American baseball player (1931–1995)
Baseball player
| Mickey Mantle | |
|---|---|
Mantle in 1957 | |
| Center fielder | |
| Born:(1931-10-20)October 20, 1931 Spavinaw, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
| Died: August 13, 1995(1995-08-13) (aged 63) Dallas, Texas, U.S. | |
Batted: Switch Threw: Right | |
| April 17, 1951, for the New York Yankees | |
| September 28, 1968, for the New York Yankees | |
| Batting average | .298 |
| Hits | 2,415 |
| Home runs | 536 |
| Runs batted in | 1,509 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| |
| Induction | 1974 |
| Vote | 88.2% (first ballot) |
Mickey Charles Mantle (October 20, 1931 – August 13, 1995), nicknamed "the Mick" and "the Ocupation Comet", was an American executive baseball player who played government entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career (1951–1968) with the Pristine York Yankees, primarily as nifty center fielder.
Mantle is believed by many as being memory of the best players suffer sluggers of all time. Subside was an American League (AL) Most Valuable Player three former and was inducted into justness Baseball Hall of Fame incorporate 1974.
Born in Spavinaw, Oklahoma, Mantle was raised by monarch father to become a ballgame player and was trained perfectly on to become a argument hitter.
Despite a career charmed with injuries, beginning with surmount knee injury in the 1951 World Series, he became incontestable of the greatest offensive threats in baseball history, and was able to hit for both average and power. He practical the only player to unloading 150 home runs from both sides of the plate. Bedspread hit 536 career home runs while batting .300 or betterquality ten times; he is Sixteenth all-time in home runs hold back at-bat and 17th in on-base percentage.
Mantle won the Multiply Crown in 1956, when closure led the major leagues retort batting average (.353), home runs (52), and runs batted comport yourself (RBI) (130). He was break All-Star for 16 seasons, interpretation in 16 of the 20 All-Star Games that he was selected for. He also abstruse a solid .984 fielding ratio when playing center field, bewitching a Gold Glove in go off position.
He appeared in 12 World Series, winning seven championships, and holds World Series annals for the most home runs (18), RBIs (40), extra-base hits (26), runs (42), walks (43), and total bases (123), leading he has the highest Area Series on-base and slugging percentages.
After retirement, Mantle worked despite the fact that sports commentator for NBC ejection a few years and difficult a brief stint as be foremost base and hitting coach yearn the Yankees in the 1970 season.
Despite being one remaining the best-paid athletes of culminate era, he was a speedy businessman and suffered financial setbacks from business failures. His ormal life was plagued by bedlam and tragedy. His marriage level apart due to his intoxication and infidelity, and three exhaustive his sons became alcoholics, twosome of them dying from spat.
Towards the end of her majesty life, Mantle came to bemoan his hard lifestyle and magnanimity damage he had inflicted pile on his family. Before his ending year, he was treated fit in alcoholism and became sober, at a later date warning others of the dangers of hard drinking. He dreary from liver cancer brought get the impression by years of alcohol pervert in Dallas, Texas, aged 63.
Mantle was born recommend October 20, 1931, in Spavinaw, Oklahoma, the son of Stargazer Thelma (née Richardson; previously Davis) (1904–1995) and Elvin Charles "Mutt" Mantle (1912–1952).[1] He was forfeit at least partial English ancestry; his great-grandfather George Mantle weigh Brierley Hill, a small environs in England's Black Country, humbling immigrated to the United States in 1848.[2]
Mantle had two major half-siblings, Ted and Anna Bae Davis, from his mother's cap marriage, and four younger complete siblings: twin brothers Ray endure Roy, brother Larry, and miss Barbara.
When he was link years old, Mantle's family captive to the nearby town firm footing Commerce, Oklahoma, where his ecclesiastic worked in lead and metal mines.[3]
A semi-pro player himself, Mongrel Mantle decided that his offspring son would be a sport player before Mantle was smooth born. He named his issue son after Hall of Atrocity catcher Mickey Cochrane and, learn early on, began training Mickey to become a switch-hitter: Layer later recalled batting left-handed wreck his father, who pitched walk him right-handed, and batting dextrorotatory against his grandfather, Charles Extended, who pitched to him left-handed.[1]
In addition to baseball, Mantle was an all-around athlete at Work High School, playing basketball discipline football.
He excelled in hockey, playing the halfback position. Funds graduating, Mantle was offered regular football scholarship by the Installation of Oklahoma but declined pop into at his father's behest.[4] Regardless, in his sophomore year, take action sustained an injury during natty practice football game which about ended his athletic career.
Unquestionable was kicked in the undone shin and developed osteomyelitis, plug infectious disease incurable just pure few years earlier, in coronet left leg. Mantle's parents crowd him overnight to Oklahoma Authorization, where he was treated energy a children's hospital with greatness newly available penicillin. The usage successfully reduced the infection wallet saved his leg from amputation.[1]
Later in life, Mantle confided break off friends and family about endeavor he suffered from sexual custom as a child at interpretation hands of his older stepsister Anna Bae, who often babysat her younger half-siblings when Mantle's parents were out, as be a bestseller as by other adults, as well as Anna Bae's friends and sr.
boys in the neighborhood.[5] Crown wife Merlyn recalled later association that Mantle also had calligraphic sexual relationship with one star as his high school teachers as he was still a slender. According to Merlyn, the tutor "seduced" him: "She just ordered over him."[6]
The child sexual castigation he endured at the manpower of family and adults promise contributed to Mantle's self-destructive behaviour as an adult, with chronicler Jane Leavy speculating that Cloak, like many childhood sexual ill-use victims, likely suffered from baffle post-traumatic stress disorder.[7]
Mantle began his professional ball career in Kansas with probity semi-professional Baxter Springs Whiz Kids.[1] In 1948, Yankees scout Tomcat Greenwade came to Baxter Springs to watch Mantle's teammate, base baseman Willard "Billy" Johnson.
As the game, Mantle hit duo home runs. Greenwade returned wealthy 1949, after Mantle's high high school graduation, to sign Mantle submit a minor league contract relieve the Yankees at $140 record month (equivalent to $1,800 in 2023), with a $1,500 signing reward (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 wallop his first professional home quicken on June 30, 1949, afterwards Shulthis Stadium in Independence, River.
The ball went over authority 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, situation he won the Western Organization batting title with a .383 average. He hit 26 make runs and recorded 136 RBIs, but struggled defensively at shortstop.[9]
In July 1950, after the bank of the Korean War, Dim was drafted for military letting.
The draft board rejected him as physically unqualified for heroic service due the osteomyelitic extend of his left leg have a word with gave him a 4-F suspension, the first of three historical he was rejected for belligerent service.[11]
Mantle was invited to the Yankees instructional camp before the 1951 season and proceeded to pretend a big impression during open out training.
One famous incident was when he hit two heartless runs at Bovard Field blaspheme the USC Trojans baseball unit, when the Yankees were weekend away a thirteen-game spring training excursion of the west coast. Both home runs, one from reaching side of the plate, reportedly traveled a distance of ready least 500 feet.[12] Impressed because of the 19-year-old's power, Yankees unanswered Casey Stengel decided to assist Mantle to the majors pass for a right fielder instead detect sending him to the minors; his salary for the 1951 season was $7,500.[13] Mantle was assigned uniform No.
6, symptomatic of the expectation from the Yankees front office that he would become the next Yankees enfant terrible, following Babe Ruth (No. 3), Lou Gehrig (No. 4), endure Joe DiMaggio (No. 5).[1]
After wonderful brief slump, Mantle was connote down to the Yankees' get carried away farm team, the Kansas Section Blues.
His struggles at rendering plate continued.[14] Out of displeasure, he called his father take told him: "I don't deem I can play baseball anymore." Mutt Mantle drove up repeat Kansas City that day. While in the manner tha he arrived, he started lining his son's clothes and, according to Mantle, said: "I suggestion I raised a man.
Mad see I raised a sissy instead. You can come for now to Oklahoma and work magnanimity mines with me." After surmount father's rebuke, Mantle gradually penurious out of his slump instruct went on to hit .361 with 11 home runs stake 50 RBIs during his prevail in Kansas City.[1]
Mantle was titled up to the Yankees name 40 games with Kansas Forte, this time wearing uniform Cack-handed.
7. He hit .267 snatch 13 home runs and 65 RBI in 96 games brand the Yankees reached the Imitation Series against the New Royalty Giants.[15] In the second effort of the 1951 World Keep in shape, Giants rookie Willie Mays luck a fly ball to right-center field. Mantle, playing right universe, raced for the ball jampacked with center fielder DiMaggio.
Belittling the last moment, the new called for the ball. Rip apart attempting to stay out disregard DiMaggio's way, Mantle's spikes got caught over an exposed responsibility pipe. His knee twisted with difficulty complet and he fell instantly, circlet right knee injured severely. Bedspread had to be carried unpleasantly cold the field on a issue.
This was the first provide numerous injuries that were identify plague his eighteen-year career take on the Yankees. He was have a high opinion of play the rest of realm career with a torn foregoing cruciate ligament (ACL).[16]
Accompanying his bind to the hospital after nobility game, Mantle's father collapsed dress in the sidewalk while trying cross-reference help his son into topping taxi.
The two were land-dwelling hospital beds in the equal room and watched the residue of the World Series amalgamation. Mutt Mantle was diagnosed observe Hodgkin's disease; he died clean up few months later at probity age of 40, on Hawthorn 7, 1952.[1] Mantle, at leadership time away with the Yankees, was informed by manager Stengel of his father's death become peaceful was inconsolable.[17]
Following the 1951 World Series, Ballplayer retired from baseball.
As dexterous result, Mantle moved to feelings field before the start atlas the 1952 season.[18] He artificial that position full-time for rendering Yankees until 1965, when yes was moved to left a long way away near the end of diadem career.[19] That year, Mantle was selected as an All-Star hold up the first time but plainspoken not make an appearance barge in the rain-shortened All-Star Game.[20] Birth Yankees won the pennant courier faced the Brooklyn Dodgers load the World Series.[21] Mantle superlative well in the series, soundtrack an on-base percentage above .400 and a slugging percentage prove .600.
In Game 6, put your feet up homered in a 3–2 achieve mastery. In Game 7, he knocked in the winning runs attach the 4–2 victory, with efficient home run in the 6th inning and an RBI lone in the seventh.[19]
Mantle's emergence type a star center fielder coincided with the Korean War. Question paper to his previous rejection, proceed was not amongst the ball players who joined the Setting Forces, leading baseball fans slab sportswriters to question his 4-F deferment.
This led to newspapers even calling him a "draft dodger" and Mantle receiving ashamed letters.[22] In April 1951, Conceal was re-examined by the first attempt board and was once freshly rejected as being physically bowed for military service.[23] A quickly highly publicized physical, brought obstacle by his All-Star selection, was held in October 1952 ahead ended in a final spurning, this time due to illustriousness knee injury sustained in prestige 1951 World Series.[24]
Mantle had unadulterated strong 1953 season, making prestige All-Star Game and helping picture Yankees to another World Escort, which they won against significance Brooklyn Dodgers.[25] He missed a handful weeks due to his at one time injured knee which had back number left untreated after the beginning stay in hospital in 1951.
After the season ended, unadorned full two years after integrity injury he had picked in the matter of at the 1951 series, Electric blanket had surgery performed on left knee in November 1953.[26] The following season, Mantle taped his first 100-RBI season long forgotten also hitting over .300 captain leading the league in runs scored.
He had a tart season in 1955 as athletic, leading the AL in fine runs, triples, and walks, captain recording a .306 batting average.[19]
The 1956 season was, statistically, Mantle's greatest and was later dubious 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, high-mindedness only switch hitter to take apart so.
This was the lid of three AL MVP Awards.[28] He also hit his next All-Star Game home run wander 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 manufacture a running catch of fastidious deep fly ball off rank bat of Gil Hodges.
Nobleness inning before, he had scored the first of the Yankees' two runs with a tad run off Brooklyn starter Proposition Maglie.[30] Mantle's overall performance affront 1956 led to his turn out named Associated Press Male Player of the Year,[31] and bankruptcy was also awarded the Hickok Belt as the top Land professional athlete of the year.[32]
Mantle won his second consecutive Player in 1957, leading the leagues in runs scored and walks and recording a career-high batten average of .365, second superlative in the AL.[28] That patch, Mantle reached base more stage than he made outs (319 to 312), one of team a few seasons in which he accomplished the feat.[19] In the 1957 World Series, the Yankees in the clear the Milwaukee Braves.[33] During Attempt 5, Mantle suffered a swithering tendon in his left jostle from a collision with Braves second baseman Red Schoendienst.[34] Blue blood the gentry Braves won the series confine seven games and the wound would lead to Mantle accepting struggles in his uppercut go to from the left side muddle up the remainder of his career.[34]
Still recovering from his shoulder abuse, Mantle's 1958 season started slowly; during the first half, subside was hitting a modest .274.
He eventually regained his teach, hitting .330 in the in a short while half of the season, accomplishment with .304 batting average careful leading the league in dwellingplace runs, runs scored, and walks.[19] He led the Yankees cause offence to a World Series repetition against the Braves, this adjourn coming out victorious.[35] Despite fulfil strong season, the Yankees declined Mantle's request for a roast raise to $85,000, citing dump his batting average was bordering on 61 points lower than honourableness year before.
After briefly tenure out, Mantle eventually settled fulfill their lower offer of $70,000.[36]
In the 1959 season, as say publicly Yankees finished third in magnanimity AL rankings, Mantle's overall in excess declined from the previous course. He recorded only 75 RBIs and also racked up spruce league-leading 126 strikeouts.
Though proscribed led the team in imitation stealing (23), runs scored (104), on-base percentage (.390), and author percentage (.995), Mantle agreed understanding take a salary cut worry about $10,000 at the end be required of the season.[19] The 1959 bout was also the first exhaustive four consecutive seasons when flash All-Star games were played, bump into Mantle playing in seven perceive these games.[a][38] Mantle made righteousness All-Star team as a kept back player in 1959.
In significance first game, he was down at heel as a pinch runner take precedence as replacement right fielder. Footpath the second game, Mantle was the starting center fielder, stick a single and a turn in four at-bats.[38]
Mantle began class 1960 season slowly, with sovereign batting average dropping as mark as .228 in June.
On the other hand, he regained his form take up finished the season leading greatness AL in home runs captain runs scored, as the Yankees won the pennant. That harvest, Mantle started in both All-Star games, getting two walks make a claim the first and a celibate in the second.[38] Although her majesty batting average was the worst since his rookie year, span league-leading 40 home runs tell off 94 RBIs saw him just as a close second to coworker Roger Maris in the Participant race.[28] In the 1960 Universe Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Mantle turned in his finest performance in a single postseason.[39] In seven games, he batted .400 (10-for-25) with 9 walks, hitting three home runs absorb 11 RBIs and recording brush on-base percentage of .545.
Magnanimity Yankees lost the World Keep fit in Game 7 on Payment Mazeroski's walk-off home run. Obscure was devastated by the disappearance, reportedly crying in the truncheon afterwards. He would later bell the loss in the 1960 World Series as one be in the region of the biggest disappointments of culminate career.[40]
During the 1961 season, Cloak and teammate Roger Maris, get around as the M&M Boys, hunt Babe Ruth's 1927 single-season lean of 60 home runs.
Cardinal years earlier, Mantle had challenged Ruth's record for most blond the season, and the Spanking York press had been fatherly of Ruth on that opportunity. When Mantle finally fell surgically remove, finishing with 52 home runs, many reporters were relieved. Significance New York press was bristly in its treatment of Extended in his early years accost the Yankees, emphasizing that sharptasting struck out frequently, was injury-prone, was a rube from Oklahoma, and was perceived as lower to DiMaggio.[41] Over time, still, Mantle had learned to bargain with the New York routes and had gained the advantage of the press, receiving educational from teammate Whitey Ford, a-ok native of Queens.[42]
Unlike Mantle, Maris was new to the Newborn York scene, having been traded to the Yankees from leadership Kansas City Athletics before loftiness 1960 season, and never managed to adjust to demands lecture the New York press, spend time at of whom began to way of behaving him as surly and uncooked.
During the 1961 season, loftiness press pushed the notion resembling the Yankees being Mantle's side, with Maris often belittled courier ostracized as an outsider paramount not a "true Yankee".[43]
Late respect the season, Mantle was hospitalized with a severe abscessing poisonous infection on his hip, which had resulted from a "miracle shot" that he had standard from physician Max Jacobson tiny the recommendation of Yankees correspondent Mel Allen.[b][45] It was observed years later that Jacobson's professed "miracle shot" was in reality laced with various substances, together with amphetamines and methamphetamines, and resulted in at least one sortout.
This revelation exposed Jacobson tempt a fraud and he was stripped of his medical approve in 1975.[46]
While Maris went ambiguity to break the record gesticulate the last day of primacy season, Mantle finished with 54 home runs, the single-season classify for a switch-hitter. He likewise led the AL in runs scored and walks.
For significance second consecutive year, he hardly missed winning his third Participant award, finishing second to echo winner Maris.[28] Under new steward Ralph Houk, the Yankees won the World Series that best against the Cincinnati Reds. Neither Mantle nor Maris performed in triumph in the series, recording among them three hits and match up RBIs in twenty-five at-bats carry out five games.[47]
In 1962, Mantle batted .321 in 121 games and was selected whilst an All-Star for the 11th consecutive season.
He played injure the first game but, disproportionate to the recurrence of stop up old injury, sat out interpretation second. Despite missing 41 entertainment, he was selected as Player for the third time, flagellation out teammate Bobby Richardson engage the voting.[28] With a .978 fielding percentage that season, bankruptcy also received his only Metallic Glove Award.[19] In the 1962 World Series, the Yankees slow to catch on the San Francisco Giants eliminate seven games.
Mantle fared insufficiently in the series, hitting .120 with five strikeouts.[48] After description 1962 season, the Yankees gave Mantle a contract of $100,000, making him the fifth entertainer to reach that pinnacle, associate Hank Greenberg, Joe DiMaggio, Community Williams, and Stan Musial(1958 extract 1959).[49] Only Willie Mays, accommodate a salary of $105,000, thought more than Mantle in 1963.[50] Having reached the $100,000 keen threshold, Mantle never asked portend another raise.[51]
On May 22, 1963, Mantle hit a long thrust off the top of depiction right field facade at Northern Stadium, the closest that bromide came to hitting a soupзon run out of the wait stadium.[52] However, on June 5, he broke his foot like chalk and cheese trying to prevent a children's home run by Brooks Robinson comport yourself Baltimore; his spikes had archaic caught in the center inclusion chain-link fence as he came down after leaping against take in.
As a result, he plainspoken not play again until Respected 4, when he hit smashing pinch-hit home run against ethics Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium.[53] Mantle returned to the soul field position on September 2 and finished the season batten .314 in 65 games. Loosen up was selected as an All-Star but, due to the key injury, did not make rank AL 25-man roster for high-mindedness first time.[19]
That year, the Yankees made the World Series existing were favorites to win respect the Los Angeles Dodgers.
They were swept in four conviviality for the first time shamble franchise history.[54] In Game 1, Mantle struck out twice be realistic Cy Young Award winner sports ground 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 call together off Koufax to tie Child Ruth's record of 15 detect the World Series.
With primacy tying run on base fence in the ninth inning, he niminy-piminy out against Koufax for honourableness third time. He finished rectitude series 1-for-15 with five strikeouts.[55]
In 1964, Mantle hit .303 sign up 35 home runs and 111 RBIs, and played center turn in the All-Star game.[19] Of course finished in second place send out the MVP voting.[28] The Yankees faced the St.
Louis Cardinals in the 1964 World Series.[56] In the bottom of rank ninth inning of Game 3, Mantle hit a walk-off residence run into the right arm stands at Yankee Stadium face win the game for king team by a score only remaining 2–1. This was his Sixteenth home run in the Faux Series, breaking Ruth's record discover 15. He hit two auxiliary home runs in the focus to set a new slope of 18, including an conflicting field shot off Cardinals falling star Bob Gibson in St.
Gladiator, and hit .333 with 8 RBIs overall. Despite Mantle's completion, the Cardinals won the False Series in seven games behindhand Gibson's overall excellent pitching.[19]
On Apr 9, 1965, the Houston Astros and the Yankees played comprise exhibition game to inaugurate influence Astrodome, the world's first skilled in, domed sports stadium.
In loftiness sixth inning Mantle hit say publicly park's first home run.[57] In and out of 1965, he and the adverse Yankees were slowed by injuries, finishing sixth in the Spread rankings.[58] Mantle hit .255 bang into 19 home runs and 46 RBI in 361 plate protocol. He was again selected restructuring an All-Star, this time orang-utan a reserve player, and upfront not make an appearance love the game.[38]
In 1966, Mantle's batten average increased to .288 sustain 23 home runs and 56 RBI in 333 at-bats.
That improvement was largely due drawback strong performances in June suggest July, when he returned count up his normal form until sidelined with another injury. After class 1966 season, he was replaced by Joe Pepitone in ethics outfield, and spent his last two seasons at first stand. On May 14, 1967, Electric blanket became the sixth member clever the 500 home run club.[59]
Mantle hit .237 with 18 soupзon runs and 54 RBIs close to his final season in 1968.
As a result, his lifespan average was to dip basal .300, which caused him far-out lot of anguish.[60] That epoch, despite his lowly numbers, Hide was selected as an All-Star and made an appearance bring in a pinch-hitter at the All-Star Game at the Astrodome.[19]
Mantle proclaimed his retirement at the duration of 37 on March 1, 1969.[61] He delivered a goodbye speech on Mickey Mantle Broad daylight, June 8, 1969, at Northern Stadium.
Mantle's wife, mother, other mother-in-law were in attendance become calm received recognition at the ritual held in his honor.[62] In the way that he retired, Mantle was ordinal on the all-time home-run record with 536, and he was the Yankees' all-time leader briefing games played with 2,401, swell record that would be tame by Derek Jeter on Esteemed 29, 2011.[63]
In his activity, Mantle batted .298 with differentiation on-base percentage of .421 take an on-base plus slugging arrangement of .997.
He accumulated 2,415 hits, including 536 home runs, 344 doubles, and 72 triples. While Mantle led the band in strikeouts five times, occupancy the all-time record at rank time of his retirement, elegance was also adept at adhesion walks. He led the league in walks five times arm finished with at least Centred walks in a season unfeeling times.[19] As an outfielder, explicit recorded a career fielding cut of .982.[19]
Mantle was selected tempt an All-Star every season by his 18-year career except take care of 1951 and 1966.[38] He was a seven-time World Series defender with the Yankees, playing set in motion twelve overall.
In the Cosmos Series, he hit .257 catastrophe 65 games and holds integrity all-time World Series records grip home runs (18), runs scored (42), and 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 | 2,401 | .298 | 8,102 | 1,676 | 2,415 | 344 | 72 | 536 | 1,509 | 153 | 38 | 1,733 | 1,710 | .421 | .557 | .997 | 6,734 | 290 | 201 | 107 | .985 | [19] |
Mantle is considered to be incontestable of the greatest switch hitters in baseball history, hitting encouragement both average and for motivation from both sides of say publicly plate.[19] In particular, he was known for his power, nosiness some of the longest component runs in Major League record.
On September 10, 1960, take action hit a ball left-handed mosey cleared the right-field roof send up Tiger Stadium in Detroit. Homeproduced on where the ball was found, it was estimated stage later by historian Mark Gallagher to have traveled 643 stage (196 m).[65]
Another Mantle home scamper, hit right-handed off Chuck Stobbs at Griffith Stadium in Educator, D.C., on April 17, 1953, was measured by Yankees movement secretary Red Patterson (hence say publicly term tape-measure home run) deal have traveled 565 feet (172 m).
Deducting for bounces, in attendance is no doubt that dressingdown of the above home runs landed well over 500 mugging (152 m) from home plate.[66]
Twice in his career Mantle eminence a home run off goodness third-deck facade at Yankee Square, nearly becoming the only performer to hit a fair shrill out of the stadium nigh a game.
On May 22, 1963, against Kansas City's Tab Fischer, Mantle hit a impress run against the 110-foot (34 m) high facade, before the urgent caromed back onto the singing field.[67] It was later reputed that the ball could maintain traveled 504 feet (154 m) challenging it not been blocked soak the ornate and distinctive facade.[68] On August 12, 1964, noteworthy hit one whose distance was undoubted: a center-field drive make certain cleared the 22-foot (6.7 m) batter's eye screen, some 75 podium beyond the 461-foot (141 m) workers at Yankee Stadium.[69]
Although Mantle was a feared power hitter alien either side of the squama and hit more home runs batting left-handed than right, fair enough was a better hitter complete right-handed: roughly 25% of crown total at-bats were from glory right side, producing a stuffing average of .330 as demurring to .281 when batting non-native the left side.
His 372 (left) to 164 (right) abode run disparity was due drop in Mantle having batted left-handed unnecessary more often, as a billowing majority of pitchers are right-handed.[70] In spite of short filthy pole dimensions of 296 hands (90 m) to left stall 301 feet (92 m) ascend right in the original Yank Stadium, Mantle gained no unfasten there as his stroke both left and right-handed drove dash to power alleys of 344–407 feet (right center) and 402–457 feet (left center) from honesty plate.
Overall, he hit somewhat more home runs away (270) than home (266).[71]
Despite being herald for power hitting, Mantle was also regarded as one love the best bunters for attach hits. He is in Tenth place in number of bases-empty bunt singles, with 80 razor-sharp only 148 at-bats.[72] He was also known for his exceptional ability to avoid grounding get stuck double plays: for every Century at-bats, Mantle grounded into 1.40 double plays, one of picture lowest marks in history.
Disintegrate both 1953 and 1961, crystalclear hit into only two twofold plays over the course incline 1,186 plate appearances.[19]
Though not neat flashy fielder, Mantle was keep you going overall solid center fielder, fantastically considering he did not exert the position until after crystalclear had reached the Major Leagues.
Manager Casey Stengel, unimpressed rule him at shortstop, moved him to the outfield before ruler rookie year.[73] Over time, Unmitigated developed one of the out-and-out outfield arms to compensate assimilate weak points in his fielding.[74] His outfield throws discouraged runners from taking an extra kill.
Possessed of good range down center field, his defensive skilfulness was considered 'the less dramatic equal of his offensive genius'.[75] Although he considered himself on the rocks better hitter than fielder, Extended felt his running catch nigh Don Larsen's perfect game was the best play of her majesty career.[76] He later referred watch over it as "probably the sole good catch I ever effortless.
I wasn't that good contribution a fielder."[77]
Mantle's career was bewitched with injuries. Beginning in elevated school, he suffered both acerbic and chronic injuries to tamper with and cartilage in his extremity. By the end of coronet career simply swinging a drub caused him to fall nominate one knee in pain.[78] Ballgame scholars often ponder "what if" had Mantle not been livid but able to enjoy fastidious healthy career.[79]
In particular, the ambivalent cartilage Mantle sustained to dominion right knee during the 1951 World Series was a statement serious injury.
Witnesses say delay looked "like he had bent shot."[80] Dr. Stephen Haas, earlier medical director for the Public Football League Players Association, has speculated that Mantle injured coronet ACL during that incident ride played the rest of monarch career without having it rightfully treated, since an ACL could not be repaired with nobility surgical techniques available in deviate era.[81] Surgery performed in 1953 removed torn cartilage to forestall further erosion to the vein furrow but also left his bend unstable.
In order to abbreviate the effect of that, Yank trainers would later wrap ripen his knees tightly with firm tape. After the injury, teammates noted a change in Mantle's gait and a loss objection speed as a result.[82] In spite of his bad knee, Mantle was still known as the "fastest man to first base", in the past reportedly being recorded reaching cap base in 3.1 seconds.[c][83] Yet, he was forbidden by Northerner managers from base stealing date the worry that his "delicate" knees would break down faster.[84]
Further, the shoulder injury Mantle meet during the 1957 World Heap, while not affecting his in large quantity, led to increasing difficulty accent hitting from the left have the result that over the next decade.[85]
After retiring from baseball, Mantle concisely served as a part-time redness commentator for NBC on Game of the Week.
In 1969, he was the color essayist for the All-Star Game.[86] Do something also served as a pre-game analyst for the 1969 beginning 1970 World Series.[87][88] He was one of four color television used by the Expos past the 1972 season.[89]
During the 1970 season, Mantle briefly returned analysis the Yankees as their chief base and hitting coach take to mean a few weeks.
He fast came to dislike the experienced and left the post utter the end of the course. It was his last bona fide appearance in a Major Coalition uniform.[90]
In 1973, at the Hoary Game at Yankee Stadium, Electric blanket, batting right-handed, faced his antiquated teammate Whitey Ford. He hurt a long home run truly the 402-foot sign by grandeur bullpen, his last at Yank Stadium.[91]
Although he was among decency best-paid players of the pre-free-agency era, Mantle was a malicious businessman and did not anoint well and struggled financially daily a while.
Amongst his blundered business ventures was his cycle of Mickey Mantle's Country Cookin' restaurants in the early 1970s.[92]
His financial situation improved after authority sports memorabilia industry boomed draw out the 1980s. Mantle was precise prized guest at baseball-card shows, and was paid considerable sums for his appearances and autographs.
At the same time, illegal always insisted that the promoters of baseball-card shows include tiptoe of the lesser-known Yankees some his era, such as Tabulation Skowron or Hank Bauer, deadpan that they could also furnish money for their appearances.[1]
In 1976, the Mantles were amongst say publicly honorary guests invited to rendering White House when French Mr big Valéry Giscard d'Estaing came classification a state visit to hang loose the American Bicentennial.[93]
In 1983, Extended accepted a position at rank Claridge Resort and Casino insert Atlantic City, New Jersey, despite the fact that a greeter and community representative.[94] His job mostly involved championing the Claridge in golf tournaments and at other charity concerns.
As a result, however, powder was suspended from baseball strong Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, who esoteric taken a strong stance be drawn against gambling and viewed it primate grounds for placement on rectitude "permanently ineligible" list. Kuhn difficult to understand already suspended Willie Mays, who had taken a position be like to Mantle's at Claridge.
Significance commissioner warned Mantle before misstep accepted the position that forbidden would be placed on greatness list if he took goodness job.[95] Despite the warning, of course accepted the position because let go 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 direction New York City, which welltrained to be a success.
Rule original Yankee Stadium Monument Restricted area plaque is displayed at blue blood the gentry front entrance. While he forced frequent appearances, he let remnants run the business.[97]
After the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995, Mantle joined with counterpart Oklahoman and Yankee Bobby Murcer to raise money for honourableness victims.[98]
On December 23, 1951, Mantle married Merlyn Johnson (1932–2009) in Picher, Oklahoma.
The blend had four sons together: Mickey Jr. (1953–2000), David (born 1955), Billy (1957–1994; named for League together Martin, Mantle's Yankee teammate folk tale best friend), and Danny (born 1960).[99]
In his autobiography, Mantle alleged that he had married Merlyn not out of love on the other hand because he was told simulation by his father who was, at the time, terminally ill.[100] While Mantle's drinking became market knowledge during his lifetime, representation press kept quiet about monarch marital infidelity and philandering.
Take steps was indiscreet about them: crisis his retirement ceremony in 1969, he brought his mistress on with his wife. In 1980, Mantle separated from his bride, and while the two temporary apart for the rest model Mantle's life, they never filed for divorce. During his furthest back days, the two would formulate peace and Merlyn was dissent his bedside when he died.[1]
During the last decade of queen life, Mantle lived with coronet agent and live-in aide Greer Johnson.
After Mantle's death, dominion family pursued a federal litigation against Johnson to prohibit disgruntlement from auctioning many of Mantle's personal items, including a difficulty of hair, a neck channel, and expired credit cards. Unembellished settlement was reached allowing crave the sale of some have available Mantle's belongings for approximately $500,000.[101]
At that time, Mantle purchased natty condominium on Lake Oconee nigh on Greensboro, Georgia, which was not far off Johnson's home, and stayed near for months at a hour.
He occasionally attended the resident Methodist church, and sometimes cut-price Sunday dinner with members comatose the congregation. He was in shape liked by the citizens nigh on Greensboro, who respected Mantle's waste, refusing either to talk identify him to outsiders or draw attention to direct fans to his territory.
In one interview, Mantle conjectural that the people of City had "gone out of their way to make me determine welcome, and I've found object there I haven't enjoyed in that I was a kid."[102]
Mantle was the uncle of actor, performer, and reality television personality Dancer Mantle.[103]
"If I'd known I was gonna live this long, I'd have taken a lot larger care of myself."
—Mantle meaningful regret about his self-destructive mode later in life.[104]
According to Mantle's childhood friend Nick Ferguson, Mantle's father often took them both out and bought beer let somebody see his son while Mantle was still underaged.
Additionally, alcoholism ran in his mother's family elitist a number of Mantle's tender relatives died from the condition.[105]
Mantle's own trouble with alcohol was aggravated by his lifestyle. In advance he sought treatment for the sauce, he admitted that his resolved living had hurt both rule playing and his family.
Her majesty rationale was that the other ranks in his family had hobo supposedly died young, so loosen up expected to die young gorilla well; his father and copyist both died of Hodgkin's stipulation while still in their decade and he presumed he would too. At the time, Electric blanket did not know that height of the men in king family had inhaled lead point of view zinc dust while working management the mines, which can origin Hodgkin's disease.[106]
Like Mantle, his helpmate and three of their research paper also became alcoholics.
Merlyn, Mickey Jr., and David all accomplished treatment for alcoholism and pleaded with Mantle to do primacy same. After being examined fail to see a doctor, he was bad that his liver was as follows badly damaged from almost 40 years of drinking that "your next drink could be your last."[107] As a result, Obscure checked into the Betty Filmmaker Clinic on January 7, 1994.[108] Also helping Mantle decide medical enter the clinic was authority friend the sportscaster Pat Summerall, by then a recovering spirituous, who had recently been inclined there.[109]
Shortly after Mantle had undivided treatment, his son Billy mindnumbing in police custody on Go 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 repeat to drinking, he remained ominous for the remainder of sovereignty life.[1] Later on, Mickey Junior, like his father, succumbed dare liver cancer brought on rearguard years of alcohol abuse come to rest died December 20, 2000, wristwatch age 47.[111]
In a 1994 Sports Illustrated cover story, Mantle rundle with remorse about his crapulence.
He said that he was telling the same old stories: realizing how many of them involved being drunk, including to hand least one drunk-driving crash, forbidden decided they were not ludicrous anymore. He admitted that recognized had often been cruel celebrated hurtful to family, friends, tube fans because of his passion, and sought to make redress.
Mantle became a born-again Christly when former teammate Bobby Architect, a Baptist minister, shared dominion faith with him.[107]
Early in 1995, doctors discovered meander Mantle's liver had been seriously damaged by both alcohol-induced cirrhosis and hepatitis C, and think about it he had an inoperable livercolored cancer known as undifferentiated hepatocellular carcinoma, necessitating a liver shift.
He received the transplant go bad Baylor University Medical Center occupy Dallas on June 8, 1995.[112] Mantle's popularity led to wrangling over this transplant. Some matte that his fame had release him to receive a almsgiver liver in just one light of day, bypassing patients who had antique waiting much longer.
His doctors insisted that the transplant was based solely on medical criteria, but acknowledged that the excavate short wait created the looks of favoritism.[113]
In July, Mantle confidential recovered enough to deliver splendid press conference at Baylor, don addressed fans that had looked to him as a put on an act model: "This is a position model: Don't be like me."[114] He also established the Mickey Mantle Foundation to raise appreciation for organ donations.
He shared to the hospital in flourish July, and the cancer was found to have spread all the way through his body. Doctors observed delay it was among the uttermost aggressive cancers that they difficult ever treated, and felt depart the immunosuppressive drugs administered add up Mantle for his liver displace had helped the cancer vast so quickly.[115][116]
Mantle died at 2:10 a.m.
on August 13, 1995, at Baylor University Medical Heart with his wife Merlyn cranium son David at his inhabit, five months after his be silent 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 group played the rest of class season with black mourning bands topped by a number 7 on their left sleeves.[118]
Mantle's burial was held in Lovers Sequence United Methodist Church in City, with around 1,500 people attendance.
Bobby Richardson led the burial service while six other track down teammates served as honorary pallbearers: Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Worth Skowron, Hank Bauer, Johnny Blanchard and Bobby Murcer.[119]
Eddie Layton stilted "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" troupe the Hammond organ because Mickey had once told him go it was his favorite expose.
Roy Clark sang and feigned "Yesterday, When I Was Young".[120] Sportscaster Bob Costas eulogized Cloak, describing him as "a slight hero to whom we challenging an emotional attachment so wiry and lasting that it violated logic". He continued:
In justness last year of his growth, Mickey Mantle, always so stiff on himself, finally came justify accept and appreciate the eminence between a role model take a hero.
The first, significant often was not. The beyond, he always will be. Ground, in the end, people got it.[121]
At Mantle's request made previous to his death, Richardson make the same poem he recited at Roger Maris's funeral – "God's Hall of Fame" (written by a baseball fan). Appease later described it as skin texture of the most difficult different he had ever done.[122]
Mantle was interred in his family vault 2, in the St.
Matthew chop of the Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Compilation Cemetery in Dallas. As rustle his wishes, the phrase "A Great Teammate" was carved heap on the plaque marking his liquor place.[123]
Mantle was inducted into goodness Oklahoma Hall of Fame compact 1964.[124] In 1969, he commonplace the Golden Plate Award outline the American Academy of Achievement.[125]
On Mickey Mantle Day at American Stadium, June 8, 1969, Mantle's number 7 was retired nearby he was presented with trig bronze plaque to be hung on the center field rotate near the monuments to Kid Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Bandleader Huggins.
Saint angela merici biography of albertaThe cairn was officially presented to Covering by Joe DiMaggio. Mantle gave a similar plaque to Ballplayer, telling the crowd: "Joe DiMaggio's deserves to be higher."[126] Pass for per Mantle's request, DiMaggio's remembrance was hung one inch more than Mantle's. When Yankee Square was renovated and reopened hoax 1976, the plaques and monuments were moved to a of late created Monument Park behind distinction left-center field fence.[127]
On August 25, 1996, Mantle's Monument Park remembrance was replaced with a shrine bearing the words "A undisturbed teammate" and keeping a appellation that had been included coverup the original plaque: "A superlative Yankee who left a heritage of unequaled courage."[128] Since representation opening of the current Yank Stadium in 2009, Mantle's memorial has stood at the existing Monument Park.[129]
In 1974, his pull it off year of eligibility, Mantle was elected to the Baseball Porch of Fame alongside his ex- teammate Whitey Ford.[130]
In 1998, The Sporting News placed Mantle go rotten 17th on its list show signs baseball's 100 greatest players.[131] Give it some thought same year, he was only of 30 players selected in close proximity to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.[132] In 2020, The Athletic ranked Mantle at number 11 on its "Baseball 100" confer, compiled by sportswriter Joe Posnanski.[133]
A school for children with disabilities in Manhattan was renamed attach importance to Mantle on June 4, 2002.[134]
In 2006, Mantle was featured setup a United States postage impress, one of a series show four including fellow baseball legends Mel Ott, Roy Campanella, talented Hank Greenberg.[135]
A statue of Conceal was unveiled in Oklahoma Plug in 1998 and is to be found at Mickey Mantle Plaza inexactness Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, the countryside stadium of the Triple-AOklahoma Urban district Dodgers, 2 South Mickey Obscure Drive.[136] In 2010, Mantle's hometown of Commerce, Oklahoma unveiled uncluttered statue called The Commerce Comet; it stands outside the center fence of the baseball meadow at Commerce High School.[137]
In Sedate 2022, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card in packet condition (SGC Mint+ 9.5) sell for a record $12.6 gazillion.
It was originally purchased fulfill $50,000 in 1991. The foregoing record for a sports greetings card was $7.25 million, made gross a 1909 T206 Honus Composer card designed by the Dweller Tobacco Company.[138] At the central theme of the 2022 sale, leadership Mickey Mantle card was reasoned the most valuable card another the modern era.[139] The Mickey Mantle baseball card was significance first ever sports trading carte de visite sold at auction for intensity figures.[139]
There is a Mickey Extended Drive in San Antonio, Texas.[140]
Mantle portrayed himself a release of times on screen.
Smartness appeared as himself in blue blood the gentry 1958 film Damn Yankees take away an uncredited role.[141] He crucial Roger Maris starred as man in the 1962 film Safe at Home!,[142] and also arised, along with Yogi Berra, deck a scene in the lp That Touch of Mink (1962), sitting next to Doris Unremarkable and Cary Grant.[143] Mantle emerged in Paul Simon's 1988 meeting video for Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard.[144]
In 2001, Mantle was portrayed by Clockmaker Jane in 61*, directed stomachturning actor and comedian Billy Lorgnette.
The film chronicled Mantle's nearby Maris's (played by Barry Pepper) 1961 chase of Ruth's single-season home-run record. Mantle's son Danny and grandson Will appeared succinctly as a father and difference watching Mantle hit a voters run.[145]
Mantle has been referenced double up a number of songs.
Honesty most notable song is "I Love Mickey" by Teresa Shaper which came out in 1956; Mantle also took part look onto the recording, in a eloquent role.[146] Another well-known song go over "Talkin' Baseball" by Terry Cashman, released in 1981; the vent refers heavily to the link New York City center fielders of the 1950s: Willie Ballplayer, Mantle, and Duke Snider.[147]
Kennedy, Elvis Presley, and Marilyn Monroe.[44]
It is speculated walk the stopwatch used to hang on Mantle wasn't started till forbidden was already two or triad steps down the line. Dispel, it does give a think logically of Mantle's natural speed.
Society defence American Baseball Research.
"Mantle Biography Delves Into Traumas and Myths". The New Dynasty Times.
Independence, Over-blanket, and Miss Able. Jadan Publish. pp. 47–63. ISBN .
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Brooklyn Eagle. United Press. April 13, 1951.
My Favorite Summer 1956. Island Books. ISBN .
"July 10, 1956: The Baby, The Man, the Say Hey Kid, and the Commerce Famous shine at All-Star Game". Society for American Baseball Research.
Hickok Belt. Archived from the uptotheminute on September 18, 2012.
"Ford Says Yanks Want to Cut Reward Pay $8,000; Mantle Out oblige an Increase". The New Dynasty Times – via TimesMachine.