I was a huge Mickey fan, growing up in Milford in the 1950s and 1960s. In the next 2 decades, after I moved to Philly, it was Mike Schmidt. He was a great player at the plate and in the field.
In my home I have a piece of “artwork” I bought years ago at an art show that basically is a mock of a Mantle baseball card showing all of his lifetime stats. I have steadfastly declined my wife’s demand to put him in the closet. For those who never saw him play, he was not only an all-time slugger, he was also a great bunter, especially left handed drag bunting. No slugger today would dream of bunting and I’m not sure management would be happy with it other than once in a blue moon.
3 seconds flat to first out of the left hand box. He could fly, Mike Trout before Mike Trout.
Even accounting for inflation, Mantle, with his then big salary, basically was drastically underpaid thanks to the reserve clause. And the stupid thing is, the more they pay these guys today, the more they go on the 15 day DL for a hangnail. Mantle might never have been seen in today’s MLB with his terrible knees except for cameos.
And when he knew he couldn't physically do it anymore, he retired right before spring training Mar.1,'69. Left a $100K contract on the table.
As a child, it was definitely The Mick. In 1951, his rookie season, on a fly ball hit to right center, hit by Willie Mays in the second game of the World Series, Mantle was called off the ball by Joe DiMaggio in center field. He stepped on an exposed drain pipe injuring his left knee and leg which eventually turned to osteomyelitis where the bone actually bleeds. As great as he was, we would never know his true promise. Casey Stengel said he had the greatest talent he had ever seen. He was the fastest player in the major leagues from home to first as a rookie and had unique power as a switch hitter his whole career. Now, I have to say it is Diana. She is just a winner, pure and simple.
How much did the alcohol effect mickeys career
Interesting by decades favorites. Using that approach I go with the Mick for the 60s, the entire Knicks team for the 70s ( I can't leave out Dollar Bill or the Pearl), Larry Legend for the 80s, His Airness for the 90s, DT for the 2000s, Stewie for the 2010s, and for now, I will let you know after the first 5 UCONN games later this year. I just have a feeling it will be Paige!
Great post and very heart touching story. Not in the same type of story but there is another dirt biker from CT in the Hall Of Fame also. Jimmy Ellis who was from East Hampton and now lives in Australia. It was early to mid 70s a few of us had dirt bikes and would make our way through the woods to an old gravel pit in Durham. With all the use a course was carved out with hills, switch backs a long stretch of moguls etc.
Hank was also a “front side” hitter which unbelievably impressive how he could generate the power he did. Hank also had some wheels in his younger days as well. Class act all the way and his biography is a must read for any baseball fan.
Hey! Only 1 player allowed and definitely only ONE PER SPORT! That’s a 5 thread misconduct penalty on Milford...hey Nan...
