The Legend of The Mick

In the 1950s, America entered the television age. And Mickey Mantle, a country boy from Commerce, Oklahoma, was made for the moment. Signed by the New York Yankees as a teenager, he made his major league debut in 1951 as a right fielder alongside Joe DiMaggio. When DiMaggio retired at the end of the season, Mantle inherited not only Joltin’ Joe’s position in centerfield but also his stature as the face of the franchise. His boyish good looks, breathtaking power from both sides of the plate, and blazing speed on the basepaths made him an instant superstar. He won league MVP three times, came in second three times, was a 16-time All-Star, a Triple Crown winner in 1956, and a seven-time World Series champion. Mickey Mantle’s career was the stuff of legend and in this book, Jonathan Weeks tells us why. Mantle’s extraordinary (and at times incredible) tales carry readers on an enthralling journey through the life of one of the most celebrated sports figures of the twentieth century. All of the most popular anecdotes (such as the Mantle’s mammoth blasts, which led to the phrase "Tape Measure Home Runs") are thoroughly covered along with many lesser-known narratives. The book is divided into two sections. In Part One, Mantle’s life and career are recounted chronologically. Part Two contains assorted stand-alone anecdotes in shorter form. Appendices include statistics, a chronology, and salary details among other bits of pertinent information.

Jonathan Weeks is vocational supervisor for North Star Industries with a degree in psychology. Author of Mudville Madness and Baseball's Dynasties and the Players Who Built Them.

LEGEND OF THE MICK: 100 GREAT MICKEY MANTLE STORIES TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTORY QUOTES INTRODUCTION PART ONE: A CHRONOLOGICAL JOURNEY THROUGH MANTLE’S LIFE AND CAREER --HUMBLE BEGINNINGS --LIFE-THREATENING INJURY --OPPORTUNITY BECKONS --AN AUSPICIOUS DEBUT --MOVING UP THE LADDER --A TASTE OF THE BIG APPLE --SPRING PHENOM --GROWING PAINS --OCTOBER DISASTER --GOOD TIMES, BAD TIMES --WORLD SERIES HERO --BALKY KNEES AND MOON SHOTS --FIVE IN A ROW! --COMING UP SHORT --THE DODGERS’ REVENGE --THE GREATEST SEASON --BACK ON TOP --FIGHT CLUB --UNFAMILIAR FOES --THE ’58 MVP SNUB --REWRITING THE SCRIPT --A YEAR TO FORGET --A NEW HOPE --THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY --THE ’61 HOME RUN RACE --WATCHING IT FROM THE BENCH --AFTERGLOW --THE LAST HURRAH --THE SHORT SEASON --A LESSON IN HUMILITY --YOGI AT THE HELM --GOING OUT WITH A BANG! --THE YANKEES IN DECLINE --A NEW LOW --SEA OF STRANGERS --END OF AN ERA --BULDING A LIFE AFTER BASEBALL --RETURN TO THE BRONX --INTO THE HALLOWED HALL --OUTSIDE LOOKING IN --OFF THE RAILS --SOBER AT LAST --MAKING AMENDS --FINAL SWINGS --REFLECTIONS PART TWO: ASSORTED ANECDOTES --DOGGY PADDLER --FAMILY CURSE --HOW ENOS SLAUGHTER SAVED MANTLE’S CAREER --THE SPOOK LIGHT --MICKEY AND MERLYN: A PORTRAIT OF THE EARLY YEARS --ROOKIE JITTERS --TEMPER, TEMPER! --SWITCHING NUMBERS --JINXED --MANTLE AND DIMAGGIO: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING --ELUDING THE EYES --CASEY AND MICKEY: A COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP --BIRTH OF THE TAPE MEASURE HOMER --THE PRICE OF FAME --THE BUBBLE GUM INCIDENT --NIGHTMARE AT 20,000 FEET --PERSONS OF INTEREST --THE FORGOTTEN TWINS --A VISIT TO THE FAR EAST --MANTLE VERSUS THE SHIFT --MANTLE VERSUS “TERRIBLE TED” --THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE --THE WRATH OF NEWCOMBE --UNRULY GUESTS --STUFFING THE BALLOT BOX -A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS --EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES --THE ALL-STAR BET --THE ORGINAL HOME RUN DERBY --THERE’S ONE BORN EVERY MINUTE -THE BALLAD OF MICKEY AND GEORGE --BOX OFFICE BONANZA --KEEPING IT UNDER WRAPS --PTICHERS WHO OWNED THE MICK --BATTING UNDER THE INFLUENCE --THE KING OF SWING --ACTS OF GENEROSITY --MARIS UNDER SIEGE --THE QUALITY OF BLUNTNESS --THE EIGHTH WONDER --TOLERATING THE PAIN --HALF-BAKED --DRAMA AT “MICKEY MANTLE DAY” --GAME SHOW CELEBRITY --“PEPI” AND THE MILLION DOLLAR BAT --A NEUROMUSCULAR GENIOUS --NOW PITCHING FOR THE YANKEES: ROCKY COLAVITO --THE GIFT-WRAPPED HOMER --DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS --WHERE HAVE YOU GONE, MICKEY MANTLE? --SHOOTING SPREE --AN EASY TARGET --SOBER INSIGHTS --THE CONTROVERSIAL TRANSPLANT --THE CARDS THAT NOBODY WANTED --THE VOICE OF GOD APPENDIX I. BATTING STATISTICS – FRANCHISE RANKINGS APPENDIX II. RECORDS HELD APPENDIX III. PRODUCT ENDORSEMENTS APPENDIX IV. ANNUAL SALARY APPENDIX V. CHRONOLOGY APPENDIX VI. HOME RUN VICTIMS APPENDIX VII. TV AND MOVIE CREDITS