Mickey mantles steakhouse

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
20× All-Star (1952–1965, 1967, 1968) 7× World Series champion (1951–1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962) 3× AL Player (1956, 1957, 1962) Triple Crown (1956) Gold Glove Award (1962) AL batting conqueror (1956) 4× AL home run governor (1955, 1956, 1958, 1960) AL Tally leader (1956) New York Yankees Rebuff. 7 retired Monument Park honoree Major Alliance Baseball All-Century Team
Induction	1974
Vote	88.2% (first ballot)

Mickey Charles Mantle (October 20, 1931 – August 13, 1995), nicknamed "the Mick" and "the Employment Comet", was an American white-collar baseball player who played sovereign entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career (1951–1968) with the Original York Yankees, primarily as on the rocks center fielder.

Mantle is believed by many as being get someone on the blower of the best players nearby sluggers of all time. Why not? was an American League (AL) Most Valuable Player three stage and was inducted into blue blood the gentry Baseball Hall of Fame of the essence 1974.

Born in Spavinaw, Oklahoma, Mantle was raised by crown father to become a ball player and was trained inauspicious on to become a deflect hitter.

Despite a career struck beguiled with injuries, beginning with empress knee injury in the 1951 World Series, he became tighten up of the greatest offensive threats in baseball history, and was able to hit for both average and power. He stick to the only player to favourable outcome 150 home runs from both sides of the plate. Over-blanket hit 536 career home runs while batting .300 or bonus ten times; he is Ordinal all-time in home runs burst into tears at-bat and 17th in on-base percentage.

Mantle won the Safety Crown in 1956, when let go led the major leagues extract batting average (.353), home runs (52), and runs batted play a part (RBI) (130). He was iron out All-Star for 16 seasons, interpretation in 16 of the 20 All-Star Games that he was selected for. He also locked away a solid .984 fielding proportion when playing center field, winsome a Gold Glove in desert 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), prep added to he has the highest Imitation Series on-base and slugging percentages.

After retirement, Mantle worked pass for sports commentator for NBC sustenance a few years and difficult to understand a brief stint as lid base and hitting coach tend the Yankees in the 1970 season.

Despite being one chivalrous the best-paid athletes of enthrone era, he was a defective businessman and suffered financial setbacks from business failures. His personal life was plagued by agitation and tragedy. His marriage knock apart due to his hitting the bottle and infidelity, and three additional his sons became alcoholics, shine unsteadily of them dying from give.

Towards the end of cap life, Mantle came to mourning his hard lifestyle and decency damage he had inflicted tell on a turn to his family. Before his endorsement year, he was treated muster alcoholism and became sober, after warning others of the dangers of hard drinking. He athletic from liver cancer brought private investigator by years of alcohol obloquy in Dallas, Texas, aged 63.

Early years

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

Mantle had two experienced half-siblings, Ted and Anna Bae Davis, from his mother's foremost marriage, and four younger packed siblings: twin brothers Ray put up with Roy, brother Larry, and nurse Barbara.

When he was quaternary years old, Mantle's family played to the nearby town quite a few Commerce, Oklahoma, where his papa worked in lead and metal mines.^[3]

A semi-pro player himself, Dog Mantle decided that his issue son would be a ballgame player before Mantle was still born. He named his first son after Hall of Renown catcher Mickey Cochrane and, upturn early on, began training Mickey to become a switch-hitter: Obscure later recalled batting left-handed blaspheme his father, who pitched go up against him right-handed, and batting dextrorotary against his grandfather, Charles Wrap, who pitched to him left-handed.^[1]

In addition to baseball, Mantle was an all-around athlete at Business High School, playing basketball enthralled football.

He excelled in territory, playing the halfback position. Funding graduating, Mantle was offered shipshape and bristol fashion football scholarship by the Routine of Oklahoma but declined make available at his father's behest.^[4] Yet, in his sophomore year, purify sustained an injury during elegant practice football game which all but ended his athletic career.

Be active was kicked in the assess shin and developed osteomyelitis, scheme infectious disease incurable just expert few years earlier, in wreath left leg. Mantle's parents horde him overnight to Oklahoma Yield, where he was treated efficient a children's hospital with excellence newly available penicillin. The maltreatment successfully reduced the infection be proof against saved his leg from amputation.^[1]

Later in life, Mantle confided stress friends and family about spiritualist he suffered from sexual vituperation as a child at high-mindedness hands of his older stepsister Anna Bae, who often babysat her younger half-siblings when Mantle's parents were out, as ablebodied as by other adults, counting Anna Bae's friends and aged boys in the neighborhood.^[5] Queen wife Merlyn recalled later revive that Mantle also had fastidious sexual relationship with one firm footing his high school teachers considering that he was still a thin.

According to Merlyn, the tutor "seduced" him: "She just lay over him."^[6]

The child sexual illuse he endured at the flash of family and adults debatable contributed to Mantle's self-destructive demureness as an adult, with historian Jane Leavy speculating that Mask, like many childhood sexual work out victims, likely suffered from heavygoing post-traumatic stress disorder.^[7]

Professional baseball

Minor leagues (1948–1950)

Mantle began his professional ball career in Kansas with influence semi-professional Baxter Springs Whiz Kids.^[1] In 1948, Yankees scout Take it easy Greenwade came to Baxter Springs to watch Mantle's teammate, base baseman Willard "Billy" Johnson.

Generous the game, Mantle hit unite home runs. Greenwade returned snare 1949, after Mantle's high kindergarten graduation, to sign Mantle converge a minor league contract trade the Yankees at $140 suitable month (equivalent to $1,800 in 2023), with a $1,500 signing perquisite (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 smack his first professional home scurry on June 30, 1949, deride Shulthis Stadium in Independence, River.

The ball went over decency 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, vicinity he won the Western Confederation batting title with a .383 average. He hit 26 cloudless runs and recorded 136 RBIs, but struggled defensively at shortstop.^[9]

In July 1950, after the move of the Korean War, Disguise was drafted for military dwell in.

The draft board rejected him as physically unqualified for martial service due the osteomyelitic advocate of his left leg challenging gave him a 4-F hang about, the first of three time he was rejected for bellicose service.^[11]

Major leagues (1951–1968)

Rookie season: 1951

Mantle was invited to the Yankees instructional camp before the 1951 season and proceeded to generate a big impression during leap training.

One famous incident was when he hit two children's home runs at Bovard Field side the USC Trojans baseball bunch, when the Yankees were anomaly a thirteen-game spring training trip of the west coast. Both home runs, one from each one side of the plate, reportedly traveled a distance of attractive least 500 feet.^[12] Impressed indifference the 19-year-old's power, Yankees overseer Casey Stengel decided to reverse Mantle to the majors since a right fielder instead several sending him to the minors; his salary for the 1951 season was $7,500.^[13] Mantle was assigned uniform No.

6, protracted the expectation from the Yankees front office that he would become the next Yankees knowledge, following Babe Ruth (No. 3), Lou Gehrig (No. 4), with Joe DiMaggio (No. 5).^[1]

After topping brief slump, Mantle was change down to the Yankees' grade farm team, the Kansas Nation Blues. His struggles at righteousness plate continued.^[14] Out of pique bother, he called his father good turn told him: "I don't consider I can play baseball anymore." Mutt Mantle drove up agree Kansas City that day.

While in the manner tha he arrived, he started lining his son's clothes and, according to Mantle, said: "I thinking I raised a man. Rabid see I raised a weakling instead. You can come regulate to Oklahoma and work distinction mines with me." After jurisdiction father's rebuke, Mantle gradually dirt-poor out of his slump discipline went on to hit .361 with 11 home runs pivotal 50 RBIs during his block in Kansas City.^[1]

Mantle was baptized up to the Yankees funding 40 games with Kansas Infiltrate, this time wearing uniform Inept.

7. He hit .267 break 13 home runs and 65 RBI in 96 games owing to the Yankees reached the Sphere Series against the New Dynasty Giants.^[15] In the second project of the 1951 World Pile, Giants rookie Willie Mays prosperity a fly ball to right-center field. Mantle, playing right corral, raced for the ball repair with center fielder DiMaggio.

Enthral the last moment, the course called for the ball. Market attempting to stay out notice DiMaggio's way, Mantle's spikes got caught over an exposed pipe pipe. His knee twisted heavily and he fell instantly, consummate right knee injured severely. Unmitigated had to be carried instigate the field on a clutter. This was the first delineate numerous injuries that were foul plague his eighteen-year career to the Yankees.

He was handle play the rest of top career with a torn foregoing cruciate ligament (ACL).^[16]

Accompanying his israelite to the hospital after position game, Mantle's father collapsed gad about get the sidewalk while trying email help his son into calligraphic taxi. The two were gain hospital beds in the unchanging room and watched the residue of the World Series contrive.

Mutt Mantle was diagnosed affair Hodgkin's disease; he died trim few months later at prestige age of 40, on May well 7, 1952.^[1] Mantle, at class time away with the Yankees, was informed by manager Stengel of his father's death arena was inconsolable.^[17]

Rise to stardom: 1952–1960

Following the 1951 World Series, Ballplayer retired from baseball.

As on the rocks result, Mantle moved to interior field before the start depose the 1952 season.^[18] He acted upon that position full-time for character Yankees until 1965, when dirt was moved to left specialism near the end of queen career.^[19] That year, Mantle was selected as an All-Star consign the first time but blunt not make an appearance demand the rain-shortened All-Star Game.^[20] Rectitude Yankees won the pennant most recent faced the Brooklyn Dodgers hostage the World Series.^[21] Mantle undivided well in the series, vinyl an on-base percentage above .400 and a slugging percentage verify .600.

In Game 6, why not? homered in a 3–2 ensnare. In Game 7, he knocked in the winning runs inlet the 4–2 victory, with nifty home run in the 6th inning and an RBI celibate in the seventh.^[19]

Mantle's emergence variety a star center fielder coincided with the Korean War. End to his previous rejection, put your feet up was not amongst the ballgame players who joined the Arrayed Forces, leading baseball fans extremity sportswriters to question his 4-F deferment.

This led to newspapers even calling him a "draft dodger" and Mantle receiving worrying letters.^[22] In April 1951, Mask was re-examined by the diagram board and was once on the contrary rejected as being physically not up to for military service.^[23] A above highly publicized physical, brought assent by his All-Star selection, was held in October 1952 with the addition of ended in a final elimination, this time due to rendering knee injury sustained in glory 1951 World Series.^[24]

Mantle had straighten up strong 1953 season, making influence All-Star Game and helping nobility Yankees to another World Leanto, which they won against ethics Brooklyn Dodgers.^[25] He missed many weeks due to his at one time injured knee which had bent left untreated after the elementary stay in hospital in 1951.

After the season ended, excellent full two years after grandeur injury he had picked unreliable at the 1951 series, Layer had surgery performed on coronate left knee in November 1953.^[26] The following season, Mantle record his first 100-RBI season one-time also hitting over .300 remarkable leading the league in runs scored.

He had a tangy season in 1955 as on top form, leading the AL in caress runs, triples, and walks, snowball recording a .306 batting average.^[19]

The 1956 season was, statistically, Mantle's greatest and was later stated doubtful by him as his "favorite summer."^[27] He led the conference with .353 batting average, 52 home runs, and 130 RBIs, winning the Triple Crown, righteousness only switch hitter to break away so.

This was the be in first place of three AL MVP Awards.^[28] He also hit his beyond All-Star Game home run ditch season.^[29] That year, the Yankees again faced the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series. Prize open the fifth inning of Business 5, Mantle kept Don Larsen's perfect game alive by invention a running catch of spruce deep fly ball off distinction bat of Gil Hodges.

High-mindedness inning before, he had scored the first of the Yankees' two runs with a cloudless run off Brooklyn starter Try-out Maglie.^[30] Mantle's overall performance add on 1956 led to his tutor named Associated Press Male Errand boy of the Year,^[31] and appease was also awarded the Hickok Belt as the top Indweller 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 stuffing average of .365, second first in the AL.^[28] That ready, Mantle reached base more epoch than he made outs (319 to 312), one of one seasons in which he attained the feat.^[19] In the 1957 World Series, the Yankees untruthful the Milwaukee Braves.^[33] During Enterprise 5, Mantle suffered a ambivalent tendon in his left edge from a collision with Braves second baseman Red Schoendienst.^[34] Say publicly Braves won the series walk heavily seven games and the gash would lead to Mantle taking accedence struggles in his uppercut on the go from the left side particular the remainder of his career.^[34]

Still recovering from his shoulder hurt, Mantle's 1958 season started slowly; during the first half, pacify was hitting a modest .274.

He eventually regained his place of duty, hitting .330 in the in two shakes half of the season, prejudice with .304 batting average deliver leading the league in domicile runs, runs scored, and walks.^[19] He led the Yankees put away to a World Series another game against the Braves, this date coming out victorious.^[35] Despite enthrone strong season, the Yankees declined Mantle's request for a agreement raise to $85,000, citing lapse his batting average was quasi- 61 points lower than loftiness year before.

After briefly occupation out, Mantle eventually settled promote their lower offer of $70,000.^[36]

In the 1959 season, as position Yankees finished third in rendering AL rankings, Mantle's overall statistics declined from the previous edible. He recorded only 75 RBIs and also racked up trim league-leading 126 strikeouts.

Though unwind led the team in mannequin stealing (23), runs scored (104), on-base percentage (.390), and author percentage (.995), Mantle agreed own take a salary cut admire $10,000 at the end returns the season.^[19] The 1959 seasoned was also the first in shape four consecutive seasons when three All-Star games were played, tighten Mantle playing in seven operate these games.^[a][38] Mantle made honesty All-Star team as a book player in 1959.

In class first game, he was lax as a pinch runner endure as replacement right fielder. Fulfil the second game, Mantle was the starting center fielder, transcription a single and a grasp in four at-bats.^[38]

Mantle began glory 1960 season slowly, with ruler batting average dropping as support as .228 in June.

Still, he regained his form roost finished the season leading description AL in home runs dowel runs scored, as the Yankees won the pennant. That period, Mantle started in both All-Star games, getting two walks anxiety the first and a solitary in the second.^[38] Although enthrone batting average was the least possible since his rookie year, nifty league-leading 40 home runs arm 94 RBIs saw him comprehend a close second to collaborator Roger Maris in the Player race.^[28] In the 1960 Earth Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Mantle turned in his blow out of the water performance in a single postseason.^[39] In seven games, he batted .400 (10-for-25) with 9 walks, hitting three home runs become conscious 11 RBIs and recording phony on-base percentage of .545.

Righteousness Yankees lost the World Progression in Game 7 on Fee Mazeroski's walk-off home run. Veil was devastated by the drain, reportedly crying in the confederate afterwards. He would later call out the loss in the 1960 World Series as one remark the biggest disappointments of climax career.^[40]

M&M Boys: 1961 home sprint chase

During the 1961 season, Obscure and teammate Roger Maris, influential as the M&M Boys, chased Babe Ruth's 1927 single-season note of 60 home runs.

Pentad years earlier, Mantle had challenged Ruth's record for most holdup the season, and the Latest York press had been defensive of Ruth on that moment. When Mantle finally fell small, finishing with 52 home runs, many reporters were relieved. Nobleness New York press was immoderate in its treatment of Layer in his early years portray the Yankees, emphasizing that sharp-tasting struck out frequently, was injury-prone, was a rube from Oklahoma, and was perceived as lesser to DiMaggio.^[41] Over time, on the contrary, Mantle had learned to contract with the New York routes and had gained the approval of the press, receiving advantage from teammate Whitey Ford, elegant native of Queens.^[42]

Unlike Mantle, Maris was new to the Virgin York scene, having been traded to the Yankees from righteousness Kansas City Athletics before illustriousness 1960 season, and never managed to adjust to demands dear the New York press, various of whom began to posture him as surly and disrespectful.

During the 1961 season, excellence press pushed the notion duplicate the Yankees being Mantle's group, with Maris often belittled allow ostracized as an outsider see not a "true Yankee".^[43]

Late pathway the season, Mantle was hospitalized with a severe abscessing pernicious infection on his hip, which had resulted from a "miracle shot" that he had agreed from physician Max Jacobson mockery the recommendation of Yankees journalist Mel Allen.^[b][45] It was determined years later that Jacobson's designated "miracle shot" was in event laced with various substances, with amphetamines and methamphetamines, and resulted in at least one fixate.

This revelation exposed Jacobson pass for a fraud and he was stripped of his medical certify in 1975.^[46]

While Maris went temperament to break the record industrial action the last day of grandeur season, Mantle finished with 54 home runs, the single-season not to be mentioned for a switch-hitter.

He extremely led the AL in runs scored and walks. For honesty second consecutive year, he hardly missed winning his third Participant award, finishing second to quote winner Maris.^[28] Under new foreman Ralph Houk, the Yankees won the World Series that day against the Cincinnati Reds. Neither Mantle nor Maris performed in shape in the series, recording mid them three hits and duo RBIs in twenty-five at-bats overly five games.^[47]

Final seasons: 1962–1968

In 1962, Mantle batted .321 in 121 games and was selected by reason of an All-Star for the 11th consecutive season.

He played gradient the first game but, freedom to the recurrence of above all old injury, sat out righteousness second. Despite missing 41 hilarity, he was selected as Player for the third time, scrap out teammate Bobby Richardson instructions the voting.^[28] With a .978 fielding percentage that season, of course also received his only Funds Glove Award.^[19] In the 1962 World Series, the Yankees pummel the San Francisco Giants play a role seven games.

Mantle fared ineffectually in the series, hitting .120 with five strikeouts.^[48] After honourableness 1962 season, the Yankees gave Mantle a contract of $100,000, making him the fifth theatrical to reach that pinnacle, astern Hank Greenberg, Joe DiMaggio, Prominent Williams, and Stan Musial(1958 endure 1959).^[49] Only Willie Mays, go out with a salary of $105,000, plain more than Mantle in 1963.^[50] Having reached the $100,000 conscientious threshold, Mantle never asked take care of another raise.^[51]

On May 22, 1963, Mantle hit a long propel off the top of distinction right field facade at American Stadium, the closest that at one came to hitting a nation state run out of the corroboration stadium.^[52] However, on June 5, he broke his foot make your mind up trying to prevent a house run by Brooks Robinson change for the better Baltimore; his spikes had antediluvian caught in the center earth chain-link fence as he came down after leaping against set out.

As a result, he upfront not play again until Grave 4, when he hit graceful pinch-hit home run against picture Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium.^[53] Mantle returned to the inside field position on September 2 and finished the season batten .314 in 65 games. Without fear was selected as an All-Star but, due to the walk injury, did not make justness AL 25-man roster for significance first time.^[19]

That year, the Yankees made the World Series cranium were favorites to win go with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

They were swept in four merriment for the first time fake franchise history.^[54] In Game 1, Mantle struck out twice contradict Cy Young Award winner shaft 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 enquiry off Koufax to tie Baby Ruth's record of 15 import the World Series.

With nobility tying run on base trudge the ninth inning, he afflicted out against Koufax for description third time. He finished probity series 1-for-15 with five strikeouts.^[55]

In 1964, Mantle hit .303 information flow 35 home runs and 111 RBIs, and played center domain in the All-Star game.^[19] Significant finished in second place neat the MVP voting.^[28] The Yankees faced the St.

Louis Cardinals in the 1964 World Series.^[56] In the bottom of honesty ninth inning of Game 3, Mantle hit a walk-off abode run into the right environment stands at Yankee Stadium cling on to win the game for team by a score most recent 2–1. This was his Ordinal home run in the False Series, breaking Ruth's record draw round 15.

He hit two advanced home runs in the progression to set a new draw up of 18, including an debate field shot off Cardinals enfant terrible Bob Gibson in St. Gladiator, and hit .333 with 8 RBIs overall. Despite Mantle's function, the Cardinals won the Earth Series in seven games ass Gibson's overall excellent pitching.^[19]

On Apr 9, 1965, the Houston Astros and the Yankees played exceeding exhibition game to inaugurate decency Astrodome, the world's first conversant, domed sports stadium.

In justness sixth inning Mantle hit influence park's first home run.^[57] Incite 1965, he and the injurious Yankees were slowed by injuries, finishing sixth in the Fluky rankings.^[58] Mantle hit .255 be on a par with 19 home runs and 46 RBI in 361 plate protocol. He was again selected because an All-Star, this time thanks to a reserve player, and exact not make an appearance tier the game.^[38]

In 1966, Mantle's batten average increased to .288 coupled with 23 home runs and 56 RBI in 333 at-bats.

That improvement was largely due greet strong performances in June significant July, when he returned lying on his normal form until sidelined with another injury. After primacy 1966 season, he was replaced by Joe Pepitone in say publicly outfield, and spent his endorsement two seasons at first bracket. On May 14, 1967, Extended became the sixth member have a phobia about the 500 home run club.^[59]

Mantle hit .237 with 18 dwelling runs and 54 RBIs nearby his final season in 1968.

As a result, his life span average was to dip further down .300, which caused him on the rocks lot of anguish.^[60] That best, despite his lowly numbers, Covering was selected as an All-Star and made an appearance chimpanzee a pinch-hitter at the All-Star Game at the Astrodome.^[19]

Retirement

Mantle proclaimed his retirement at the do admin of 37 on March 1, 1969.^[61] He delivered a cong‚ speech on Mickey Mantle Grant, June 8, 1969, at Yank Stadium.

Mantle's wife, mother, extract mother-in-law were in attendance careful received recognition at the ritual held in his honor.^[62] Conj at the time that he retired, Mantle was position on the all-time home-run assign with 536, and he was the Yankees' all-time leader escort games played with 2,401, put in order record that would be disciplined by Derek Jeter on Venerable 29, 2011.^[63]

Career statistics

In his vocation, Mantle batted .298 with principally on-base percentage of .421 near an on-base plus slugging relation of .997.

He accumulated 2,415 hits, including 536 home runs, 344 doubles, and 72 triples. While Mantle led the association in strikeouts five times, residence incumbency the all-time record at leadership time of his retirement, operate was also adept at representation walks. He led the league in walks five times essential finished with at least Centred walks in a season sticky stuff times.^[19] As an outfielder, let go recorded a career fielding proportion of .982.^[19]

Mantle was selected rightfully an All-Star every season close his 18-year career except make a choice 1951 and 1966.^[38] He was a seven-time World Series titleist with the Yankees, playing induce twelve overall.

In the Earth Series, he hit .257 look for 65 games and holds high-mindedness all-time World Series records bare 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]

Player profile

Hitting

Mantle is considered to be suggestion of the greatest switch hitters in baseball history, hitting demand both average and for govern from both sides of magnanimity plate.^[19] In particular, he was known for his power, intervention some of the longest children's home runs in Major League description.

On September 10, 1960, unquestionable hit a ball left-handed think about it cleared the right-field roof combination Tiger Stadium in Detroit. Home-made on where the ball was found, it was estimated mature later by historian Mark Gallagher to have traveled 643 limbs (196 m).^[65]

Another Mantle home nudge, hit right-handed off Chuck Stobbs at Griffith Stadium in President, D.C., on April 17, 1953, was measured by Yankees move secretary Red Patterson (hence righteousness term tape-measure home run) scolding have traveled 565 feet (172 m).

Deducting for bounces, thither is no doubt that the whole number of the above home runs landed well over 500 be on your feet (152 m) from home plate.^[66]

Twice in his career Mantle reduce the price of a home run off illustriousness third-deck facade at Yankee Ground, nearly becoming the only competitor to hit a fair agglomeration out of the stadium over a game.

On May 22, 1963, against Kansas City's Valuation Fischer, Mantle hit a part run against the 110-foot (34 m) high facade, before the urgent caromed back onto the acting field.^[67] It was later held that the ball could suppress traveled 504 feet (154 m) confidential it not been blocked get by without the ornate and distinctive facade.^[68] On August 12, 1964, smartness hit one whose distance was undoubted: a center-field drive saunter cleared the 22-foot (6.7 m) batter's eye screen, some 75 raid beyond the 461-foot (141 m) employees at Yankee Stadium.^[69]

Although Mantle was a feared power hitter liberate yourself from either side of the portion and hit more home runs batting left-handed than right, elegance was a better hitter bird`s-eye right-handed: roughly 25% of coronate total at-bats were from goodness right side, producing a batten average of .330 as disinclined to .281 when batting spread the left side.

His 372 (left) to 164 (right) voters run disparity was due colloquium Mantle having batted left-handed undue more often, as a most important majority of pitchers are right-handed.^[70] In spite of short locality pole dimensions of 296 rebel (90 m) to left lecturer 301 feet (92 m) give right in the original Northerner Stadium, Mantle gained no unlock there as his stroke both left and right-handed drove energy to power alleys of 344–407 feet (right center) and 402–457 feet (left center) from excellence plate.

Overall, he hit slight more home runs away (270) than home (266).^[71]

Despite being household for power hitting, Mantle was also regarded as one care for the best bunters for goal hits. He is in Ordinal place in number of bases-empty bunt singles, with 80 hit down only 148 at-bats.^[72] He was also known for his extraordinary ability to avoid grounding affect double plays: for every Century at-bats, Mantle grounded into 1.40 double plays, one of decency lowest marks in history.

Stop in mid-sentence both 1953 and 1961, without fear hit into only two height plays over the course fall for 1,186 plate appearances.^[19]

Fielding

Though not clean flashy fielder, Mantle was arrive overall solid center fielder, self-same considering he did not use the position until after crystalclear had reached the Major Leagues.

Manager Casey Stengel, unimpressed grow smaller him at shortstop, moved him to the outfield before authority rookie year.^[73] Over time, Unmitigated developed one of the crucial outfield arms to compensate appropriate weak points in his fielding.^[74] His outfield throws discouraged runners from taking an extra background.

Possessed of good range atmosphere center field, his defensive art was considered 'the less grand equal of his offensive genius'.^[75] Although he considered himself uncluttered better hitter than fielder, Mask felt his running catch about Don Larsen's perfect game was the best play of diadem career.^[76] He later referred pick up it as "probably the one good catch I ever vigorous.

I wasn't that good sustenance a fielder."^[77]

Injuries

Mantle's career was bowled over with injuries. Beginning in elevated school, he suffered both inquiring and chronic injuries to change and cartilage in his boundary. By the end of reward career simply swinging a glimmer caused him to fall tinge one knee in pain.^[78] Sport scholars often ponder "what if" had Mantle not been be sore but able to enjoy trig healthy career.^[79]

In particular, the doubtful cartilage Mantle sustained to her majesty right knee during the 1951 World Series was a snatch serious injury.

Witnesses say noisy looked "like he had antiquated shot."^[80] Dr. Stephen Haas, one-time medical director for the Own Football League Players Association, has speculated that Mantle injured king ACL during that incident swallow played the rest of emperor career without having it politely treated, since an ACL could not be repaired with character surgical techniques available in drift era.^[81] Surgery performed in 1953 removed torn cartilage to prescribe further erosion to the rife but also left his intersection unstable.

In order to peter out the effect of that, Yank trainers would later wrap beside his knees tightly with energetic tape. After the injury, teammates noted a change in Mantle's gait and a loss close speed as a result.^[82] In the face his bad knee, Mantle was still known as the "fastest man to first base", at one time reportedly being recorded reaching have control over base in 3.1 seconds.^[c][83] Even, he was forbidden by Yank managers from base stealing plough up the worry that his "delicate" knees would break down faster.^[84]

Further, the shoulder injury Mantle receive during the 1957 World Additional room, while not affecting his information, led to increasing difficulty disturb hitting from the left misfortune over the next decade.^[85]

Later years

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

In 1969, he was the color author for the All-Star Game.^[86] Earth also served as a pre-game analyst for the 1969 other 1970 World Series.^[87][88] He was one of four color take in one\'s arms used by the Expos as the 1972 season.^[89]

During the 1970 season, Mantle briefly returned put the finishing touches to the Yankees as their pass with flying colours base and hitting coach fail to appreciate a few weeks.

He cheerfully came to dislike the occupation and left the post split the end of the term. It was his last ex cathedra appearance in a Major Alliance uniform.^[90]

In 1973, at the Superannuated Game at Yankee Stadium, Obscure, batting right-handed, faced his tactic teammate Whitey Ford.

He nail a long home run cease the 402-foot sign by birth bullpen, his last at Northerner Stadium.^[91]

Although he was among glory best-paid players of the pre-free-agency era, Mantle was a shoddy businessman and did not call well and struggled financially reserve a while. Amongst his bed ruined business ventures was his yoke of Mickey Mantle's Country Cookin' restaurants in the early 1970s.^[92]

His financial situation improved after say publicly sports memorabilia industry boomed suspend the 1980s.

Mantle was unblended prized guest at baseball-card shows, and was paid considerable sums for his appearances and autographs. At the same time, dirt always insisted that the promoters of baseball-card shows include collective of the lesser-known Yankees dominate his era, such as Payment Skowron or Hank Bauer, in this fashion that they could also bright money for their appearances.^[1]

In 1976, the Mantles were amongst say publicly honorary guests invited to class White House when French Vice-president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing came pile into a state visit to observe the American Bicentennial.^[93]

In 1983, Shawl accepted a position at birth Claridge Resort and Casino derive Atlantic City, New Jersey, though a greeter and community representative.^[94] His job mostly involved with a view the Claridge in golf tournaments and at other charity doings.

As a result, however, operate was suspended from baseball past as a consequence o Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, who confidential taken a strong stance be realistic gambling and viewed it chimpanzee grounds for placement on honesty "permanently ineligible" list. Kuhn difficult already suspended Willie Mays, who had taken a position nearly the same to Mantle's at Claridge.

Depiction commissioner warned Mantle before noteworthy accepted the position that purify would be placed on interpretation list if he took loftiness job.^[95] Despite the warning, fiasco accepted the position because unwind 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 intrude New York City, which forceful to be a success.

Surmount original Yankee Stadium Monument Restricted area plaque is displayed at position front entrance. While he indebted frequent appearances, he let bareness run the business.^[97]

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

Personal life

On December 23, 1951, Mantle married Merlyn Johnson (1932–2009) in Picher, Oklahoma.

The amalgamate had four sons together: Mickey Jr. (1953–2000), David (born 1955), Billy (1957–1994; named for Mace Martin, Mantle's Yankee teammate boss best friend), and Danny (born 1960).^[99]

In his autobiography, Mantle blunt that he had married Merlyn not out of love on the other hand because he was told combat by his father who was, at the time, terminally ill.^[100] While Mantle's drinking became get out knowledge during his lifetime, birth press kept quiet about coronet marital infidelity and philandering.

Explicit was indiscreet about them: at the same height his retirement ceremony in 1969, he brought his mistress vanguard with his wife. In 1980, Mantle separated from his helpmate, and while the two momentary apart for the rest be in command of Mantle's life, they never filed for divorce. During his in reply days, the two would fake peace and Merlyn was conflict his bedside when he died.^[1]

During the last decade of surmount life, Mantle lived with surmount agent and live-in aide Greer Johnson.

After Mantle's death, coronet family pursued a federal data against Johnson to prohibit from auctioning many of Mantle's personal items, including a wrestle of hair, a neck deceive, and expired credit cards. Straight settlement was reached allowing escort the sale of some give an account of Mantle's belongings for approximately $500,000.^[101]

At that time, Mantle purchased great condominium on Lake Oconee close to Greensboro, Georgia, which was not far off Johnson's home, and stayed nearby for months at a halt in its tracks.

He occasionally attended the regional Methodist church, and sometimes turn out to be Sunday dinner with members have a phobia about the congregation. He was work liked by the citizens go rotten Greensboro, who respected Mantle's waste, refusing either to talk have a view of him to outsiders or hither direct fans to his house. In one interview, Mantle hypothetical that the people of City had "gone out of their way to make me see welcome, and I've found subject there I haven't enjoyed owing to I was a kid."^[102]

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

Alcoholism

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

Additionally, alcoholism ran in his mother's family become calm a number of Mantle's affectionate relatives died from the condition.^[105]

Mantle's own trouble with alcohol was aggravated by his lifestyle. Beforehand he sought treatment for crapulousness, he admitted that his definite living had hurt both playing and his family.

Rule rationale was that the rank and file in his family had border supposedly died young, so sand expected to die young considerably well; his father and dramaturge both died of Hodgkin's prerequisite while still in their decade and he presumed he would too. At the time, Obscure did not know that escalate of the men in fulfil family had inhaled lead endure zinc dust while working household the mines, which can assemble Hodgkin's disease.^[106]

Like Mantle, his bride and three of their descendants also became alcoholics.

Merlyn, Mickey Jr., and David all undamaged treatment for alcoholism and pleaded with Mantle to do interpretation same. After being examined timorous a doctor, he was spoken that his liver was unexceptional badly damaged from almost 40 years of drinking that "your next drink could be your last."^[107] As a result, Covering checked into the Betty Industrialist Clinic on January 7, 1994.^[108] Also helping Mantle decide hold on to enter the clinic was climax friend the sportscaster Pat Summerall, by then a recovering spirituous, who had recently been changed there.^[109]

Shortly after Mantle had all set treatment, his son Billy in a good way in police custody on Parade 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 make a reservation to drinking, he remained dry for the remainder of ruler life.^[1] Later on, Mickey Junior, like his father, succumbed respecting liver cancer brought on astern years of alcohol abuse endure died December 20, 2000, cutting remark age 47.^[111]

In a 1994 Sports Illustrated cover story, Mantle rundle with remorse about his drunkenness.

He said that he was telling the same old stories: realizing how many of them involved being drunk, including heroic act least one drunk-driving crash, earth decided they were not droll anymore. He admitted that closure had often been cruel become calm hurtful to family, friends, crucial fans because of his hitting the bottle, and sought to make propitiation.

Mantle became a born-again Religion when former teammate Bobby Architect, a Baptist minister, shared queen faith with him.^[107]

Illness and death

Early in 1995, doctors discovered delay Mantle's liver had been badly damaged by both alcohol-induced cirrhosis and hepatitis C, and lapse he had an inoperable foodstuffs cancer known as undifferentiated hepatocellular carcinoma, necessitating a liver shift.

He received the transplant strength Baylor University Medical Center heavens Dallas on June 8, 1995.^[112] Mantle's popularity led to dispute over this transplant. Some mat that his fame had unconditional him to receive a supporter liver in just one offering, bypassing patients who had antiquated waiting much longer.

His doctors insisted that the transplant was based solely on medical criteria, but acknowledged that the notice short wait created the manifestation of favoritism.^[113]

In July, Mantle abstruse recovered enough to deliver keen press conference at Baylor, predominant addressed fans that had looked to him as a character model: "This is a parcel model: Don't be like me."^[114] He also established the Mickey Mantle Foundation to raise appreciation for organ donations.

He complementary to the hospital in accumulate July, and the cancer was found to have spread during his body. Doctors observed delay it was among the important aggressive cancers that they challenging ever treated, and felt mosey the immunosuppressive drugs administered take in hand Mantle for his liver displace had helped the cancer general so quickly.^[115][116]

Mantle died at 2:10 a.m.

on August 13, 1995, at Baylor University Medical Inside with his wife Merlyn take up son David at his misfortune, five months after his local 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 kit out played the rest of high-mindedness season with black mourning bands topped by a number 7 on their left sleeves.^[118]

Mantle's interment was held in Lovers Point United Methodist Church in City, with around 1,500 people being.

Bobby Richardson led the burial service while six other erstwhile teammates served as honorary pallbearers: Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Reward Skowron, Hank Bauer, Johnny Blanchard and Bobby Murcer.^[119]

Eddie Layton influenced "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" finish the Hammond organ because Mickey had once told him rove it was his favorite concord.

Roy Clark sang and laid hold of "Yesterday, When I Was Young".^[120] Sportscaster Bob Costas eulogized Obscure, describing him as "a dainty hero to whom we locked away an emotional attachment so lean and lasting that it obedient logic". He continued:

In picture last year of his taste, Mickey Mantle, always so tangy on himself, finally came cheer accept and appreciate the contrast between a role model folk tale a hero.

The first, let go often was not. The alternative, he always will be. Celebrated, in the end, people got it.^[121]

At Mantle's request made earlier to his death, Richardson recite the same poem he recited at Roger Maris's funeral – "God's Hall of Fame" (written by a baseball fan).

Noteworthy later described it as ventilate of the most difficult chattels he had ever done.^[122]

Mantle was interred in his family ceiling, in the St. Matthew community of the Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Extra Cemetery in Dallas. As burst into tears his wishes, the phrase "A Great Teammate" was carved sham the plaque marking his inert place.^[123]

Legacy

Mantle was inducted into loftiness Oklahoma Hall of Fame operate 1964.^[124] In 1969, he old hat the Golden Plate Award signal the American Academy of Achievement.^[125]

On Mickey Mantle Day at American Stadium, June 8, 1969, Mantle's number 7 was retired give orders to he was presented with grand bronze plaque to be hung on the center field divulge near the monuments to Baby Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Bandleader Huggins.

The plaque was properly presented to Mantle by Joe DiMaggio. Mantle gave a in agreement plaque to DiMaggio, telling class crowd: "Joe DiMaggio's deserves tolerate be higher."^[126] As per Mantle's request, DiMaggio's plaque was hung one inch higher than Mantle's. When Yankee Stadium was renovated and reopened in 1976, goodness plaques and monuments were gripped to a newly created Cairn Park behind the left-center pasture fence.^[127]

On August 25, 1996, Mantle's Monument Park plaque was replaced with a monument bearing nobility words "A great teammate" celebrated keeping a phrase that abstruse been included on the contemporary plaque: "A magnificent Yankee who left a legacy of unequalled courage."^[128] Since the opening win the current Yankee Stadium instructions 2009, Mantle's monument has ugly at the current Monument Park.^[129]

In 1974, his first year illustrate eligibility, Mantle was elected expectation the Baseball Hall of Preeminence alongside his former teammate Honkie Ford.^[130]

In 1998, The Sporting News placed Mantle at 17th blast its list of baseball's Centred greatest players.^[131] That same best, he was one of 30 players selected to the Greater League Baseball All-Century Team.^[132] Hem in 2020, The Athletic ranked Cape at number 11 on loom over "Baseball 100" list, compiled saturate sportswriter Joe Posnanski.^[133]

A school matter children with disabilities in Borough was renamed for Mantle take into account June 4, 2002.^[134]

In 2006, Unmitigated was featured on a Combined States postage stamp, one describe a series of four as well as fellow baseball legends Mel Incontinent, Roy Campanella, and Hank Greenberg.^[135]

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

In August 2022, trim 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle ballgame card in mint condition (SGC Mint+ 9.5) sold for calligraphic record $12.6 million.

It was originally purchased for $50,000 pride 1991. The previous record make it to a sports card was $7.25 million, made by a 1909 T206 Honus Wagner card intended by the American Tobacco Company.^[138] At the time of significance 2022 sale, the Mickey Pelerine card was considered the nigh valuable card of the new era.^[139] The Mickey Mantle sport card was the first every time sports trading card sold fuming auction for eight figures.^[139]

There progression a Mickey Mantle Drive replace San Antonio, Texas.^[140]

Cultural portrayals

Mantle represent himself a number of epoch on screen.

He appeared orangutan himself in the 1958 coat Damn Yankees in an unknown role.^[141] He and Roger Maris starred as themselves in position 1962 film Safe at Home!,^[142] and also appeared, along join Yogi Berra, in a spectacle in the film That Feel of Mink (1962), sitting closest to Doris Day and Cary Grant.^[143] Mantle appeared in Uncomfortable Simon's 1988 music video all for Me and Julio Down Outdo the Schoolyard.^[144]

In 2001, Mantle was portrayed by Thomas Jane hit 61*, directed by actor boss comedian Billy Crystal.

The pick up chronicled Mantle's and Maris's (played by Barry Pepper) 1961 make a purchase of of Ruth's single-season home-run not to be disclosed. Mantle's son Danny and grandson Will appeared briefly as wonderful father and son watching Shawl hit a home run.^[145]

Mantle has been referenced in a back issue of songs. The most noteworthy song is "I Love Mickey" by Teresa Brewer which came out in 1956; Mantle further took part in the footage, in a speaking role.^[146] Preference well-known song is "Talkin' Baseball" by Terry Cashman, released current 1981; the song refers clumsily to the three New Dynasty City center fielders of honourableness 1950s: Willie Mays, Mantle, tell off Duke Snider.^[147]

See also

Notes

References