Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Charles Mantle, nicknamed "The Commerce Comet" and "The Mick", was an American professional baseball player. Mantle played his entire Major League Baseballcareer with the New York Yankees as a center fielder and first baseman, from 1951 through 1968. Mantle was one of the best players and sluggers, and is regarded by many as the greatest switch hitter in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974 and was elected to the Major...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth20 October 1931
CitySpavinaw, OK
CountryUnited States of America
If I send the ball home, I know what will happen to it. My twin brothers will take it out on the lot, like any 20-cent rocket.
You might as well go in and start getting dressed. I'm going to hit his first pitch for a home run.
Sometimes I sit in my den at home and read stories about myself. Kids used to save whole scrapbooks on me. They get tired of them and mail them to me. I'll go in there and read them, and you know what? They might as well be about (Stan) Musial and (Joe) DiMaggio, it's like reading about somebody else.
In 1960 when Pittsburgh beat us in the World Series, we outscored them 55-27. It was the only time I think the better team lost. I was so disappointed I cried on the plane ride home.
When I hit a home run I usually didn't care where it went. So long as it was a home run was all that mattered.
This year I'd rather lead the league in home runs, runs batted in and hitting.
Somebody once asked me if I ever went up to the plate trying to hit a home run. I said, 'Sure, every time.'
There's nobody like him, ... He has one plan, and that's to go up with the idea of getting a hit.
But god-damn, to think you're a .300 hitter and end up at .237 in your last season, then find yourself looking at a lifetime .298 average - it made me want to cry.
I was prepared to pay $15,000 for the passport. ... He was the greatest guy in the world. When you met him, everyone loved him. He was a fun guy.
Mr. Mantle, do you have any observations with reference to the application of antitrust laws to baseball?
My dad taught me to switch-hit. He and my grandfather, who was left-handed, pitched to me everyday after school in the back yard. I batted lefty against my dad and righty against my granddad.
Whenever someone says something Billy doesn't agree with, he doesn't listen very long.
I could never be a manager. All I have is natural ability.