A story I always like to say is how much I loved Mickey Mantle. I was 9 years old during the 1952 season, just starting to play little league baseball, and Mickey Mantle became the most important person in my life outside of my family. I grew up watching just about all of his career with the Yankees. I would know when he got a hit what his batting average would be. To watch him run with his arms held up high by his chest, that's how I ran for my whole life and still do when I'm crossing a street. Once, while listening to a radio Sports Talk Show, the host and a Yankee guest (I believe it was Tommy Tresh) were talking about the Yankees and, of course, MIckey's name came up. I called the station and got on the air. I told them back then it was different. Baseball was everything. And fans, we loved our players, and our teams and the saddest day in our lives was when the season was over. A happy day for me would be when I read in the papers (yes, we read papers back then!) that pitchers would be reporting to spring training. I'm sure I got my glove and ball and when outside and had a catch with one of my friends no matter what the weather was. But, back to the telephone call to the radio station. The host knew who I was because I called the station frequently and he gave me the opportunity to say my piece. It went something like this: "To give you guys an idea of how much I loved The Mick and how much a part of my life he was, if I was standing on a street corner with The Mick and a bus came running out of control toward us, without question or hesitation, I would push Mickey out of the way and get run over by the bus!" The two of them were speechless. After my call ended I was still listening to the radio and Tommy Tresh told the host, "That last caller had a lot of imagination." He suggested what I said was unreal. The host replied by telling Tommy he knew who I was and he actually believed I would do such a thing! Would I have done it? Really? With all my heart my answer is YES, I would have. He was my life and to keep him alive so people could watch him play baseball would be the most important thing I could have done in my entire life span even if it meant it would be cut short. "NOW BATTING, THE CENTERFIELDER, NUMBER 7, MICKET MANTLE, NUMBER 7!" So many highlights to remember. He once dragged a bunt toward first base. He had so much strength it went over the first baseman's head, and took a bounce into the stands for a ground ball double! Another one, you didn't want to be playing third base when he was batting right handed. He once hit a line drive at Eddie Yost, a third baseman for the Washington Senators. Yost extended his arm out to the left to catch the ball and the force of the shot took his glove with the ball in it into short left field. As you know, even despite the injury he had in 1951 he was, perhaps the fastest player in the league. There were a couple of guys who were fast and the idea of them having a race to find out who was faster was talked about but never done. How fast was he? When he wanted to steal a base his percentage was a shade under 100% successful every time. He would hit routine ground balls (but, not very often!) to infielders. They would hustle to the ball and throw hard to first base. "Safe!", cried the umpire! Everyone, fans, teammates, opposing players, the media, were in shock every time that happened. Double plays? Almost impossible. Only if he hit a bullet right to someone and the throw to second and over to first were perfect, maybe there was a chance. The day I went to the stadium when the Yankees were paying tribute to Mickey after his passing, the stadium was full and I had a seat down the left field line, upper deck, and I had a great view. It was a sad moment. Very sad. All of us were trying to hold back the tears. When the master of ceremonies asked the crowd to stand and observe a moment of silence, you could literally hear a pin drop. Everyone stood, didn't move an inch and we could have stayed like that until we dropped. I didn't stay to watch the whole game. I was so sad. I drove home and I was very quiet. Didn't have much to say. One last thing. He was not Willie Mays in centerfield but there is no denying, his speed running laterally was incredible. When Don Larsen pitched his perfect game, not only did Mickey hit a home run but also made a catch of a shot into left center field off the bat of Gil Hodges to keep the perfect game alive. He reached across his body with his glove down to his knee and snatched the ball out of the air running at full speed. I will always believe NO ONE except Mickey Mantle would have been able to make that catch. He literally outran the ball!
im 74 now and Mickey Mantle is with out question the greatest hitter l ever saw to this day .He hit 18 homeruns in world series play l dont think anyone will ever beat that record.
I'm 75 and I saw Ted Williams who in my opinion was the Greatest hitter who ever lived but M M was truly great. MICKS teams were much better than Beds after he. Came back from Korea. The Mick was an outstanding player. Greatest switch hitter of all time.
I’m 79 yrs. Old and if you saw my spare bedroom you would think I was 18 again. Got to see him pinch hit in Baltimore but he had just had that shot in his hip in ‘61. Saw Roger hit #59 but was very sad not to see Mick play. Being from NC it broke my heart.
Mickey was my hero. I even learned to switch hit because of him. I never met a ballpark I could leave but not like the Mick. R.I.P. the GOAT for sure⚾⚾⚾
I grew up a Brooklyn Dodger fan even though I lived in Texas. "The Mick" broke my heart more than once but over the years I came to respect his talent, fortitude, and grace. He is indeed one of the greats of All-Time.
I've always wondered If Mickey Mantle was a pro football player?! Imagine "The Mick" a running back at 6'0" 200lbs. with his blazing speed and natural strength! WHOA!!!😮
Mickey Mantle??? He's my hero! I had a box full of baseball cards as a kid. A lot of them were his card. My mom made me give them all away when we had to move. They're probably worth a fortune today
@@basilsmith104 he was also the third greatest center fielder of all time , because with willie mays having certainly cemented his place in the top 2 , one can be certain that no one else in human history ever shagged balls the way yo mama did my brother . in fact i would even go as far as to call you nephew , because i had my taste but so did my brother and everyone else with pocket change in their trousers and a pair of working testes . good morning and god bless america neph Phew - Phew
When he died I said that was one of the last nails in the coffin of my youth. I, like so many others, lived and breathed the Yankees and Mickey Mantle, warts and all!
Mickey mantle. The greatest switch hitter of all time. And in yankees history. Happy belated birthday Mickey mantle. Wish you were still alive at 89 years old.😊😀😆 despite I'm 25 years old and I was only 6 months old when Mickey mantle died. His talent is legendary and he will always be my favorite switch hitter of all time.
He was our Idol . Larger than life . No matter what personal demons . The most exciting baseball player and athlete I have ever seen . Anything else is jealousy and envy . Power , speed and a sense of the dramatic
The greatest all round player that ever played the game. I can't think of anyone who could match his strength, or speed, and he did it all without using any PED'S, imagine that. With two good knees, how many more years could he have played. I can't think of any player in the history of the game who could drag a bunt better than Mickey Mantle. There will never be another Mickey Mantle.
Like Mick I grew up in the midwest. My folks must have followed the homerun race as they took me and my 2 older brothers to the closest park which was in KC. This was in 1963. The visitors clubhouse required players to walk down a concrete walkway to the field. If you came early, as you came into park from north gate you could not miss the players coming down toward the field. That provided great opportunities to stand along chain link rail for autographs. Players were very accommodating and I got Mick and Roger's my very first game. We went several years. Got a picture dad took of Mick signing autographs standing in rain with tarp on the field. These guys were humble.
Mickey was originally told to use #6…as a way of being the next great Yankee after DiMaggio. When he came back to NY after getting sent down to the minors for slumping his rookie year, he told them he wanted number 7. He broke his own curse.
I wasn’t even born this was my grandfather’s era but growing up he told me how he always went to the stadium to see mantle. Of course he took me at the age of 6 to see the Yankees play instantly I became a fan
Mantle is one of those players I wish I had seen in his prime. They talk about all the HR's Ruth hit as a player but Mantle was something you had to see and I wish I was born in 1942 instead of 1962 because I missed the baseball careers of some of the greatest players of that time. Mays Snider Aaron and Mickey
I was living in Los Angeles and I would sleep with the radio on. It was the wee hours of the morning and the song played. "I love Mickey. Mickey who? You know who." And I knew in a gut-wrenching instant.
Mickey almost hit it out of Yankee stadium it was rising when it hit the lights on top of the stadium a powerhouse and NO steroids!!! And 5- 11 190 not like Judge 6 7 and 280
I was fortunate to have seen the “Mick” play from various vantage points in the old stadium. Watched him deposit a liner two rows in front of me in the centerfield bleachers in 64. Probably the best “money” player whenever a game was on the line, right there with Reggie Jackson . He would be just as dominant in today’s game, that’s how good he was.
The last of the four horsemen: Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio and then Mantle. Interesting fact is that Gehrig, DiMaggio and Mantle all entered their last year of playing at 36 years of age. All of those guys accomplished so much in the history of the game mainly being champions so many times. Yet they also left us with the what ifs: what if Mantle had stayed healthy, what if Gehrig didn't get the disease, what if DiMaggio didn't have military service for three seasons (although the Yankees still won in 1943). How does one team get so lucky each generation. #7 The complete player: The Mick
1st NYY game. 4/30/67 DH vs Angels. MM hits 2 HRs in game 1 including a walk off 3 run HR in the bottom of the 10th. Saw MM play a few times after. Attended MM Day 6/8/69. I have a picture of me, a friend & my father (now deceased) in the crowd as MM passes by in the golf cart. Ran on the field after the game. What a magnificent day for a 12 YO.
No one in the history of baseball had the combination of speed and power that Mantle had and he was 6 ft and 200 pounds. If he had not been injured in 1951 and he had taken better care of himself(drinking), I believe his numbers would rival anyone. We will never know regrettably.
Mickey Mantle never showed up pitchers,he was one of the good guys.Hitters like Reggie Jackson would stand and watch their homers, which shows up pitchers,Mickey never did that .He had the respect of pitchers, never charged the mound. If he played now short fences and lively baseball, playing in one of the biggest stadiums ,how many more could he have hit. He could hit just as far from both sides of the plates.I heard Mickey talk about Willie Mays but they ask Willie about Mickey and I felt Mickey gave Willie more clothes Willie did about Mickey. In them days you either thought Mickey or Willie ,didn't play against each other much because of different leagues. Mays hit a lot of Homer's but not many people could hit the Homer's the farthest than Mickey Mantle .He hit the roof twice in Yankee stadium, two balls that came inches from going out of Yankee stadium. I WISH THEY WERE TELEVISED MORE GAMES BACK THEN,I WILL HAVE LOVED SEEING THAT BALL HIT OUT OF WASHINGTON GRIEFIN STADIUM THE 556 FT. SHOT THAT STARTED THE TAPE MEASURE HR 'S.
Mickey is my all time favorite player. Saw one of his homers - upper deck shot from the left side. People may not realize it, but, his strength came from swinging 12 pound sledges during the winter to break up rock ores. So, he was doing weights. But to do that involved many muscle groups. Imagine how many more home runs would he have hit if he played in a different park, like Detroit or Griffith. He easily passes Ruth, maybe even hits 800. (I am assuming he stays healthy and can play a few more seasons). It is estimated that playing in Yankee stadium cost him about 18 home runs a year because of the old death valley in left center where he hit balls that would have been homers but only went for doubles or long outs. Take his 10 best seasons, that's 180 more homers and he retires with 716. As it is, when he retired, he was 3rd on the all time list behind Ruth and Mays (having passed Jimmy Foxx). I consider him the greatest slugger ever (no PEDs), certainly the greatest switch hitter ever. He had great speed when he came up (until injuries took their toll). His defensive play is overlooked, but you don't play in center field unless you're damn good out there, and Mickey was damn good.
Salute to Mickey Mantle always and forever. However, I was a die-hard Dodgers fan and my all-time hero was Sandy Koufax. Sandy faced Mickey in two World Series starts and struck him out 4 times in 8 at bats. However if there was anything to say about poetic justice,, Mickey homered off of Koufax into the left field bleachers. I will never forget that homer and felt myself damned lucky that there was nobody on base when that homer cleared the bases. I had and still have the utmost respect for Mickey Mantle and will till the day I die.
He had real power. Was at a game he hit one over the right field roof at Tiger Stadium and when he hit his famous homer in 68 off Denny McLain. Mantle hit 3 over rhe roof there second only to Norm Cash
A lot of baseball fans may not be aware of the fact that the centerfield at Yankee Stadium cost him 15 to 20 home runs every year because it was so expansive and was called the place where home runs went to die! So add 15 homer runs time 15 and you get 300, and add his total of 536 and he get 836!
Mickey was the only player who ever hit a homerun right over the 465' mark (in Yankee Stadium) that went 15 rows back in the bleechers right over that big black tarp.
How many 400+ft flyball outs, or doubles, did Mantle hit to center-leftcenter in old Yankee Stadium during 18 years...homers anywhere else...probably a hundred.
Dizzy Dean announced Yankees game of the week, when Mantle hit a homer you usely knew it was gone.I seen Mickey Mantle hit a ball so high they said it went out of site,the center fielder slipped down 3 times and caught it at the fence.but nobody else could hit the roof in Yankee stadium but mantle did it twice. Game 3 against cards in 64 Mantle hit a walk off home run in the 3rd deck.He didn't hit to many cheep HR's.
There is a difference of opinion on how good an outfielder Mickey really was. Bob Costas hosted a televised showing of Don Larsen's perfect game with Larsen and Yogi Berra. Larsen conceded that Mantle made a great catch saving his perfect game when he used his speed to run down the line drive to left center hit by Gil Hodges. However, he also said that he did not believe that Mickey was that good an outfielder and this sentiment was echoed by Yogi.
Could you imagine how great Mantle could have been if he had 2 good legs and was healthy all his career. But then would he have been just as beloved as he is today.
Mickey Mantle set out 3 years because of injuries, think if he could have the 3 year back,then Roger Maris did not get any free passes the year Maris broke Ruth recordin 1961,I seen that cardinals home run it landed in the 3rd deck.game 3 of the 64 world series bottom of the 9th tied1to1and Elston Howard was on deck ,the put a knuckler to pitch Mickey said this gun always tried to put the ball on the plate on his first pitch, Mickey told Ellie this game is only and first pitch to win, what else happened that day the pitch l became the quickest pitcher, he threw one pitch and got the lost
Mickey was hungover such that he'd swing and miss the ball by a foot. Not a really clutch hitter either. My favorite ball player but I look at Mickey realistically. Alcohol was his nemesis more than leg problems.
@@jamesburke3929 I consider Mantle about as clutch a hitter as A-Rod. I never considered A-Rod when with the Yankees where I could see him play regularly to be a very clutch hitter.
Your comment doesn't make any sense unless you're talking about the tail end of Mickey's career. Mantle was considered the ultimate clutch hitter! If the game was on the line, you wanted Mickey at the plate!
@@larlinful this was before he lost his mind so I'm fine with the iteration (on video not at the current moment but on this video) but yeah he's gone insane
@@larlinful this was before he lost his mind so I'm fine with the iteration (on video not at the current moment but on this video) but yeah he's gone insane
The nerve to call guiliani an idiot. He is totally on point with all he says. The majority of these contributors are in sports in some form, and have little if anything over Rudy !
A story I always like to say is how much I loved Mickey Mantle. I was 9 years old during the 1952 season, just starting to play little league baseball, and Mickey Mantle became the most important person in my life outside of my family. I grew up watching just about all of his career with the Yankees. I would know when he got a hit what his batting average would be. To watch him run with his arms held up high by his chest, that's how I ran for my whole life and still do when I'm crossing a street.
Once, while listening to a radio Sports Talk Show, the host and a Yankee guest (I believe it was Tommy Tresh) were talking about the Yankees and, of course, MIckey's name came up. I called the station and got on the air. I told them back then it was different. Baseball was everything. And fans, we loved our players, and our teams and the saddest day in our lives was when the season was over. A happy day for me would be when I read in the papers (yes, we read papers back then!) that pitchers would be reporting to spring training. I'm sure I got my glove and ball and when outside and had a catch with one of my friends no matter what the weather was. But, back to the telephone call to the radio station. The host knew who I was because I called the station frequently and he gave me the opportunity to say my piece. It went something like this: "To give you guys an idea of how much I loved The Mick and how much a part of my life he was, if I was standing on a street corner with The Mick and a bus came running out of control toward us, without question or hesitation, I would push Mickey out of the way and get run over by the bus!" The two of them were speechless. After my call ended I was still listening to the radio and Tommy Tresh told the host, "That last caller had a lot of imagination." He suggested what I said was unreal. The host replied by telling Tommy he knew who I was and he actually believed I would do such a thing! Would I have done it? Really? With all my heart my answer is YES, I would have. He was my life and to keep him alive so people could watch him play baseball would be the most important thing I could have done in my entire life span even if it meant it would be cut short.
"NOW BATTING, THE CENTERFIELDER, NUMBER 7, MICKET MANTLE, NUMBER 7!"
So many highlights to remember. He once dragged a bunt toward first base. He had so much strength it went over the first baseman's head, and took a bounce into the stands for a ground ball double! Another one, you didn't want to be playing third base when he was batting right handed. He once hit a line drive at Eddie Yost, a third baseman for the Washington Senators. Yost extended his arm out to the left to catch the ball and the force of the shot took his glove with the ball in it into short left field. As you know, even despite the injury he had in 1951 he was, perhaps the fastest player in the league. There were a couple of guys who were fast and the idea of them having a race to find out who was faster was talked about but never done. How fast was he? When he wanted to steal a base his percentage was a shade under 100% successful every time. He would hit routine ground balls (but, not very often!) to infielders. They would hustle to the ball and throw hard to first base. "Safe!", cried the umpire! Everyone, fans, teammates, opposing players, the media, were in shock every time that happened. Double plays? Almost impossible. Only if he hit a bullet right to someone and the throw to second and over to first were perfect, maybe there was a chance.
The day I went to the stadium when the Yankees were paying tribute to Mickey after his passing, the stadium was full and I had a seat down the left field line, upper deck, and I had a great view. It was a sad moment. Very sad. All of us were trying to hold back the tears. When the master of ceremonies asked the crowd to stand and observe a moment of silence, you could literally hear a pin drop. Everyone stood, didn't move an inch and we could have stayed like that until we dropped. I didn't stay to watch the whole game. I was so sad. I drove home and I was very quiet. Didn't have much to say.
One last thing. He was not Willie Mays in centerfield but there is no denying, his speed running laterally was incredible. When Don Larsen pitched his perfect game, not only did Mickey hit a home run but also made a catch of a shot into left center field off the bat of Gil Hodges to keep the perfect game alive. He reached across his body with his glove down to his knee and snatched the ball out of the air running at full speed. I will always believe NO ONE except Mickey Mantle would have been able to make that catch. He literally outran the ball!
Grew up with the Mick. It’s too bad no one today has someone like him to look up to. The best switch hitter EVER. !!!!!!
Thank you. Everyone who lived in NYC during the 50s and 60s thanks you.
im 74 now and Mickey Mantle is with out question the greatest hitter l ever saw to this day .He hit 18 homeruns in world series play l dont think anyone will ever beat that record.
I'm 75 and I saw Ted Williams who in my opinion was the Greatest hitter who ever lived but M M was truly great. MICKS teams were much better than Beds after he. Came back from Korea. The Mick was an outstanding player. Greatest switch hitter of all time.
I think it has since been broken by our own Bernie Williams
I’m 79 yrs. Old and if you saw my spare bedroom you would think I was 18 again. Got to see him pinch hit in Baltimore but he had just had that shot in his hip in ‘61. Saw Roger hit #59 but was very sad not to see Mick play. Being from NC it broke my heart.
Mickey was my hero. I even learned to switch hit because of him. I never met a ballpark I could leave but not like the Mick. R.I.P. the GOAT for sure⚾⚾⚾
I grew up a Brooklyn Dodger fan even though I lived in Texas. "The Mick" broke my heart more than once but over the years I came to respect his talent, fortitude, and grace. He is indeed one of the greats of All-Time.
I've always wondered If Mickey Mantle was a pro football player?! Imagine "The Mick" a running back at 6'0" 200lbs. with his blazing speed and natural strength! WHOA!!!😮
Mickey Mantle??? He's my hero! I had a box full of baseball cards as a kid. A lot of them were his card. My mom made me give them all away when we had to move. They're probably worth a fortune today
Classic centre fielder
Great slugger
They’re absolutely priceless today.
@@basilsmith104 he was also the third greatest center fielder of all time , because with willie mays having certainly cemented his place in the top 2 , one can be certain that no one else in human history ever shagged balls the way yo mama did my brother . in fact i would even go as far as to call you nephew , because i had my taste but so did my brother and everyone else with pocket change in their trousers and a pair of working testes . good morning and god bless america neph Phew - Phew
When he died I said that was one of the last nails in the coffin of my youth. I, like so many others, lived and breathed the Yankees and Mickey Mantle, warts and all!
Mickey mantle. The greatest switch hitter of all time. And in yankees history. Happy belated birthday Mickey mantle. Wish you were still alive at 89 years old.😊😀😆 despite I'm 25 years old and I was only 6 months old when Mickey mantle died. His talent is legendary and he will always be my favorite switch hitter of all time.
He was our Idol . Larger than life . No matter what personal demons . The most exciting baseball player and athlete I have ever seen . Anything else is jealousy and envy . Power , speed and a sense of the dramatic
The greatest all round player that ever played the game. I can't think of anyone who could match his strength, or speed, and he did it all without using any PED'S, imagine that. With two good knees, how many more years could he have played. I can't think of any player in the history of the game who could drag a bunt better than Mickey Mantle. There will never be another Mickey Mantle.
Mickey, THE GREAT.
Like Mick I grew up in the midwest. My folks must have followed the homerun race as they took me and my 2 older brothers to the closest park which was in KC. This was in 1963. The visitors clubhouse required players to walk down a concrete walkway to the field. If you came early, as you came into park from north gate you could not miss the players coming down toward the field. That provided great opportunities to stand along chain link rail for autographs. Players were very accommodating and I got Mick and Roger's my very first game. We went several years. Got a picture dad took of Mick signing autographs standing in rain with tarp on the field. These guys were humble.
Mickey was originally told to use #6…as a way of being the next great Yankee after DiMaggio. When he came back to NY after getting sent down to the minors for slumping his rookie year, he told them he wanted number 7. He broke his own curse.
My hero.
Love you forever Mick.
I wasn’t even born this was my grandfather’s era but growing up he told me how he always went to the stadium to see mantle. Of course he took me at the age of 6 to see the Yankees play instantly I became a fan
Mickey was my hero. When ever I played I had to have #7, little league, pony league or two years in semi-pro. He was the greatest.
Mantle is one of those players I wish I had seen in his prime. They talk about all the HR's Ruth hit as a player but Mantle was something you had to see and I wish I was born in 1942 instead of 1962 because I missed the baseball careers of some of the greatest players of that time. Mays Snider Aaron and Mickey
Find the old "Home Run Derby" episodes with Mickey in them. Some of the home runs he hit popped the eyes out of his opponents
My dad took me to Yankee Stadium in 1951. Been a fan the yankees and #7 ever since.
I was living in Los Angeles and I would sleep with the radio on. It was the wee hours of the morning and the song played. "I love Mickey. Mickey who? You know who." And I knew in a gut-wrenching instant.
Mickey almost hit it out of Yankee stadium it was rising when it hit the lights on top of the stadium a powerhouse and NO steroids!!! And 5- 11 190 not like Judge 6 7 and 280
I’m a Red Sox fan but my hero in the 50’s & 60’s was Mickey Mantle.
Mickey Mantle was the rawest power hitter ever.
I was fortunate to have seen the “Mick” play from various vantage points in the old stadium. Watched him deposit a liner two rows in front of me in the centerfield bleachers in 64. Probably the best “money” player whenever a game was on the line, right there with Reggie Jackson . He would be just as dominant in today’s game, that’s how good he was.
I haven't been this excited for a TH-cam notification in a while
Great to see my old neighbor Tony Morante in this video @ :55........priceless!!!!
Mantle hit 3 balls out of Yankee stadium in fair territory during batting practice.
Yes he did. Twice batting right handed, once batting left handed.
Beautiful - Greek heroic athlete : the 'Great Mick'
The last of the four horsemen: Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio and then Mantle. Interesting fact is that Gehrig, DiMaggio and Mantle all entered their last year of playing at 36 years of age. All of those guys accomplished so much in the history of the game mainly being champions so many times. Yet they also left us with the what ifs: what if Mantle had stayed healthy, what if Gehrig didn't get the disease, what if DiMaggio didn't have military service for three seasons (although the Yankees still won in 1943). How does one team get so lucky each generation. #7 The complete player: The Mick
Just think had Mickey took care of himself, He never dreamed he'd live to be 40,a shame, in my opinion, the greatest of all time
Great ball player
1st NYY game. 4/30/67 DH vs Angels. MM hits 2 HRs in game 1 including a walk off 3 run HR in the bottom of the 10th. Saw MM play a few times after. Attended MM Day 6/8/69. I have a picture of me, a friend & my father (now deceased) in the crowd as MM passes by in the golf cart. Ran on the field after the game. What a magnificent day for a 12 YO.
I remember the time he went 5 For 5 against the old Washington Senator it was televised on Channel in NY The Mick Had 2 hrs 2 doubles and a Single
No one in the history of baseball had the combination of speed and power that Mantle had and he was 6 ft and 200 pounds. If he had not been injured in 1951 and he had taken better care of himself(drinking), I believe his numbers would rival anyone. We will never know regrettably.
Mickey Mantle never showed up pitchers,he was one of the good guys.Hitters like Reggie Jackson would stand and watch their homers, which shows up pitchers,Mickey never did that .He had the respect of pitchers, never charged the mound. If he played now short fences and lively baseball, playing in one of the biggest stadiums ,how many more could he have hit. He could hit just as far from both sides of the plates.I heard Mickey talk about Willie Mays but they ask Willie about Mickey and I felt Mickey gave Willie more clothes Willie did about Mickey. In them days you either thought Mickey or Willie ,didn't play against each other much because of different leagues. Mays hit a lot of Homer's but not many people could hit the Homer's the farthest than Mickey Mantle .He hit the roof twice in Yankee stadium, two balls that came inches from going out of Yankee stadium. I WISH THEY WERE TELEVISED MORE GAMES BACK THEN,I WILL HAVE LOVED SEEING THAT BALL HIT OUT OF WASHINGTON GRIEFIN STADIUM THE 556 FT. SHOT THAT STARTED THE TAPE MEASURE HR 'S.
Mickey is my all time favorite player. Saw one of his homers - upper deck shot from the left side. People may not realize it, but, his strength came from swinging 12 pound sledges during the winter to break up rock ores. So, he was doing weights. But to do that involved many muscle groups. Imagine how many more home runs would he have hit if he played in a different park, like Detroit or Griffith. He easily passes Ruth, maybe even hits 800. (I am assuming he stays healthy and can play a few more seasons). It is estimated that playing in Yankee stadium cost him about 18 home runs a year because of the old death valley in left center where he hit balls that would have been homers but only went for doubles or long outs. Take his 10 best seasons, that's 180 more homers and he retires with 716. As it is, when he retired, he was 3rd on the all time list behind Ruth and Mays (having passed Jimmy Foxx). I consider him the greatest slugger ever (no PEDs), certainly the greatest switch hitter ever. He had great speed when he came up (until injuries took their toll). His defensive play is overlooked, but you don't play in center field unless you're damn good out there, and Mickey was damn good.
Salute to Mickey Mantle always and forever. However, I was a die-hard Dodgers fan and my all-time hero was Sandy Koufax. Sandy faced Mickey in two World Series starts and struck him out 4 times in 8 at bats. However if there was anything to say about poetic justice,, Mickey homered off of Koufax into the left field bleachers. I will never forget that homer and felt myself damned lucky that there was nobody on base when that homer cleared the bases. I had and still have the utmost respect for Mickey Mantle and will till the day I die.
Growing up in New York( Brooklyn.).what kid didn't want to be like Mickey mantle.. imagine if alcohol was never invented.. semper fi..
Mick played 18 years all with one team,no steroids.
He had real power. Was at a game he hit one over the right field roof at Tiger Stadium and when he hit his famous homer in 68 off Denny McLain. Mantle hit 3 over rhe roof there second only to Norm Cash
He acknowledged my existance once at Yankee Stadium when I yelled hey Mick. He looked and said hey! I thought God had spoken!
When I was a kid everyone I knew was a Mickey Mantle fan.
A lot of baseball fans may not be aware of the fact that the centerfield at Yankee Stadium cost him 15 to 20 home runs every year because it was so expansive and was called the place where home runs went to die! So add 15 homer runs time 15 and you get 300, and add his total of 536 and he get 836!
Mickey was the only player who ever hit a homerun right over the 465' mark (in Yankee Stadium) that went 15 rows back in the bleechers right over that big black tarp.
Even in a suit and tie he LOOKS like the best baseball payer ever
Home to first in 3.2 seconds, and can hit it 500+ feet. That’s insane.
My baseball hero. After he retired he had health issues and wasn't the nicest person in the game
I saw Mickey play just once late in his career, by that time, he was playing first base. I feel fortunate to have seen him play, even once.
The Mick. Enough said
How many 400+ft flyball outs, or doubles, did Mantle hit to center-leftcenter in old Yankee Stadium during 18 years...homers anywhere else...probably a hundred.
76 upper deck homers to right field in Yankee Stadium. Fact.
Dizzy Dean announced Yankees game of the week, when Mantle hit a homer you usely knew it was gone.I seen Mickey Mantle hit a ball so high they said it went out of site,the center fielder slipped down 3 times and caught it at the fence.but nobody else could hit the roof in Yankee stadium but mantle did it twice. Game 3 against cards in 64 Mantle hit a walk off home run in the 3rd deck.He didn't hit to many cheep HR's.
Great great vid
There is a difference of opinion on how good an outfielder Mickey really was. Bob Costas hosted a televised showing of Don Larsen's perfect game with Larsen and Yogi Berra. Larsen conceded that Mantle made a great catch saving his perfect game when he used his speed to run down the line drive to left center hit by Gil Hodges. However, he also said that he did not believe that Mickey was that good an outfielder and this sentiment was echoed by Yogi.
Hitting the facade once every 7 years is not worth twenty points off your,lifetime average, but it is memorable.
A healthy Mantle or a Willie Mays? Can't lose either way, but I may have to Mickey if healthy....but Mays was just so great for so long.
Wish I would have been able to see the Mick and Joe D play some baseball. Two legends of the game
Could you imagine how great Mantle could have been if he had 2 good legs and was healthy all his career. But then would he have been just as beloved as he is today.
Great
2 tickets. Yankee Stadium. Center field. Now eat your steak
Left center was called no man land.
I hope your doing well in heaven. I love you Mickey! You were my boyhood hero and still are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mickey Mantle set out 3 years because of injuries, think if he could have the 3 year back,then Roger Maris did not get any free passes the year Maris broke Ruth recordin 1961,I seen that cardinals home run it landed in the 3rd deck.game 3 of the 64 world series bottom of the 9th tied1to1and Elston Howard was on deck ,the put a knuckler to pitch Mickey said this gun always tried to put the ball on the plate on his first pitch, Mickey told Ellie this game is only and first pitch to win, what else happened that day the pitch l became the quickest pitcher, he threw one pitch and got the lost
If Mantle had stayed healthy?
He might've been drafted to serve in Korea.
Hank Aaron told me 20 years ago at the Mobile YMCA that Mickey was the fastest he ever saw going from home to first!
@Lighthouse in the Storm oh - sorry - now we have to prove everything to “the mental-giants”!
Mickey was hungover such that he'd swing and miss the ball by a foot. Not a really clutch hitter either. My favorite ball player but I look at Mickey realistically. Alcohol was his nemesis more than leg problems.
And I bet you still believe DEMENTIA-joe won in 2020!
@@michaelorenstein9165 Joe's the all-time steal champ.
what nonsense, you don't hit that many HRs in Ws and walkoffs and not be clutch
@@jamesburke3929 I consider Mantle about as clutch a hitter as A-Rod. I never considered A-Rod when with the Yankees where I could see him play regularly to be a very clutch hitter.
Your comment doesn't make any sense unless you're talking about the tail end of Mickey's career. Mantle was considered the ultimate clutch hitter! If the game was on the line, you wanted Mickey at the plate!
Ballplayers make to use money, they don't hustle enough anymore.
Seeing Giuliani ruins it for me.
Because Giuliani is an idiot.
@@larlinful this was before he lost his mind so I'm fine with the iteration (on video not at the current moment but on this video) but yeah he's gone insane
@@larlinful this was before he lost his mind so I'm fine with the iteration (on video not at the current moment but on this video) but yeah he's gone insane
Real idiots in this thread
The nerve to call guiliani an idiot. He is totally on point with all he says. The majority of these contributors are in sports in some form, and have little if anything over Rudy !