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Birthday Tribute to the Great Mickey Mantle!

Gary Livacari

The powerful swing of Mickey Mantle

 

Mickey Mantle Photo Gallery
Click on any image below to see photos in full size and to start Photo Gallery:

Moose Skowron, Minnie Minoso, Nellie Fox, Mickey Mantle, 1960
Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle, Joe Pepitone
Mickey Mantle in 1964 World Series
Mickey Mantle homers in the 1964 World Series
Joe DiMaggio later in life with Mickey Mantle and Billy Martin
Joe with Mickey Mantle
Joe DiMaggio with Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams
A todler Mickey Mantle with father Mutt
Mickey at home with his mother
Stan with Ted Williams and Mickey Mantle
Ted with Mickey Mantle
Mickey photographed in Los Angeles, March 21, 1951.
Mickey Mantle 1951
A young Mickey Mantle
A young Mickey Mantle sliding.
Roger Maris, Rocky Colavito, Norm Cash, Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle returns to dugout after hitting home run in 5th inning of Game Two
Mickey Mantle at the plate in 9th inning of Game Seven.
Ali with Mickey Mantle
With Mickey Mantle in the 1964 World Series.
Mickey Mantle crosses the plate after Gram Slam in third inning of Game 5
Ted with Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle with wife Merle and his mother
Two great New York center fielders, Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle with sons
Stan Musial signs autographs with Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio.
A young Mickey Mantle in the YAnkees’ clubhouse.
The powerful swing of Mickey Mantle
The powerful swing of Mickey Mantle

Happy Birthday Mickey!

Can’t let the day go by without a special Old-Time Baseball Photos salute to one of our favorite ball players on the anniversary of his birthday. The great Mickey Mantle was born 85 years ago today, October 20, 1931.

Here’s a few words about Mickey’s great career, edited from one of my earlier posts. Also look above to see a photo tribute to the Commerce Comet, featuring some of our favorite Mickey Mantle photos.   

If there ever was any question of how Mickey Mantle generated the power to hit 536 home runs, it’s answered in this photo. Check out those shoulders and legs…they’re mammoth!

Mickey Mantle (October 20, 1931 – August 13, 1995), was the most feared hitter on the most successful team in baseball history. He endured great physical pain over the course of his 18-year career (1951-1968). He is generally regarded as the greatest switch hitter of all time and is undoubtedly one the greatest all-around players in baseball history. He had a lifetime batting average of .298 with 2415 hits, 536 home runs (16th all-time), 1509 RBIs, 1733 walks, .421 on-base percentage, and a .557 slugging percentage.

Just a few of Mickey’s many career highlights include: 20-time All-Star, 7-time World Series champion, 3-time American League MVP, Triple Crown winner (1956), Gold Glove award winner (1962), American League batting leader (1956), 4-time American League home run leader, and American League RBI leader (1956).

Mantle was blessed with all-American boy good looks, amazing physical strength, and blazing speed. Over time he developed into a superb defensive center fielder. Had he not been plagued with injuries, and had he taken better care of his body, there is no telling what he might have done to the baseball record books. In spite of all he accomplished, his manager Casey Stengel always lamented that he could have done so much more.

Mickey Mantle’s #7 has been retired by the Yankees. He was selected for the Major League All-Century team, and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.

-Gary Livacari

Photo Credits: All found on Google search

Statistics: Baseball Reference, Mickey Mantle page

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