Mantle

Booklist, Starred Review • This book brings Mickey Mantle story to life with a fully-rounded portrait of a complex, misunderstood hero. Including never-before-published details from Mantle’s widow, it offers insight into his career using modern analytics, making the argument that that he should be considered the greatest ballplayer of all time.

Tony Castro is a critically-acclaimed journalist, historian, and author. His works include a New York Times bestseller, an NPR Best Book of the Year, and multiple highly-praised books on Mickey Mantle. His bylines have appeared in the Washington Post, Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, and the Texas Observer. He lives in Los Angeles.

Part One: The Best There Was Prologue: "I've Beaten Gehrig" Chapter One: The Hero's Widow Chapter Two: Myths and Curses Chapter Three: Of Fathers and Sons Chapter Four: The Boy Who Would Be Best Chapter Five: Eyes on The Babe Chapter Six: The Child of Stengel and Destiny Chapter Seven: DiMaggio and Mantle Chapter Eight: Scouts, Taxmen, and Swindlers Chapter Nine: Life in the Big Apple Chapter Ten: The Fateful Day Part Two: The Best There Is Prologue: Breakfast of Champions Chapter Eleven: Mickey Mantle in Excelsis Chapter Twelve: The Prince of America Chapter Thirteen: Now Teeing Off . . . Mickey Mantle Chapter Fourteen: Holly Brooke Chapter Fifteen: Down the Rabbit Hole Chapter Sixteen: Svengali Part Three: The Best There Ever Will Be . Prologue: "I Gave You Such a Good Start . . ." Chapter Seventeen: Best in the Game Chapter Eighteen: Angels and Demons Chapter Nineteen: The Last American Hero Chapter Twenty: The Triple Crown Epilogue: The Greatest Author's Note Acknowledgments Bibliography Index About the Author