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
I never got to see the '27 Yankees. Everyone says that was the greatest team ever. But I think it would've been a great series if we'd have had the chance to play them.
I think the best all-round baseball player ever was Joe DiMaggio.
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.
Sometimes I think if I had the same body and the same natural ability and someone else's brain, who knows how good a player I might have been.
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.
If I knew I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself.
He can run, steal bases, throw, hit for average, and hit with power like I've never seen. Just don't put him at shortstop.
The hardest thing to do in sports, I think, is to hit a home run.