Home Runs

Now approaching my 76th birthday, I have been an active Yankee fan since I was eight years old (1947). Thus, I got to see Mickey’s career from beginning to end.
I still recall the day when he became the unsurpassed baseball icon of my life. It was near the end of the 1952 season when the Yanks were playing Boston in a double-header in Fenway Park. During that day, Mick tore up Boston pitching in each game. Late in the second game, after he had already homered and had gotten on base all afternoon, Mickey hit a line drive to center field. The ball hit the the top of the flagpole and bounced back onto the field, still in play. With his astonishing speed, he was able to leg out a triple. But I was chagrined that he had the bad luck of losing a home run for the hit. I saw him as immensely talented but snake-bitten from that point onward.
I have never changed my mind about that appraisal.
If I may, let me conjecture about a career that could have been if not impeded by three major factors. First, the obvious impediment – the multitude of injuries that would have crushed the careers of any other player to put on the uniform. (The doctors called Mickey a ‘neuro-muscular genius whose physical abilities were unlike any they had ever seen, and who was capable of playing through pain and achieving amazing results.)
Second, regrettably, Mickey’s own indulgences off the field – mainly his heavy drinking that certainly did him no good on the playing field.
And finally, the home ballpark, the original Yankee Stadium whose outfield dimensions were so cavernous that they were called “Death Valley” by players and pundits alike. A researcher recently published his findings that showed that Mickey Mantle averaged 25 balls per year that were hit more than 425 in Yankee Stadium and caught. CAUGHT! In 1957 alone, I counted over thirty drives caught beyond 430 feet.What would The Mick have done in today’s ball parks? Barry Bonds would not be holding the all-time home run record.
Just a few names of players who made their career catches against Mick out in center field: Cal Abrams (banged his head against the center field wall catching a ball Mick hit off Turley in 1954), Chuck Deering, Jim Busby, Jim Piersal, and in right field, Al Kaline took 7 would-be homers out of the stands against Mickey.
I could go on and on about Mick’s achievements that were diminished by the three factors listed above. Obviously, I have been a genuine fanatic for number 7, but despite my respect and admiration for the great athletes playing in today’s game, I have yet to see anyone who matches the sheer abilities of Mickey Mantle.

Thanks for the chance to rant,
Ray Amore Ph.D.

Correction,I think it was 1962 not 1963 on those two homers off Tom Cheney at DC Stadium.

as a young kid I caught mickey mantles 496 home run aug 26 1966 I still have ball dated and signed what is value