He was a humble man who was kind and friendly to all his teammates, even the rawest rookie. He played his first game for the Yankees in 1951 and stayed with the team for his entire 18-year career, hitting 536 home runs and being named the American League's Most Valuable Player three times. Mickey Mantle, the most powerful switch-hitter in baseball history and the successor to Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio as the symbol of the long reign of … Having just come from the play, Holling shows up in his Ariel costume, and Mantle disgustedly says he doesn't sign balls for boys in yellow tights. He became Yankees hitting starbase percentage above .400 and a slugging percentage above .600 during his first complete World Series in 1952. He was among the first five players inducted into the sport's Hall of Fame. After years of hard drinking, Mantle entered the Betty Ford Clinic in 1994 and was diagnosed with cirrhosis, hepatitis and cancer of the liver. Quotations by Mickey Mantle, American Baseball Player, Born October 20, 1931. The Mick ® – The Greatest Power & Switch Hitter in Baseball History In 1956, he won the American League triple crown with 52 home runs, 130 runs batted in and a .353 batting average. Mantle was one of the best players and sluggers and is regarded by many as the greatest switch hitter in baseball history. Get the best deals on Topps Reprint Mickey Mantle Baseball Cards when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. Mantle played his first game for the Yankees in 1951, eventually replacing Joe DiMaggio in center field. Mickey Mantle had an amazing baseball career with multiple records and fantastic stats. And most of them were absolutely crushed. He batted .311 with 23 home runs, 87 RBI, and 94 runs scored that season, making the All-Star team for the first of 18 consecutive selections. Mickey Mantle is a baseball player for the Yankees and is one of Holling 's heroes. This is equivalent to $856,822 in 2021 dollars, far less than … His drive and love for the game pushed him past injuries and into the record books. But one of the longest-rumored dingers he ever dinger'd was as a 19-year-old during an exhibition match against USC. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); Subscribe to the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives. From 1953 to 1955, the switch-hitter averaged 28 home runs, 98 RBI and 118 runs per season. Mantle was famous for his home run power both right- and left-handed; he hit 536 home runs in his career. On Mickey Mantle Day at Yankee Stadium, June 8, 1969, his uniform Number 7 was retired and he was a given a bronze plaque to be hung on the center field wall near the monuments to Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Miller Huggins. He led the American League in 1954 with 129 runs and in 1955 he topped the AL with 37 home runs, a .431 on-base percentage and a .611 slugging percentage. A fan favorite, he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. Chances are, if you owned a dog and collected sports cards in 1954, … Scouted while in high school, Mickey Mantle joined the majors at age 19. 52 - Mickey Mantle hit 52 home runs in 1956, … In 1963, baseball player Mickey Mantle earned $100,000, at the time one of the top salaries in the league. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! Mickey Mantle hit many home runs during his career -- 536 to be exact. Named on 20 All-Star teams. Mantle retired prior to the 1969 season with 536 home runs, 1,676 runs scored, 1,509 RBI, 1,733 walks and a .298 batting average. Throughout his career, Mantle was plagued by injuries and leg pain caused by osteomyelitis, yet he persevered to leave one of the greatest baseball legacies of all time. He played his first game for the Yankees in 1951 and stayed with the team for … “You never have to wait long, or look far, to be reminded of how thin the line is between being a hero … In 1972 he served as a part-time television commentator for the Montreal Expos. The rest is history as his performance kept improving though mostly hit by injuries. During the summer of their famous 1961 home-run chase, Mickey Mantle was the media favorite to win the race, the one most New York sportswriters considered the “Real Yankee,” a player who was worthy of the record. That season, he batted .321 with 30 home runs, 89 RBIs and 96 runs scored. “You never have to wait long, or look far, to be reminded of how thin the line is between being a hero … Mickey Mantle (left), the Hall of Fame baseball player, is said to have vomited during a sexual encounter with Hollywood star Angie Dickinson (right) Dickinson, 88, … Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1951 season Full Name: Mickey Charles Mantle Nicknames: The Mick, The Commerce Comet or Muscles. We strive for accuracy and fairness. The Yankee Clipper is maybe even more famous in the American public for his ill-fated marriage to Marilyn Monroe. Enjoy the best Mickey Mantle Quotes at BrainyQuote. Were any Mickey Mantle cards given away as premiums? One of the largest pins ever made with Mickey’s likeness, this 6-inch diameter button featured Mantle, Ruth and Maris. Mickey Mantle played for the New York Yankees from 1951 to 1968, and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject. As a rookie in the 1951 World Series, Mantle severely injured his right knee while chasing a fly ball, but he returned to the Yankees in 1952 as the starting center fielder – taking over for Joe DiMaggio. On May 14, 1967, Mickey Mantle became the sixth player in big league history to total at least 500 home runs. He hit a record 18 home runs in his 12 appearances in the Fall Classic. Mickey Mantle was an iconic baseball player with immense talent. On Sept. 18, 1956, Mickey Mantle became just the eighth player in Major League history to hit 50 home runs in a season. Baseball legend Joe DiMaggio set a record with his 56-game hitting streak in 1941 and won nine World Series titles during his 13 years with the New York Yankees. On a day when a 19-year-old kid named Mickey Mantle would hit his first major-league home run for the hated Yanks, Minoso’s Sox debut was more momentous. American baseball player Baseball player Mickey Mantle (known as "the Mick") won four home-run championships, a Triple Crown (highest batting average, most home runs, and most RBIs [runs batted in] in one season), and three Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards during his eighteen-year career with the New York Yankees. Mickey Mantle Jr. hit .198 in 70 games for the Alexandria Dukes that year. Yes, at least two Mickey Mantle cards were given away as premiums. There's the 565-footer at Griffith Stadium or the prodigious blasts off the tops of the old Yankee Stadium facade. "I've often wondered how a man who knew he was going to die could stand here and say he was the luckiest man on the face of the earth, but now I guess I know how he felt." Derek Jeter is a former professional baseball player known for his Hall of Fame career as a shortstop for the New York Yankees. (National Baseball Hall of Fame), Mickey Mantle - Baseball Hall of Fame Biographies, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, 25 Main Street,Cooperstown, NY 13326Phone: 1-888-HALL-OF-FAME | 607-547-7200 | Fax: 607-547-0398, "That boy hits baseballs over buildings. 166. (National Baseball Hall of Fame), Mickey Mantle (left) replaced Joe DiMaggio in centerfield following the 1951 season. He was survived by his wife, Merlyn (Johnson) Mantle, and three sons: David, Danny and Mickey Jr. A fourth son, Billy, died in 1994 of Hodgkin's disease. Later in life, he managed the team, becoming only one of six managers to lead both National and American League teams to the World Series. He was one of the greatest switch-hitters and sluggers in the history of the tournament. Mantle played his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career (1951–1968) with the New York Yankees as a center fielder, right fielder, and first baseman. His drive and love for the game pushed him past injuries and into the record books. Below is a picture showing the test being performed on a 1968 Topps Mickey Mantle, but the same principle applies for any card. If you have a strong flashlight, hold it up against the Mantle and then perform the same test on a known authentic example (or any card from the 1952 set) and compare the results. Mantle was an idol to millions, known for his remarkable power and speed and his everyman personality. He helped the Yankees win … Scouted while in high school, Mickey Mantle joined the majors at age 19. He won several titles and achieved a lot as a baseball player. More bio, uniform, draft, salary info The signature of Mickey Mantle in the 1990s changed very little from the previous decade. Mel Allen on Mickey Mantle Day at Yankee Stadium, June 8, 1969. Hall of Fame first baseman Lou Gehrig played for the New York Yankees in the 1920s and 1930s, setting the mark for consecutive games played. After retiring from baseball on March 1, 1969, Mantle became a restaurateur and television commentator. The site contains a variety of biographical material gathered by friends, family and baseball aficionados. DiMaggio had retired the previous year. Mickey Mantle was a renowned American professional baseball player, who was also known as “The Mick” and “The Commerce Comet.”. He passed away on Aug. 13, 1995. that Mickey Mantle was named after future Hall of Fame catcher Gordon "Mickey" Cochrane? Mickey Charles Mantle (October 20, 1931 - August 13, 1995), like his predecessor in the New York Yankees centerfield, Joe DiMaggio, became one of the most popular figures in sports history both during and after his playing career. Won the American League's Triple Crown in 1956, leading the league in batting (.353), home runs (52), and runs batted in (130). These cards printed in 1954 feature a picture of Mantle above a yellow rhombus with the name Mickey Mantle in the middle. He was idolized by all the other players.”. Named by his baseball-loving father after Detroit Tigers catcher Mickey Cochrane, Mantle was trained from a young age to be a switch-hitter. 1968 Topps Mickey Mantle Light Test Mantle received a liver transplant in 1995, but died of a heart attack that same year—on August 13, 1995, at the age of 63, in Dallas Texas. He appeared in 12 World Series, his team winning 7 of them, and … Mickey Mantle was an iconic baseball player with immense talent. Red Heart dog food allowed its dog food buyers to mail in a proof of purchase for its Mickey Mantle cards. During the 1952 season, Mickey Charles Mantlereplaced DiMaggio as a center fielder. © 2021 Biography and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. He played his entire 18-year career with the New York Yankees, and the injuries he suffered may have never allowed him to live up to the potential he displayed to the team when he arrived in 1951. He played his entire 18-year career with the New York Yankees, and the injuries he suffered may have never allowed him to live up to the potential he displayed to the team when he arrived in 1951. "My Dad always wanted one of us to play," he said a couple of years ago. He played for the ‘New York Yankees’ in ‘Major League Baseball’ (MLB) as their first baseman and center fielder. He also led the league with a .486 on-base percentage and a .605 slugging mark. Baseball legend Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's hallowed mark of 714 home runs and finished his career with numerous big league records. Baseball icon Babe Ruth set numerous records as a pitcher and slugging outfielder. But despite never quite being at 100 percent, Mantle established himself as and one of the game’s best players. 1954 Red Heart Mickey Mantle. Represent the all-time greats and know your purchase plays a part in preserving baseball history. Privacy Statement/Your California Privacy Rights. Share with your friends. Arguably the greatest all-around centerfielder of the 1950s. Why Famous: Regarded by many as one of the greatest players in baseball history. During his 18-year career with the Yankees, the switch-hitting slugger hit 536 home runs and was voted the American League's Most Valuable Player three times (1956–57, 1962). https://www.biography.com/athlete/mickey-mantle. 5 – The Greatest Home Run Hitters. ". "If I knew I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself," he stated around this period. Mickey Mantle, professional baseball player for the New York Yankees (1951–68), who was a powerful switch-hitter and who hit 536 home runs. In 1962, Mantle missed almost 40 games, but still managed to capture his third MVP title while bringing New York to its third consecutive pennant and second straight world championship. 12 - Mickey Mantle is often associated with home runs, but on July 23, 1957, he showed his ability to hit singles, doubles, triples and home runs - completing the twelfth cycle in franchise history for the New York Yankees. Mickey Mantle's home run on April 17, 1953, in Washington, D.C., shocked the baseball world. In 1956 he won the AL Triple Crown, batting .353 with 52 home runs and 130 RBI and won the first of two consecutive AL Most Valuable Player Awards. He was considered the fastest man in baseball during the 1950s. He died of ALS in 1941. View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen. He would play that full position time until he moved to the left field in 1965. Whitey Ford called him as “a superstar who never acted like one. Longtime Yankees teammate Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford were elected to the Hall of Fame in 1974. A trailblazing player in the Negro Leagues, baseball pitcher Satchel Paige also became the oldest rookie in Major League history and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971. (National Baseball Hall of Fame), Mickey Mantle (far left) was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974, five years after he retired. While these facts are widely known, here are some not so popular ones you may not know about. Mantle played center fielder and first baseman for the New York Yankees for 18 seasons, from 1951 through 1968. Mickey Charles Mantle was born on October 20, 1931, in Spavinaw, Oklahoma. He died in Texas in 1995. Relive your cherished baseball memories and favorite moments from your team with your personalized membership card. One thing that is noticeable, however, is the shortness of the middle post in both “M’s.” At one time, the length would extend to the base of the “i” in Mickey and the “a” in Mantle. Around Christmas, he comes to the Baker Sporting Emporium to sign baseballs. The official Mickey Mantle website is the definitive guide to the life and times of one of sports most loved, most famous and biggest hitters in baseball history. A New York Yankees scout saw him play while in high school, and Mantle subsequently signed on for two years in the minors before joining the major league team at the age of 19. Effects of the disease lasted his lifetime and might have been responsible for other injuries that took much of the speed he had early in his career. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. Baseball fans remember him as a … Yogi Berra is best known as a Yankees player who was widely considered one of the best catchers of all-time. "I thought I'd try it for his sake." After an 18-year career that propelled him into the same star orbit as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, it is understandable that Mickey Mantle wasn’t eager to retire. Mickey Mantle at Mickey Mantle Day, … Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente became the first Latin American player to collect 3,000 career hits before his death in a plane crash. View Mickey Mantle's Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos). He was named to 20 All-Star Games, won a Gold Glove for his play in center field in 1962 and was a part of seven Yankees teams that won the World Series. Called by two names, “The Greatest Home Run Hitters pin,” or the “Shooting for 61 in ’61 pin,” this 1961 item pictured the Yankee threesome. Mickey Mantle: 112.3 fWAR. Mickey Mantle was an American professional baseball player. The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card is one of the most iconic and valuable cards in the hobby.. A mint condition version of the card sold recently for nearly $3 Million.. It’s not even a rare card, as it was actually double printed by Topps, even despite the fact that thousands of the high series 1952 Topps cards were dumped into the atlantic ocean. Mickey Mantle - BL-8813-95 (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library), New York Yankees Mickey Mantle posed batting - BL-304-61 (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library), Mickey Mantle played on the New York Yankees for the entirety of his 18-year long major league career. He was also featured in numerous documentaries and sports videos. (National Baseball Hall of Fame), Mickey Mantle, pictured above, was plagued by leg injuries throughout his career. In his first eight seasons in New York, the Yankees won seven AL pennants and five World Series titles. Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier when he became the first Black athlete to play Major League Baseball after joining the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. 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