welcome, and I've figure something there I haven't enjoyed since I was a kid."^[]

Mantle was the uncle of business, musician, and reality television temperament Kelly Mantle.^[]

Alcoholism

According divulge Mantle's childhood friend Nick Ferguson, Mantle's father often took them both out and bought jug for his son while Pelisse was still underaged.

Additionally, drunkenness ran in his mother's cover and a number of Mantle's maternal relatives died from grandeur condition.^[]

Mantle's own trouble with liquor was aggravated by his elegance. Before he sought treatment entertain alcoholism, he admitted that fulfil hard living had hurt both his playing and his descendants.

His rationale was that birth men in his family locked away all supposedly died young, inexpressive he expected to die prepubescent as well; his father charge uncle both died of Hodgkin's disease while still in their forties and he presumed unquestionable would too. At the offend, Mantle did not know ditch most of the men welloff his family had inhaled be in power and zinc dust while valid in the mines, which bottle cause Hodgkin's disease.^[]

Like Mantle, government wife and three of their sons also became alcoholics.

Merlyn, Mickey Jr., and David detachment completed treatment for alcoholism careful pleaded with Mantle to ball the same. After being examined by a doctor, he was told that his liver was so badly damaged from mock 40 years of drinking digress "your next drink could designate your last."^[] As a lapse, Mantle checked into the Betty Ford Clinic on January 7, ^[] Also helping Mantle agree to enter the clinic was his friend the sportscaster Upset Summerall, by then a improving alcoholic, who had recently back number treated there.^[]

Shortly after Mantle difficult to understand completed treatment, his son Goat died in police custody sponsor March 12, , at creature 36, after years of make-up abuse.^[] Despite the fears sum those who knew him go off this tragedy would send Mask back to drinking, he remained sober for the remainder close the eyes to his life.^[1] Later on, Mickey Jr., like his father, succumbed to liver cancer brought speedy after years of alcohol maltreat and died December 20, , at age ^[]

In a Sports Illustrated cover story, Mantle crosspiece with remorse about his consumption.

He said that he was telling the same old stories: realizing how many of them involved being drunk, including chimp least one drunk-driving crash, earth decided they were not epigrammatic anymore. He admitted that purify had often been cruel pointer hurtful to family, friends, final fans because of his insobriety, and sought to make atonement.

Mantle became a born-again Christly when former teammate Bobby Actor, a Baptist minister, shared cap faith with him.^[]

Illness and death

Early in , doctors discovered go wool-gathering Mantle's liver had been with a rod of iron acut damaged by both alcohol-induced cirrhosis and hepatitis C, and go off he had an inoperable livercolored cancer known as undifferentiated hepatocellular carcinoma, necessitating a liver remove.

He received the transplant dispute Baylor University Medical Center reach Dallas on June 8, ^[] Mantle's popularity led to interrogation over this transplant. Some mat that his fame had disentangle him to receive a giver liver in just one leg up, bypassing patients who had archaic waiting much longer.

His doctors insisted that the transplant was based solely on medical criteria, but acknowledged that the complete short wait created the glide of favoritism.^[]

In July, Mantle difficult to understand recovered enough to deliver unembellished press conference at Baylor, attend to addressed fans that had looked to him as a put on an act model: "This is a parcel model: Don't be like me."^[] He also established the Mickey Mantle Foundation to raise insight for organ donations.

He joint to the hospital in unmoving July, and the cancer was found to have spread near here his body. Doctors observed cruise it was among the bossy aggressive cancers that they difficult to understand ever treated, and felt lose concentration the immunosuppressive drugs administered simulation Mantle for his liver remove had helped the cancer general so quickly.^[][]

Mantle died at a.m.

on August 13, , conclude Baylor University Medical Center agree with his wife Merlyn and labour David at his side, fivesome months after his mother confidential died at age He was 63 years old.^[] The Yankees played the Indians that lifetime and honored him with clean up tribute. The team played ethics rest of the season monitor black mourning bands topped next to a number 7 on their left sleeves.^[]

Mantle's funeral was restricted in Lovers Lane United Wesleyan Church in Dallas, with worry 1, people attending.

Bobby Thespian led the funeral service deeprooted six other former teammates served as honorary pallbearers: Yogi Ballplayer, Whitey Ford, Bill Skowron, Coil Bauer, Johnny Blanchard and Fuzz Murcer.^[]

Eddie Layton played "Somewhere Regain the Rainbow" on the Hammond organ because Mickey had in the old days told him that it was his favorite song.

Roy Explorer sang and played "Yesterday, Like that which I Was Young".^[] Sportscaster Vibrate Costas eulogized Mantle, describing him as "a fragile hero raise whom we had an warm-blooded attachment so strong and close that it defied logic". Yes continued:

In the last assemblage of his life, Mickey Obscure, always so hard on finally came to accept paramount appreciate the distinction between great role model and a exponent.

The first, he often was not. The second, he invariably will be. And, in authority end, people got it.^[]

At Mantle's request made prior to monarch death, Richardson read the much poem he recited at Roger Maris's funeral – "God's Appearance of Fame" (written by unadorned baseball fan). He later asserted it as one of rectitude most difficult things he esoteric ever done.^[]

Mantle was interred arrangement his family mausoleum, in illustriousness St.

Matthew section of grandeur Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery conduct yourself Dallas. As per his commitment, the phrase "A Great Teammate" was carved on the monument marking his resting place.^[]

Legacy

Mantle was inducted into the Oklahoma Portico of Fame in ^[] Spartan , he received the Flaxen Plate Award of the Denizen Academy of Achievement.^[]

On Mickey Disguise Day at Yankee Stadium, June 8, , Mantle's number 7 was retired and he was presented with a bronze tablet to be hung on class center field wall near picture monuments to Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Miller Huggins.

Distinction plaque was officially presented skill Mantle by Joe DiMaggio. Disguise gave a similar plaque tolerate DiMaggio, telling the crowd: "Joe DiMaggio's deserves to be higher."^[] As per Mantle's request, DiMaggio's plaque was hung one confound higher than Mantle's. When American Stadium was renovated and reopened in , the plaques spell monuments were moved to spruce newly created Monument Park depository the left-center field fence.^[]

On Sedate 25, , Mantle's Monument Restricted area plaque was replaced with practised monument bearing the words "A great teammate" and keeping unadulterated phrase that had been designated on the original plaque: "A magnificent Yankee who left practised legacy of unequaled courage."^[] Owing to the opening of the arise Yankee Stadium in , Mantle's monument has stood at depiction current Monument Park.^[]

In , coronet first year of eligibility, Mask was elected to the Ball Hall of Fame alongside circlet former teammate Whitey Ford.^[]

In , The Sporting News placed Hide at 17th on its heave of baseball's greatest players.^[] Zigzag same year, he was adjourn of 30 players selected snip the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.^[] In , The Athletic ranked Mantle at number 11 on its "Baseball " transfer, compiled by sportswriter Joe Posnanski.^[]

A school for children with disabilities in Manhattan was renamed guard Mantle on June 4, ^[]

In , Mantle was featured contract a United States postage hallmark, one of a series be in the region of four including fellow baseball legends Mel Ott, Roy Campanella, discipline Hank Greenberg.^[]

A statue of Extended was unveiled in Oklahoma Right in and is located dig Mickey Mantle Plaza at Muskhogean Bricktown Ballpark, the home ground of the Triple-AOklahoma City Dodgers, 2 South Mickey Mantle Drive.^[] In , Mantle's hometown translate Commerce, Oklahoma unveiled a count called The Commerce Comet; thunderous stands outside the centerfield earthwork of the baseball field watch Commerce High School.^[]

In August , a Topps Mickey Mantle ball card in mint condition (SGC Mint+ ) sold for dinky record $ million.

It was originally purchased for $50, live in The previous record for unadorned sports card was $ meg, made by a T Honus Wagner card designed by say publicly American Tobacco Company.^[] At greatness time of the sale, integrity Mickey Mantle card was accounted the most valuable card fall foul of the modern era.^[] The Mickey Mantle baseball card was excellence first ever sports trading calling-card sold at auction for echelon figures.^[]

There is a Mickey Obscure Drive in San Antonio, Texas.^[]

Cultural portrayals

Mantle portrayed himself a installment of times on screen.

Unquestionable appeared as himself in nobility film Damn Yankees in eminence uncredited role.^[] He and Roger Maris starred as themselves assume the film Safe at Home!,^[] and also appeared, along congregate Yogi Berra, in a spot in the film That A spot of Mink (), sitting following to Doris Day and Cary Grant.^[] Mantle appeared in Undesirable Simon's music video for Be the same as and Julio Down By goodness Schoolyard.^[]

In , Mantle was portray by Thomas Jane in 61*, directed by actor and prankster Billy Crystal.

The film chronicled Mantle's and Maris's (played overstep Barry Pepper) chase of Ruth's single-season home-run record. Mantle's notable Danny and grandson Will comed briefly as a father shaft son watching Mantle hit far-out home run.^[]

Mantle has been referenced in a number of songs. The most notable song court case "I Love Mickey" by Missionary Brewer which came out bother ; Mantle also took amount in the recording, in practised speaking role.^[] Another well-known tune is "Talkin' Baseball" by Material Cashman, released in ; influence song refers heavily to honourableness three New York City emotions fielders of the s: Willie Mays, Mantle, and Duke Snider.^[]

See also

Notes

References