With a telegenic, boyish grin, an aw-shucks Oklahoma drawl and a big No. His Homeric feats on the field and love of play off it endeared him to America. He became bigger than the sport itself. After he retired, his celebrity status continued, and he drew large crowds to autograph shows and his baseball camps and appeared on TV talk shows and even music videos. But as a Yankees superstar, he had developed a taste for high living and good liquor that only accelerated after his playing days ended, and he eventually became a chronic alcoholic.
He was treated for alcoholism, and his damaged liver eventually was ravaged by cirrhosis, hepatitis C and the cancer that led to his death.
Mantle played for the Yankees from through and was a vital element in a Yankees tradition and mystique that transcended the boundaries of sports. To millions, the Yankees stood for winning, invincibility and being the best, and Mantle , as the successor to the likes of Joe DiMaggio , Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig , was a major force in preserving and enhancing that image.
Not only were they teammates but they also were friends off the field. And from the time Mantle joined the Yankees through , his manager was the colorful and eccentric Casey Stengel.
For most of Mantle's career, the Yankees dominated major league baseball, and he was considered by many the greatest player on baseball's greatest team. His 18 home runs in World Series play still stands as a record. Mantle was voted the American League's most valuable player three times -- in , and -- and finished his career with regular season home runs.
When he retired, he was third on the all-time home run list, behind Babe Ruth and Willie Mays , and almost 30 years later, he is still eighth all-time. He hit more than. He ended his career with 1, runs batted in. Ten times, he homered from both sides of the plate in the same game. Injuries plagued Mantle throughout his career. He played more games for the Yankees -- 2, -- than anyone else, and for much of that time he played in pain.
In the second game of the World Series , he injured his knee while chasing a fly ball when a cleat on his shoe caught on a piece of the underground lawn sprinkler apparatus in the outfield at Yankee Stadium. He missed the rest of the series and later underwent the first of several knee operations.
Despite his injuries, for several years he was the fastest man on the team and one of the fastest in the American League. As an outfielder, he could outrun a fly ball. When Don Larsen pitched a perfect game against the Dodgers in the World Series , he got a major assist from Mantle. A line drive by Dodgers first baseman Gil Hodges appeared certain to fall safely in left-center field until a speeding Mantle caught up with it, snaring the ball with a backhand catch.
Mantle was one of the most powerful hitters in baseball, but he also was a good bunter and a brilliant base runner. He was also featured in numerous documentaries and sports videos.
A fan favorite, he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in After years of hard drinking, Mantle entered the Betty Ford Clinic in and was diagnosed with cirrhosis, hepatitis and cancer of the liver. Mantle received a liver transplant in , but died of a heart attack that same year—on August 13, , at the age of 63, in Dallas Texas.
A fourth son, Billy, died in of Hodgkin's disease. We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! Subscribe to the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives. They were featured at the Yankee Stadium museum. I am curious as to who owns these items and if they will ever be on display again for me to see it.
Mickey Mantle is the topic of my 11th grade writing paper, he is an amazing ball player, which many idolize. I wore the jersey 7 in my little league baseball team, he changed the expectations of hitting forever. Great as they were, I never saw them play. I was eleven when Mickey made it to the major leagues as a Yankee.
I was soon enthralled by the raw talent and tremendous potential of this young man from Oklahoma. I was very appreciative of the radio and television broadcasts of Yankee games, even in extreme northern Maine. Dad eventually added number 7 to his list of great Yankee players.
The Mick led the Yanks to a lopsided win over the Red Sox, hitting a long home run and a stinging double, making unbelievable catches in center field, and running the bases with blinding speed. I worked in Connecticut every summer during my college career; this allowed me to go to Yankee Stadium as often as I could.
Mickey, you live on in my mind and heart. From the age of 3, living in NYC, I discovered baseball. Instantly after watching with my older brother I became a Mickey Mantle fan.
The greatest player I ever saw. I played ball, and was quite good, but could not pursue my dreams of being a professional player because of family obligations. My little sister, Vicky, watched with me and became and instant Mantle fan as well. That was great and made for a great deal of memories. It was a great and cherished time and another memory for me to share with my sister and later on with my kids as I we took pictures and got autographs. We were late and Mickey was heading out to leave the fast food restaurant where he made his appearance.
I walked up to him and apologized for us being late since I had to help my sick father. Mickey stopped when he heard that and looked at me and my sister. It was great. It was great and I got to meet my childhood baseball hero. The guy whose number 7 was printed on our t-shirts as kids when we played any sport, especially, of course, baseball.
My sister and I talked about that time so often over the years. We were so saddened at his death. Since that time I got married and moved on.
My sister and parents moved back to NYC. Years later I visited my sister in a NYC hospital as she was suffering from cancer. I brought and placed a framed picture of her and Mickey Mantle I took during that time in Ocala, Florida and placed it on the table next to her hospital bed. She smiled and we talked about that time again. It was stage 4 Mantle cell leukemia of all things. She struggled but she survived. However, the chemo treatments damaged and weakened her immune system so badly.
She struggled for over a year before she suffered major organ failure and died. Even on her deathbed we talked over and over about the time we met Mickey Mantle and talked with him like he was our best friend. This memory, along with so many other ones, was one that helped her cope with her pain and suffering. Thanks to Mickey Mantle for helping me go through one of the most difficult times in my life.
And thanks, I know for sure, from my sister Vicky! I still remember walking in circles with my transistor radio stuck to my ear for reception.
I seen him in person once at Comiskey park I. I have 2 autographed pictures of him that I treasure. He is the greatest player I ever saw. RIP Mickey. Went to Shibe Park with my father and uncle mainly to see DiMaggio. A night game something very special since I was 10 and a Yankee fan.
A player came to bat announced as Mantle. Mantle hit a ball and no one in the field moved, outfielders looked up and around, the ball disappeared in the night sky. I repeated this story many times and maybe they thought I was over the top.
One day as an adult returning home listening to sports radio out of Phila. After that game Mantle was my favorite, I wore his number in HS and played center. That was a great era of MLB, an innocents in time of collecting baseball cards, listening to games on radio, and for a dollar sit in the bleachers and actually smell the field. I truly love your site.. Did you create this website yourself?
At 68 years old I still vividly remember my first Yankee game at Yankee Stadium. I sat on field level behind the Yankee dugout. Yankees were playing Detroit with Whitey Ford pitching. When my hero, Mickey Mantle, first stepped out of the dugout my eyes grew wide open. As a kid of 14 I was a dedicated Yankee fan, listened to every game on the radio and followed the standings in the daily news.
Players have come and gone in the games of baseball, but none had the ability and style of Mickey Mantle. One thing many people are not aware of is: Mickey committed his life to Christ about 2 weeks before he died.
His good and long time friend and former team mate, Bobby Richardson, had shared his faith with the Mick for years. However after viewing the focus on the family video on the life of Pete Maravich, Mickey decided that it was time to commit his life to Christ.
When I was about ten, summer of 66 Mickey Mantle and his son were playing golf and we were on a hole next to them.
Because of The witness of Bobby Richardson. I will get to thank him in front of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ. I, too, grew up in NYC and went to Yankee Stadium first with my dad, and later with some girlfriends. I remember watching the games on our black-and-white TV in the 50s and 60s, but mostly listening on our Grundig radio in the kitchen. That season was memorable! Unfortunately, my mother threw out all my other autographs from many major league players of that time.
Rest In Peace, Mick. Know that many of us loved you! Such great stories and memories of the fans herein this website! I was just browsing to know a little more about Mickey. My Dad picked me up from 1st grade school one day in , and walked me over to the High School stadium in Brownwood, Texas.
User Contributions: 1. Michael Harper. In the late eighties I was living in Las Vegas and went into a bar on the strip and ordered a beer. It was close to Freemont St. Many in Vegas don't frequient the large casinos just to grab a quick drink. I sat next to a fellow and we chatted but I really don't remember about what, probably news of the day.
After awhile he confided to me that he was Mickey Mantle. I thought, yea right? After it came out about his illness and his death and saw more recent photos of him, I feel proud of this memory and his down to earth soul. A great man with all the human failings and vulnerabilties as everyone else on the planet.
Life is difficult,sooner for some than others,but we all have to endure loss of family and friends at some point and self medicating is common;and so often it's the kind ones and those who pine for the ones they miss that succumb to the addictive power of drink or drug. He is remembered by me for his warmth and kindness. Howard McCartney. My Father was my true hero in my life. But as a sports figure Mickey taught me that even if you are a great player you do it with humility.
He never tried to show up a player. After a homerun he would run the bases with his head down and I believe he knew he was given a gift and he never wanted to show anyone up. I do thank him for what he taught me and yes he had his problems with alcohol but he always played. It probably hurt his chance for hitting mor homeruns unlike steroids. I think many of todays stars could take a lesson.
It was a privilage to have the the chance to watch him play. And i take nothing away from the other great players during that time. Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: Name:.
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