Random Rise And Fall Of Mickey Mantl (14 items)

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  (#10) Post-Retirement, He Fell Deeper Into The Bottle

  Mantle has said that he fell into the worst of his drinking when he had no commitments and nothing important to do. With his spotty post-retirement work schedule, Mantle's anxiety caused him to drink intensely.

  Mantle later opened up about the gutting effects of his alcohol, including intense anxiety attacks and blackouts he was deeply embarrassed about.
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  (#3) He Was Discovered At 16 And Fast-Tracked To The Majors At 19

  In the summer of 1948, 16-year-old Mantle and his family were approached by Yankees scout Tom Greenwade at a baseball game. Greenwade offered Mantle a position in the Yankees franchise.

  Mantle initially played in a Yankees-affiliated minor league team, but Yankee management was thoroughly impressed with his track record. He was soon brought in for major league training and made his official debut on the diamond in 1951.
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  (#2) He Was Diagnosed With A Rare Bone Disease At 14, Nearly Derailing His Career

  Mantle played other sports in high school, including football. During one game in 1946, he was badly kicked in the shin, and a serious infection developed.

  Mantle's parents took him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with osteomyelitis and told his foot would have to be amputated. Fortunately, a second opinion at the Crippled Children's Hospital was much less serious: eight shots of penicillin a day.

  Mantle healed within weeks, but lingering effects would haunt his later career.
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  (#7) In 1961, He Battled Roger Maris In A Legendary Home Run Chase

  In 1959, the Yankees acquired Roger Maris, a young lefty with a strong power stroke. As teammates, Maris and Mantle eventually established something of a friendly rivalry. That rivalry culminated in a legendary 1961 campaign in which the two sluggers chased history - and each other.

  The two began hitting homers at a torrid pace, putting the all-time single-season home runs record (held at the time by Babe Ruth) in their sights. It remained a tight (and very public) race for the duration of the season; ultimately, while Mantle set a personal best with 54 long balls, Maris took the crown, eclipsing the Babe with 61 homers - a record that stood until 1998.
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  (#4) He Nearly Quit Baseball After An Early Demotion

  Unfortunately for Mantle, his initial major league run slumped quickly. Manager Casey Stengel apologetically sent him back to the minors during the summer of 1951. 

  Mantle was devastated and played poorly in his Kansas City minor league stint. He called his father saying he was going to quit, which caused Mutt to drive up to his son and berate him. Shaken, Mantle said he would give it another try and was brought back to New York in August - this time, permanently.
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  (#14) He Received A Liver Transplant In 1995, But Passed Shortly Thereafter

  Mantle had run himself ragged for too many decades. He faced a number of serious health problems, chiefly hepatitis and liver cancer. He received a liver transplant in 1995 that was meant to solve some of those issues, but the cancer had spread to other parts of his body.

  Just two months after the transplant, Mantle passed. He was mourned and held up as an example of a tragic hero. Mantle himself said shortly after his surgery, "Don't be like me."

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