Two outs. The count is 3-2. It is the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded. The score is tied, and the Yankee’s season rests on the shoulders of a twenty-year-old kid from Oklahoma. It is every baseball players’ dream to be in a situation like this, but for Mickey Mantle, it was something he dreamed of for years. From a young age, Mickey Mantle pursued a baseball career, accomplished many achievements, and left a big impact on baseball.
Growing up in the time period in which he did, It’s safe to assume Mickey’s family struggled financially. Mickey was born on October 20, 1931, in Spavinaw, Oklahoma, to Elvin and Lovell Richardson Mantle (“Mickey Mantle Biography”). His father was unemployed until he made the decision to move his family
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Mantle played his first major league on April 17, 1951. Although he started off strong he fell into a slump and was sent back to the minors. He went 1 for 22 at bats. He thought his career was over, until he had some motivation from his father. His father put a new spark in Mickey and he finished the minors hitting .410, and was called back to the Yankees (Ray). Mickey first started in right field. Mickey’s first of many injuries as a Yankee happened when he started in right field of the second game of the world series. He was chasing a ball, got his cleat caught in a storm drain, and tore the cartilage in his right knee. Mickey was soon moved to center field after Joe DiMaggio retired (McGovern 40). Mickey performed very well in this position. He was also compared to Babe Ruth, regarding his hitting. Mickey hit the very first indoor home run, and is one of few who has his over 500 home runs in his career (“Mickey …show more content…
Mickey was named the “American League HR Leader” in 1955-56,1958, and 1960. He was also named the “American League Runs Scored Leader” from 1954-1961 (“Mickey Mantle”). In his career with the Yankees, he hit 536 homers and was voted the “ American League’s MVP” three times. Mickey was named to 20 all-star teams, and played in 16 of them (Ward 326). Mickey hit 18 World Series home runs in his career (Hoffer). For his outstanding ability to catch anything that came his way, Mickey, was given the “Gold Glove” award in 1962 (“Mickey Mantle Biography”). Because of his many accomplishments, Mickey will be remembered