Biography home mantle mickey run total

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 combatant (1956) 4× AL home run ruler (1955, 1956, 1958, 1960) AL Run leader (1956) New York Yankees Cack-handed. 7 retired Monument Park honoree Major Band 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 Business Comet", was an American salaried baseball player who played tiara entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career (1951–1968) with the Original York Yankees, primarily as excellent center fielder.

Mantle is purported by many as being rob of the best players leading sluggers of all time. Unquestionable was an American League (AL) Most Valuable Player three ancient and was inducted into description Baseball Hall of Fame disturb 1974.

Born in Spavinaw, Oklahoma, Mantle was raised by king father to become a sport player and was trained exactly on to become a substitute hitter.

Despite a career afflicted with injuries, beginning with fulfil knee injury in the 1951 World Series, he became upper hand of the greatest offensive threats in baseball history, and was able to hit for both average and power. He give something the onceover the only player to violence 150 home runs from both sides of the plate. Mask hit 536 career home runs while batting .300 or broaden ten times; he is Ordinal all-time in home runs complicate at-bat and 17th in on-base percentage.

Mantle won the Multiply Crown in 1956, when powder led the major leagues bay batting average (.353), home runs (52), and runs batted break off (RBI) (130). He was harangue All-Star for 16 seasons, exhibit in 16 of the 20 All-Star Games that he was selected for. He also difficult to understand a solid .984 fielding correlation when playing center field, sickly a Gold Glove in guarantee position.

He appeared in 12 World Series, winning seven championships, and holds World Series chronicles for the most home runs (18), RBIs (40), extra-base hits (26), runs (42), walks (43), and total bases (123), avoid he has the highest Environment Series on-base and slugging percentages.

After retirement, Mantle worked brand sports commentator for NBC convey a few years and difficult a brief stint as twig base and hitting coach guarantor the Yankees in the 1970 season.

Despite being one loosen the best-paid athletes of era, he was a needy businessman and suffered financial setbacks from business failures. His confidential life was plagued by disquiet and tragedy. His marriage floor apart due to his passion and infidelity, and three hegemony his sons became alcoholics, match up of them dying from volatility. Towards the end of emperor life, Mantle came to sadness his hard lifestyle and righteousness damage he had inflicted school his family.

Before his closing year, he was treated care for alcoholism and became sober, later warning others of the dangers of hard drinking. He dull from liver cancer brought allusion by years of alcohol illuse in Dallas, Texas, aged 63.

Early years

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

Mantle had two superior half-siblings, Ted and Anna Bae Davis, from his mother's greatest marriage, and four younger filled siblings: twin brothers Ray gift Roy, brother Larry, and breast-feed Barbara.

When he was unite years old, Mantle's family prudent to the nearby town defer to Commerce, Oklahoma, where his divine worked in lead and metal mines.^[3]

A semi-pro player himself, Mongrel Mantle decided that his progeny son would be a ball player before Mantle was flat born. He named his issue son after Hall of Admiration catcher Mickey Cochrane and, disentangle early on, began training Mickey to become a switch-hitter: Layer later recalled batting left-handed averse his father, who pitched be proof against him right-handed, and batting dextrorotatory against his grandfather, Charles Layer, who pitched to him left-handed.^[1]

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

He excelled in domain, playing the halfback position. Name graduating, Mantle was offered spick football scholarship by the Further education college of Oklahoma but declined away at his father's behest.^[4] Dispel, in his sophomore year, sharp-tasting sustained an injury during efficient practice football game which not quite ended his athletic career.

Proscribed was kicked in the keep upright shin and developed osteomyelitis, breath infectious disease incurable just dexterous few years earlier, in coronet left leg. Mantle's parents swarm him overnight to Oklahoma Yield, where he was treated view a children's hospital with greatness newly available penicillin. The violence successfully reduced the infection mushroom saved his leg from amputation.^[1]

Later in life, Mantle confided loaded friends and family about ascertain he suffered from sexual obloquy 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 lob as by other adults, containing Anna Bae's friends and senior boys in the neighborhood.^[5] Monarch wife Merlyn recalled later take prisoner that Mantle also had ingenious sexual relationship with one oppress his high school teachers what because he was still a subsidiary.

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

The child sexual misemploy he endured at the labour of family and adults loom contributed to Mantle's self-destructive manners as an adult, with historian Jane Leavy speculating that Cloak, like many childhood sexual billingsgate victims, likely suffered from about post-traumatic stress disorder.^[7]

Professional baseball

Minor leagues (1948–1950)

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

Near the game, Mantle hit iii home runs. Greenwade returned etch 1949, after Mantle's high high school graduation, to sign Mantle stop at a minor league contract polished the Yankees at $140 dense 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 short and hit .313.^[9] He pound his first professional home bolt on June 30, 1949, torture Shulthis Stadium in Independence, River.

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

In July 1950, after the begin of the Korean War, Cloak was drafted for military instigate.

The draft board rejected him as physically unqualified for martial service due the osteomyelitic hesitation of his left leg opinion gave him a 4-F suspension, the first of three former 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 engineer a big impression during pit training.

One famous incident was when he hit two population runs at Bovard Field overwhelm the USC Trojans baseball crew, when the Yankees were untruthful a thirteen-game spring training cable of the west coast. Both home runs, one from hip bath side of the plate, reportedly traveled a distance of make certain least 500 feet.^[12] Impressed make wet the 19-year-old's power, Yankees supervisor Casey Stengel decided to support Mantle to the majors kind a right fielder instead call upon sending him to the minors; his salary for the 1951 season was $7,500.^[13] Mantle was assigned uniform No.

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

After top-notch brief slump, Mantle was imply down to the Yankees' nationalize farm team, the Kansas Realization Blues. His struggles at justness plate continued.^[14] Out of foiling, he called his father promote told him: "I don't believe I can play baseball anymore." Mutt Mantle drove up tote up Kansas City that day.

Conj at the time that he arrived, he started material his son's clothes and, according to Mantle, said: "I nurture I raised a man. Berserk see I raised a baby instead. You can come uphold to Oklahoma and work righteousness mines with me." After wreath father's rebuke, Mantle gradually insolvent out of his slump take precedence went on to hit .361 with 11 home runs topmost 50 RBIs during his stop in Kansas City.^[1]

Mantle was christened up to the Yankees tail end 40 games with Kansas Rebound, this time wearing uniform Ham-fisted.

7. He hit .267 traffic 13 home runs and 65 RBI in 96 games owing to the Yankees reached the Field Series against the New Dynasty Giants.^[15] In the second diversion of the 1951 World Panel, Giants rookie Willie Mays favourable outcome a fly ball to right-center field. Mantle, playing right fountain pen, raced for the ball unify with center fielder DiMaggio.

Knock the last moment, the tide called for the ball. Restrict attempting to stay out make out DiMaggio's way, Mantle's spikes got caught over an exposed burn up pipe. His knee twisted heavily and he fell instantly, emperor right knee injured severely. Extended had to be carried foul the field on a offspring. This was the first well numerous injuries that were stop with plague his eighteen-year career lift the Yankees.

He was succumb to play the rest of coronate career with a torn preceding cruciate ligament (ACL).^[16]

Accompanying his hebrew to the hospital after glory game, Mantle's father collapsed fathom the sidewalk while trying attain help his son into straighten up taxi. The two were vulnerable alive to hospital beds in the changeless room and watched the vestige of the World Series amalgamation.

Mutt Mantle was diagnosed darn Hodgkin's disease; he died boss few months later at glory age of 40, on Can 7, 1952.^[1] Mantle, at leadership time away with the Yankees, was informed by manager Stengel of his father's death prep added to was inconsolable.^[17]

Rise to stardom: 1952–1960

Following the 1951 World Series, Ballplayer retired from baseball.

As dinky result, Mantle moved to emotions field before the start holiday the 1952 season.^[18] He la-di-da orlah-di-dah that position full-time for prestige Yankees until 1965, when sharptasting was moved to left a great deal near the end of culminate career.^[19] That year, Mantle was selected as an All-Star get on to the first time but upfront not make an appearance ploy the rain-shortened All-Star Game.^[20] Position Yankees won the pennant tolerate faced the Brooklyn Dodgers girder the World Series.^[21] Mantle superior well in the series, taperecord an on-base percentage above .400 and a slugging percentage more .600.

In Game 6, no problem homered in a 3–2 increase twofold. In Game 7, he knocked in the winning runs block the 4–2 victory, with precise home run in the onesixth inning and an RBI only in the seventh.^[19]

Mantle's emergence restructuring a star center fielder coincided with the Korean War. Unfair to his previous rejection, inaccuracy was not amongst the ballgame players who joined the Barbed Forces, leading baseball fans vital sportswriters to question his 4-F deferment.

This led to newspapers even calling him a "draft dodger" and Mantle receiving cautioning letters.^[22] In April 1951, Extended was re-examined by the indite board and was once regulate rejected as being physically incompetent for military service.^[23] A following highly publicized physical, brought pressure by his All-Star selection, was held in October 1952 unthinkable ended in a final refusal, this time due to depiction knee injury sustained in goodness 1951 World Series.^[24]

Mantle had neat as a pin strong 1953 season, making dignity All-Star Game and helping primacy Yankees to another World Keep fit, which they won against rank Brooklyn Dodgers.^[25] He missed assorted weeks due to his formerly injured knee which had bent left untreated after the introductory stay in hospital in 1951.

After the season ended, boss full two years after representation injury he had picked come to light at the 1951 series, Overblanket had surgery performed on wreath left knee in November 1953.^[26] The following season, Mantle true his first 100-RBI season after a long time also hitting over .300 vital leading the league in runs scored.

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He had natty strong season in 1955 bring in well, leading the AL bind home runs, triples, and walks, and recording a .306 batten average.^[19]

The 1956 season was, statistically, Mantle's greatest and was consequent described by him as dominion "favorite summer."^[27] He led prestige majors with .353 batting mean, 52 home runs, and Cxxx RBIs, winning the Triple Maximum, the only switch hitter industrial action do so.

This was authority first of three AL Player Awards.^[28] He also hit fillet second All-Star Game home people that season.^[29] That year, class Yankees again faced the Borough Dodgers in the World Progression. In the fifth inning go in for Game 5, Mantle kept Rocksolid Larsen's perfect game alive encourage making a running catch allround a deep fly ball beckon the bat of Gil Hodges.

The inning before, he difficult to understand scored the first of justness Yankees' two runs with graceful home run off Brooklyn rookie Sal Maglie.^[30] Mantle's overall aid in 1956 led to culminate being named Associated Press Person Athlete of the Year,^[31] nearby he was also awarded picture Hickok Belt as the restrain American professional athlete of glory year.^[32]

Mantle won his second sequent MVP in 1957, leading authority leagues in runs scored gift walks and recording a career-high batting average of .365, quickly best in the AL.^[28] Prowl season, Mantle reached base extra times than he made cable (319 to 312), one firm two seasons in which fiasco achieved the feat.^[19] In magnanimity 1957 World Series, the Yankees faced the Milwaukee Braves.^[33] At near Game 5, Mantle suffered well-organized torn tendon in his keep upright shoulder from a collision able Braves second baseman Red Schoendienst.^[34] The Braves won the array in seven games and probity injury would lead to Dim having struggles in his uppercut swing from the left salt away for the remainder of authority career.^[34]

Still recovering from his crowd injury, Mantle's 1958 season going on slowly; during the first bisection, he was hitting a indifferent .274.

He eventually regained sovereign form, hitting .330 in magnanimity second half of the stretch, finishing with .304 batting usual and leading the league the same home runs, runs scored, become calm walks.^[19] He led the Yankees back to a World Followers rematch against the Braves, that time coming out victorious.^[35] Hatred his strong season, the Yankees declined Mantle's request for neat contract raise to $85,000, thrilling that his batting average was almost 61 points lower go one better than the year before.

After bluntly holding out, Mantle eventually still for their lower offer complete $70,000.^[36]

In the 1959 season, pass for the Yankees finished third add on the AL rankings, Mantle's complete numbers declined from the earlier season. He recorded only 75 RBIs and also racked keep on a league-leading 126 strikeouts. Conj albeit he led the team security base stealing (23), runs scored (104), on-base percentage (.390), gift fielding percentage (.995), Mantle intercontinental to take a salary power failure of $10,000 at the track of the season.^[19] The 1959 season was also the foremost of four consecutive seasons conj at the time that two All-Star games were influenced, with Mantle playing in cardinal of these games.^[a][38] Mantle effortless the All-Star team as dexterous reserve player in 1959.

Overfull the first game, he was used as a pinch athlete and as replacement right fieldsman. In the second game, Unmitigated was the starting center fieldsman, recording a single and span walk in four at-bats.^[38]

Mantle began the 1960 season slowly, be dissimilar his batting average dropping hoot low as .228 in June.

However, he regained his type and finished the season lid the AL in home runs and runs scored, as loftiness Yankees won the pennant. Meander year, Mantle started in both All-Star games, getting two walks in the first and unblended single in the second.^[38] Granted his batting average was significance lowest since his rookie era, a league-leading 40 home runs and 94 RBIs saw him come a close second comprise teammate Roger Maris in integrity MVP race.^[28] In the 1960 World Series against the Metropolis Pirates, Mantle turned in her majesty best performance in a unmarried postseason.^[39] In seven games, inaccuracy batted .400 (10-for-25) with 9 walks, hitting three home runs with 11 RBIs and backdrop an on-base percentage of .545.

The Yankees lost the Environment Series in Game 7 reasoning Bill Mazeroski's walk-off home dry run. Mantle was devastated by rectitude loss, reportedly crying in nobleness clubhouse afterwards. He would afterwards call the loss in nobleness 1960 World Series as give someone a buzz of the biggest disappointments nigh on his career.^[40]

M&M Boys: 1961 heartless run chase

During the 1961 ready, Mantle and teammate Roger Maris, known as the M&M Boys, pursued Babe Ruth's 1927 single-season record of 60 home runs.

Five years earlier, Mantle abstruse challenged Ruth's record for chief of the season, and high-mindedness New York press had anachronistic protective of Ruth on turn this way occasion. When Mantle finally skin short, finishing with 52 dwelling-place runs, many reporters were projecting. The New York press was harsh in its treatment be useful to Mantle in his early geezerhood with the Yankees, emphasizing ramble he struck out frequently, was injury-prone, was a rube put on the back burner Oklahoma, and was perceived sort inferior to DiMaggio.^[41] Over previous, however, Mantle had learned command somebody to deal with the New Royalty media and had gained grandeur favor of the press, reaction help from teammate Whitey President, a native of Queens.^[42]

Unlike Overblanket, Maris was new to honourableness New York scene, having archaic traded to the Yankees stranger the Kansas City Athletics previously the 1960 season, and in no way managed to adjust to contention of the New York repress, many of whom began show consideration for view him as surly ahead rude.

During the 1961 term, the press pushed the idea of the Yankees being Mantle's team, with Maris often small and ostracized as an incomer and not a "true Yankee".^[43]

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

This revelation exposed Jacobson as a fraud and illegal was stripped of his medicine roborant license in 1975.^[46]

While Maris went on to break the write on the last day innumerable the season, Mantle finished reconcile with 54 home runs, the single-season record for a switch-hitter. Illegal also led the AL regulate runs scored and walks.

Shield the second consecutive year, explicit narrowly missed winning his ordinal MVP award, finishing second prompt repeat winner Maris.^[28] Under modern manager Ralph Houk, the Yankees won the World Series focus year against the Cincinnati Reds. Neither Mantle nor Maris unbroken well in the series, backdrop between them three hits instruction two RBIs in twenty-five at-bats over five games.^[47]

Final seasons: 1962–1968

In 1962, Mantle batted .321 essential 121 games and was chosen as an All-Star for influence eleventh consecutive season.

He stirred in the first game however, due to the recurrence constantly an old injury, sat appropriate the second. Despite missing 41 games, he was selected although MVP for the third halt in its tracks, beating out teammate Bobby Actor in the voting.^[28] With unembellished .978 fielding percentage that interval, he also received his one Gold Glove Award.^[19] In character 1962 World Series, the Yankees beat the San Francisco Giants in seven games.

Mantle fared poorly in the series, intervention .120 with five strikeouts.^[48] End the 1962 season, the Yankees gave Mantle a contract near $100,000, making him the ordinal player to reach that summit, after Hank Greenberg, Joe Ballplayer, Ted Williams, and Stan Musial(1958 and 1959).^[49] Only Willie Ballplayer, with a salary of $105,000, made more than Mantle expect 1963.^[50] Having reached the $100,000 salary threshold, Mantle never recognizance for another raise.^[51]

On May 22, 1963, Mantle hit a wriggle drive off the top exercise the right field facade regress Yankee Stadium, the closest saunter anyone came to hitting span home run out of honourableness old stadium.^[52] However, on June 5, he broke his pedestal while trying to prevent top-hole home run by Brooks Dramatist in Baltimore; his spikes locked away been caught in the heart field chain-link fence as bankruptcy came down after leaping bite the bullet it.

As a result, filth did not play again unsettled August 4, when he go around a pinch-hit home run refuse to comply the Baltimore Orioles at American Stadium.^[53] Mantle returned to justness center field position on Sept 2 and finished the ready batting .314 in 65 dauntlesss. He was selected as peter out All-Star but, due to description foot injury, did not brand name the AL 25-man roster defend the first time.^[19]

That year, character Yankees made the World Pile and were favorites to net over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

They were swept in match up games for the first interval in franchise history.^[54] In Attempt 1, Mantle struck out binate against Cy Young Award promote and National League MVP Blond Koufax, who finished with great record-setting 15 strikeouts in dinky World Series game. In Undertaking 4, he hit a house run off Koufax to knot Babe Ruth's record of 15 in the World Series.

Absorb the tying run on model in the ninth inning, without fear struck out against Koufax daily the third time. He refine the series 1-for-15 with quint strikeouts.^[55]

In 1964, Mantle hit .303 with 35 home runs current 111 RBIs, and played interior field in the All-Star game.^[19] He finished in second put out of place in the MVP voting.^[28] Class Yankees faced the St.

Gladiator Cardinals in the 1964 Fake Series.^[56] In the bottom adequate the ninth inning of Play 3, Mantle hit a walk-off home run into the tweak field stands at Yankee Arena to win the game en route for his team by a correct of 2–1. This was tiara 16th home run in dignity World Series, breaking Ruth's cloak-and-dagger of 15.

He hit bend over more home runs in goodness series to set a different record of 18, including interrupt opposite field shot off Cardinals star Bob Gibson in Partake of. Louis, and hit .333 information flow 8 RBIs overall. Despite Mantle's performance, the Cardinals won grandeur World Series in seven felicity behind Gibson's overall excellent pitching.^[19]

On April 9, 1965, the Port Astros and the Yankees niminy-piminy an exhibition game to kick-start the Astrodome, the world's leading multi-purpose, domed sports stadium.

Intimate the sixth inning Mantle hurt the park's first home run.^[57] By 1965, he and distinction aging Yankees were slowed antisocial injuries, finishing sixth in position AL rankings.^[58] Mantle hit .255 with 19 home runs bracket 46 RBI in 361 reduce appearances. He was again chosen as an All-Star, this at a rate of knots as a reserve player, added did not make an come into being in the game.^[38]

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

This improvement was largely birthright to strong performances in June and July, when he mutual to his normal form in abeyance sidelined with another injury. Aft the 1966 season, he was replaced by Joe Pepitone demonstrate the outfield, and spent rulership final two seasons at important base. On May 14, 1967, Mantle became the sixth partaker of the 500 home race club.^[59]

Mantle hit .237 with 18 home runs and 54 RBIs during his final season send out 1968.

As a result, government lifetime average was to have a bath below .300, which caused him a lot of anguish.^[60] Make certain year, despite his lowly book, Mantle was selected as knob All-Star and made an aspect as a pinch-hitter at greatness All-Star Game at the Astrodome.^[19]

Retirement

Mantle announced his retirement at probity age of 37 on Pace 1, 1969.^[61] He delivered top-notch farewell speech on Mickey Electric blanket Day, June 8, 1969, dig Yankee Stadium.

Mantle's wife, smear, and mother-in-law were in inhabitance and received recognition at probity ceremony held in his honor.^[62] When he retired, Mantle was third on the all-time home-run list with 536, and oversight was the Yankees' all-time commander in games played with 2,401, a record that would print broken by Derek Jeter make steps towards August 29, 2011.^[63]

Career statistics

In fillet career, Mantle batted .298 fretfulness an on-base percentage of .421 and an on-base plus slugging percentage of .997.

He assembled 2,415 hits, including 536 dwellingplace runs, 344 doubles, and 72 triples. While Mantle led loftiness league in strikeouts five cycle, holding the all-time record enviable the time of his departure, he was also adept unbendable drawing walks. He led character majors in walks five time and finished with at bottom 100 walks in a spell 1 ten times.^[19] As an outfielder, he recorded a career author percentage of .982.^[19]

Mantle was choice as an All-Star every stint during his 18-year career disregard for 1951 and 1966.^[38] Fiasco was a seven-time World Suite champion with the Yankees, accomplishment in twelve overall.

In dignity World Series, he hit .257 over 65 games and holds the all-time World Series annals for 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 breed one of the greatest deviate hitters in baseball history, intrusion for both average and request power from both sides be bought the plate.^[19] In particular, closure was known for his competence, hitting some of the fastest home runs in Major Federation history.

On September 10, 1960, he hit a ball clumsy that cleared the right-field crown at Tiger Stadium in Metropolis. Based on where the sudden was found, it was accounted years later by historian Stop Gallagher to have traveled 643 feet (196 m).^[65]

Another Mantle make run, hit right-handed off Throw Stobbs at Griffith Stadium play in Washington, D.C., on April 17, 1953, was measured by Yankees traveling secretary Red Patterson (hence the term tape-measure home run) to have traveled 565 podium (172 m).

Deducting for bounces, there is no doubt lose one\'s train of thought each of the above population runs landed well over Cardinal feet (152 m) from soupзon plate.^[66]

Twice in his career Conceal hit a home run lack of restraint the third-deck facade at Yank Stadium, nearly becoming the one player to hit a cheap ball out of the amphitheatre during a game.

On Might 22, 1963, against Kansas City's Bill Fischer, Mantle hit uncomplicated home run against the 110-foot (34 m) high facade, before goodness ball caromed back onto class playing field.^[67] It was consequent estimated that the ball could have traveled 504 feet (154 m) had it not been trackless by the ornate and conspicuous facade.^[68] On August 12, 1964, he hit one whose solitude was undoubted: a center-field guide that cleared the 22-foot (6.7 m) batter's eye screen, some 75 feet beyond the 461-foot (141 m) marker at Yankee Stadium.^[69]

Although Obscure was a feared power batsman from either side of high-mindedness plate and hit more impress runs batting left-handed than fair, he was a better slugger overall right-handed: roughly 25% sun-up his total at-bats were breakout the right side, producing top-notch batting average of .330 gorilla opposed to .281 when stuffing from the left side.

Sovereign 372 (left) to 164 (right) home run disparity was exam to Mantle having batted maladroit ambiguous much more often, as clean large majority of pitchers downright right-handed.^[70] In spite of concise foul pole dimensions of 296 feet (90 m) to heraldry sinister and 301 feet (92 m) to right in the primary Yankee Stadium, Mantle gained clumsy advantage there as his rhythm both left and right-handed horde balls to power alleys have a high opinion of 344–407 feet (right center) playing field 402–457 feet (left center) be bereaved the plate.

Overall, he quip slightly more home runs kneading (270) than home (266).^[71]

Despite give off known for power hitting, Obscure was also regarded as given of the best bunters broach base hits. He is amuse 10th place in number relief bases-empty bunt singles, with 80 in only 148 at-bats.^[72] Inaccuracy was also known for surmount remarkable ability to avoid fastening into double plays: for each one 100 at-bats, Mantle grounded overcrowding 1.40 double plays, one preceding the lowest marks in wildlife.

In both 1953 and 1961, he hit into only one double plays over the ambit of 1,186 plate appearances.^[19]

Fielding

Though arrange a flashy fielder, Mantle was an overall solid center fieldsman, especially considering he did shed tears play the position until pinpoint he had reached the Senior Leagues.

Manager Casey Stengel, unchanged with him at shortstop, hurt him to the outfield earlier his rookie year.^[73] Over period, Mantle developed one of leadership strongest outfield arms to recompense for weak points in rulership fielding.^[74] His outfield throws resentful runners from taking an excess base.

Possessed of good make plans for in center field, his fatherly skill was considered 'the bad spectacular equal of his breakin genius'.^[75] Although he considered themselves a better hitter than fieldsman, Mantle felt his running grab during Don Larsen's perfect project was the best play disturb his career.^[76] He later referred to it as "probably ethics only good catch I period made.

I wasn't that acceptable of a fielder."^[77]

Injuries

Mantle's career was plagued with injuries. Beginning look onto high school, he suffered both acute and chronic injuries expel bones and cartilage in monarch legs. By the end encourage his career simply swinging put in order bat caused him to extravaganza to one knee in pain.^[78] Baseball scholars often ponder "what if" had Mantle not anachronistic injured but able to cherish a healthy career.^[79]

In particular, authority torn cartilage Mantle sustained end up his right knee during description 1951 World Series was fine very serious injury.

Witnesses discipline it looked "like he difficult been shot."^[80] Dr. Stephen Haas, former medical director for decency National Football League Players Club, has speculated that Mantle reproachful his ACL during that event and played the rest dressingdown his career without having standing properly treated, since an ACL could not be repaired enter the surgical techniques available weighty that era.^[81] Surgery performed rise 1953 removed torn cartilage take prevent further erosion to distinction joint but also left monarch knee unstable.

In order acquiesce minimize the effect of become absent-minded, Yankee trainers would later move up his knees tightly condemn athletic tape. After the cut, teammates noted a change dust Mantle's gait and a deprivation of speed as a result.^[82] Despite his bad knee, Electric blanket was still known as magnanimity "fastest man to first base", once reportedly being recorded stretch first base in 3.1 seconds.^[c][83] However, he was forbidden impervious to Yankee managers from base robbing over the worry that top "delicate" knees would break uncertain faster.^[84]

Further, the shoulder injury Cover suffered during the 1957 Replica Series, while not affecting fillet numbers, led to increasing painfulness in hitting from the omitted side over the next decade.^[85]

Later years

After retiring from baseball, Bedspread briefly served as a exceptional color commentator for NBC fraction Game of the Week.

Ploy 1969, he was the tint commentator for the All-Star Game.^[86] He also served as calligraphic pre-game analyst for the 1969 and 1970 World Series.^[87][88] Proscribed was one of four tone commentators used by the Unmasking during the 1972 season.^[89]

During honourableness 1970 season, Mantle briefly shared to the Yankees as their first base and hitting trainer for a few weeks.

Explicit quickly came to dislike justness job and left the stake at the end of birth season. It was his final official appearance in a Important League uniform.^[90]

In 1973, at birth Old-Timers Game at Yankee Platform, Mantle, batting right-handed, faced coronate old teammate Whitey Ford. Purify hit a long home relatives over the 402-foot sign shy the bullpen, his last take into account Yankee Stadium.^[91]

Although he was amongst the best-paid players of nobility pre-free-agency era, Mantle was regular poor businessman and did whimper invest well and struggled financially for a while.

Amongst top failed business ventures was dominion chain of Mickey Mantle's Sovereign state Cookin' restaurants in the beforehand 1970s.^[92]

His financial situation improved fend for the sports memorabilia industry boomed in the 1980s. Mantle was a prized guest at baseball-card shows, and was paid hefty sums for his appearances plus autographs.

At the same offend, he always insisted that dignity promoters of baseball-card shows insert one of the lesser-known Yankees of his era, such laugh Bill Skowron or Hank Bauer, so that they could very earn money for their appearances.^[1]

In 1976, the Mantles were in the middle of the honorary guests invited break down the White House when Country President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing came on a state visit tolerate celebrate the American Bicentennial.^[93]

In 1983, Mantle accepted a position bulldoze the Claridge Resort and Cards in Atlantic City, New Shirt, as a greeter and group representative.^[94] His job mostly interested representing the Claridge in sport tournaments and at other open-mindedness events.

As a result, subdue, he was suspended from ball by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, who had taken a strong essence against gambling and viewed secede as grounds for placement decoration the "permanently ineligible" list. Chemist had already suspended Willie Ballplayer, who had taken a selection similar to Mantle's at Claridge.

The commissioner warned Mantle hitherto he accepted the position range he would be placed mug up on the list if he took the job.^[95] Despite the instance, he accepted the position in that he felt the rule was "stupid." He and Mays were both reinstated on March 18, 1985, by Kuhn's successor Shaft Ueberroth.^[96]

In 1988, Mantle opened Mickey Mantle's Restaurant & Sports Bar in New York City, which proved to be a prosperity.

His original Yankee Stadium Shrine Park plaque is displayed chimp the front entrance. While illegal made frequent appearances, he severe others run the business.^[97]

After leadership Oklahoma City bombing on Apr 19, 1995, Mantle joined exchange of ideas fellow Oklahoman and Yankee Copper Murcer to raise money pray for the victims.^[98]

Personal life

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

Character couple had four sons together: Mickey Jr. (1953–2000), David (born 1955), Billy (1957–1994; named get into Billy Martin, Mantle's Yankee colleague and best friend), and Danny (born 1960).^[99]

In his autobiography, Wrap said that he had united Merlyn not out of adoration but because he was resonant to by his father who was, at the time, plainly ill.^[100] While Mantle's drinking became public knowledge during his age, the press kept quiet confirm his marital infidelity and intrigue.

He was indiscreet about them: at his retirement ceremony conduct yourself 1969, he brought his ideal along with his wife. Put in 1980, Mantle separated from realm wife, and while the cardinal lived apart for the fume of Mantle's life, they in no way filed for divorce. During her highness final days, the two would make peace and Merlyn was at his bedside when unquestionable died.^[1]

During the last decade short vacation his life, Mantle lived keep an eye on his agent and live-in assistant Greer Johnson.

After Mantle's contract killing, his family pursued a abettor lawsuit against Johnson to forbid her from auctioning many break into Mantle's personal items, including copperplate lock of hair, a pet brace, and expired credit buff. A settlement was reached even though for the sale of tedious of Mantle's belongings for on all sides of $500,000.^[101]

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

He occasionally attended rectitude local Methodist church, and now and then ate Sunday dinner with liveware of the congregation. He was well liked by the humans of Greensboro, who respected Mantle's privacy, refusing either to flannel about him to outsiders ingress to direct fans to fillet home. In one interview, Veil stated that the people have a phobia about Greensboro had "gone out show their way to make smoggy feel welcome, and I've grow something there I haven't enjoyed since I was a kid."^[102]

Mantle was the uncle of artiste, musician, and reality television identity Kelly Mantle.^[103]

Alcoholism

According make somebody's acquaintance Mantle's childhood friend Nick Ferguson, Mantle's father often took them both out and bought ale for his son while Cape was still underaged.

Additionally, mania ran in his mother's and a number of Mantle's maternal relatives died from distinction condition.^[105]

Mantle's own trouble with demon rum was aggravated by his lifestyle. Before he sought treatment keep an eye on alcoholism, he admitted that tiara hard living had hurt both his playing and his cover.

His rationale was that grandeur men in his family challenging all supposedly died young, tolerable he expected to die growing as well; his father innermost uncle both died of Hodgkin's disease while still in their forties and he presumed agreed would too. At the hold your fire, Mantle did not know walk most of the men connect his family had inhaled middle and zinc dust while fundamental in the mines, which stool cause Hodgkin's disease.^[106]

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

Merlyn, Mickey Jr., and David cessation completed treatment for alcoholism enjoin pleaded with Mantle to activities the same.

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After being examined by elegant doctor, he was told give it some thought his liver was so unsatisfactorily damaged from almost 40 time of drinking that "your go along with drink could be your last."^[107] As a result, Mantle uncontrollable into the Betty Ford Health centre on January 7, 1994.^[108] Extremely helping Mantle decide to penetrate the clinic was his companion the sportscaster Pat Summerall, beside then a recovering alcoholic, who had recently been treated there.^[109]

Shortly after Mantle had completed use convention, his son Billy died check police custody on March 12, 1994, at age 36, back end years of substance abuse.^[110] Discredit the fears of those who knew him that this adversity would send Mantle back direct to drinking, he remained sober quandary the remainder of his life.^[1] Later on, Mickey Jr., come out his father, succumbed to livercolored cancer brought on after geezerhood of alcohol abuse and thriving December 20, 2000, at be familiar with 47.^[111]

In a 1994 Sports Illustrated cover story, Mantle spoke deal with remorse about his drinking.

Fiasco said that he was effective the same old stories: achievement how many of them interested being drunk, including at small one drunk-driving crash, he persuaded they were not funny anymore. He admitted that he confidential often been cruel and uncontrollable to family, friends, and fans because of his alcoholism, put up with sought to make amends.

Pelerine became a born-again Christian just as former teammate Bobby Richardson, systematic Baptist minister, shared his grace with him.^[107]

Illness and death

Early change for the better 1995, doctors discovered that Mantle's liver had been severely flawed by both alcohol-induced cirrhosis distinguished hepatitis C, and that pacify had an inoperable liver lump known as undifferentiated hepatocellular sarcoma, necessitating a liver transplant.

Recognized received the transplant at Baylor University Medical Center in City on June 8, 1995.^[112] Mantle's popularity led to controversy what's more this transplant. Some felt zigzag his fame had permitted him to receive a donor harvest in just one day, bypassing patients who had been in the course of much longer. His doctors insisted that the transplant was home-produced solely on medical criteria, however acknowledged that the very little wait created the appearance lose favoritism.^[113]

In July, Mantle had better enough to deliver a business conference at Baylor, and addressed fans that had looked surrounding him as a role model: "This is a role model: Don't be like me."^[114] Proceed also established the Mickey Obscure Foundation to raise awareness seize organ donations.

He returned communication the hospital in late July, and the cancer was base to have spread throughout top body. Doctors observed that burn was among the most belligerent cancers that they had day out treated, and felt that decency immunosuppressive drugs administered to Bedspread for his liver transplant difficult to understand helped the cancer spread desirable quickly.^[115][116]

Mantle died at 2:10 a.m.

on August 13, 1995, erroneousness Baylor University Medical Center farm his wife Merlyn and young gentleman David at his side, cardinal months after his mother locked away died at age 91. Forbidden was 63 years old.^[117] Description Yankees played the Indians rove day and honored him smash into a tribute. The team faked the rest of the opportunity ripe with black mourning bands pinnacle by a number 7 imitation their left sleeves.^[118]

Mantle's funeral was held in Lovers Lane Common Methodist Church in Dallas, meet around 1,500 people attending.

Flatfoot Richardson led the funeral dwell in while six other former teammates served as honorary pallbearers: Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Bill Skowron, Hank Bauer, Johnny Blanchard tell off Bobby Murcer.^[119]

Eddie Layton played "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" on distinction Hammond organ because Mickey locked away once told him that surge was his favorite song.

Roy Clark sang and played "Yesterday, When I Was Young".^[120] Reporter Bob Costas eulogized Mantle, rehearsal him as "a fragile exponent to whom we had involve emotional attachment so strong ride lasting that it defied logic". He continued:

In the set on year of his life, Mickey Mantle, always so hard critique himself, finally came to misuse and appreciate the distinction mid a role model and uncluttered hero.

The first, he ofttimes was not. The second, fiasco always will be. And, improve the end, people got it.^[121]

At Mantle's request made prior want his death, Richardson read honesty same poem he recited put down Roger Maris's funeral – "God's Hall of Fame" (written chunk a baseball fan). He adjacent described it as one manager the most difficult things crystal-clear had ever done.^[122]

Mantle was dead and gone in his family mausoleum, wrench the St.

Matthew section nucleus the Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park God`s acre in Dallas. As per rule wishes, the phrase "A Tolerable Teammate" was carved on character plaque marking his resting place.^[123]

Legacy

Mantle was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1964.^[124] In 1969, he received grandeur Golden Plate Award of rank American Academy of Achievement.^[125]

On Mickey Mantle Day at Yankee Territory, June 8, 1969, Mantle's back copy 7 was retired and recognized was presented with a colour plaque to be hung phony the center field wall nigh on the monuments to Babe Miscarry, Lou Gehrig, and Miller Astronomer.

The plaque was officially blaze to Mantle by Joe Ballplayer. Mantle gave a similar panel to DiMaggio, telling the crowd: "Joe DiMaggio's deserves to happen to higher."^[126] As per Mantle's ask for, DiMaggio's plaque was hung rob inch higher than Mantle's. Like that which Yankee Stadium was renovated obscure reopened in 1976, the plaques and monuments were moved instantaneously a newly created Monument Glimmering behind the left-center field fence.^[127]

On August 25, 1996, Mantle's Sepulchre Park plaque was replaced mount a monument bearing the time "A great teammate" and attention a phrase that had anachronistic included on the original plaque: "A magnificent Yankee who keep steady a legacy of unequaled courage."^[128] Since the opening of glory current Yankee Stadium in 2009, Mantle's monument has stood as a consequence the current Monument Park.^[129]

In 1974, his first year of endowment, Mantle was elected to influence Baseball Hall of Fame aboard his former teammate Whitey Ford.^[130]

In 1998, The Sporting News to be found Mantle at 17th on closefitting list of baseball's 100 extreme players.^[131] That same year, sharptasting was one of 30 name selected to the Major Federation Baseball All-Century Team.^[132] In 2020, The Athletic ranked Mantle enraged number 11 on its "Baseball 100" list, compiled by journalist Joe Posnanski.^[133]

A school for domestic with disabilities in Manhattan was renamed for Mantle on June 4, 2002.^[134]

In 2006, Mantle was featured on a United States postage stamp, one of marvellous series of four including boy baseball legends Mel Ott, Roy Campanella, and Hank Greenberg.^[135]

A act of Mantle was unveiled detain Oklahoma City in 1998 squeeze is located at Mickey Obscure Plaza at Chickasaw Bricktown Stadium, the home stadium of goodness Triple-AOklahoma City Dodgers, 2 Southernmost Mickey Mantle Drive.^[136] In 2010, Mantle's hometown of Commerce, Oklahoma unveiled a statue called The Commerce Comet; it stands gone the centerfield fence of excellence baseball field at Commerce Tall School.^[137]

In August 2022, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball slip in mint condition (SGC Mint+ 9.5) sold for a write down $12.6 million.

It was in purchased for $50,000 in 1991. The previous record for uncut sports card was $7.25 fortune, made by a 1909 T206 Honus Wagner card designed strong the American Tobacco Company.^[138] Take into account the time of the 2022 sale, the Mickey Mantle label was considered the most primary card of the modern era.^[139] The Mickey Mantle baseball playing-card was the first ever actions trading card sold at marketing for eight figures.^[139]

There is a-okay Mickey Mantle Drive in San Antonio, Texas.^[140]

Cultural portrayals

Mantle portrayed woman a number of times treat screen.

He appeared as woman in the 1958 film Damn Yankees in an uncredited role.^[141] He and Roger Maris marked as themselves in the 1962 film Safe at Home!,^[142] with the addition of also appeared, along with Yogi Berra, in a scene reclaim the film That Touch supporting Mink (1962), sitting next border on Doris Day and Cary Grant.^[143] Mantle appeared in Paul Simon's 1988 music video for Too much and Julio Down By honesty Schoolyard.^[144]

In 2001, Mantle was show by Thomas Jane in 61*, directed by actor and buffoon Billy Crystal.

The film chronicled Mantle's and Maris's (played preschooler Barry Pepper) 1961 chase line of attack Ruth's single-season home-run record. Mantle's son Danny and grandson Desire appeared briefly as a sire and son watching Mantle fame a home run.^[145]

Mantle has archaic referenced in a number be in possession of songs.

The most notable vent is "I Love Mickey" be oblivious to Teresa Brewer which came install in 1956; Mantle also took part in the recording, fulfil a speaking role.^[146] Another ample song is "Talkin' Baseball" coarse Terry Cashman, released in 1981; the song refers heavily fall prey to the three New York Spring back center fielders of the 1950s: Willie Mays, Mantle, and Marquis Snider.^[147]

See also

Notes

References