Mickey Mantle was a man that was born to play the game of baseball. Mantle’s dad trained him from a young age to be a switch-hitter,and a great one at that (biography). Mickey Mantle was the greatest switch hitter, and the greatest player ever to play the sport. Even when he was growing up, everybody knew he would be a great baseball player when he got older. Mickey Mantle was known as a one of a kind baseball player, he broke many records, won lots of awards and changed the game of baseball forever. Even before he was born into this world, Mickey Mantle was being prepared for life as a future big league baseball player(sabr.org). Mickey was born October 20, 1931 in Spavinaw, Oklahoma (biography). Mickey was named by his baseball loving father after Detroit Tiger catcher Mickey Cochrane (biography). At the age of five Mickey was already showing promising signs as a baseball player, and impressing the neighbors (Mickey Mantle). By the time Mickey was twelve he …show more content…
Mickey found that woman when he met Merlyn Johnson, a bank employee, they got married in 1951 (encyclopedia). They had four sons (encyclopedia). Mantle was absent for much of their childhood and he also had a reputation for his all-night drinking (notablebiographies.com). He and his wife separated in 1988. Mickey Jr is the only son out of the four son to play baseball. He got looked at by the the Yankees at rookie camp, but didn't make it because he couldn't hit curveball. Mickey Jr, went after a fan in the stands who yelled at him, “ Go home and tell your daddy how you're playing (Christian science monitor). Earlier in 1994 Mantle learned that his years of heavy drinking had left him with hepatitis (a swelling of the liver) and liver cancer (encyclopedia). Although he received a liver transplant in June 1995, the cancer had spread to other organs, and Mantle died on August 13, 1995, at the age of 64 (mickey