An Introduction to Mickey Mantle

Mickey Mantle was a professional baseball player who spent his entire 18-year career playing for the New York Yankees. He was born on October 20, 1931, in Spavinaw, Oklahoma and grew up playing baseball in the sandlots of Commerce, Oklahoma. Mantle was known for his exceptional hitting ability and speed on the base paths, earning him the nickname "The Commerce Comet."

Mantle made his major league debut for the Yankees on April 17, 1951, and quickly became one of the team's star players. In his first season, he hit .267 with 23 home runs and 87 runs batted in (RBIs). Over the course of his career, he was selected to play in 20 All-Star games, won three American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, and was a member of seven World Series championship teams.

Mantle's most memorable moment came in the 1956 World Series when he hit a record-breaking home run that cleared the roof of the right-field stands at the old Yankee Stadium. The home run, which was measured at 565 feet, was the longest in the history of the stadium and remains one of the longest in baseball history.

Despite his many accomplishments, Mantle struggled with injuries throughout his career. He was plagued by chronic knee problems, which eventually forced him to retire from baseball in 1969. He finished his career with a .298 batting average, 536 home runs, and 1,509 RBIs. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974 and remains one of the most iconic and beloved players in Yankees history.