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To: BamaDi

If you had read Mrs. Mantle’s bio, you might think differently.

Mantle’s father and uncle both died in their 40s and Mantle was convinced he would die young too. So he drank to excess, cheated on his wife, caroused and lived something of a rock-star lifestyle before people came to know what that was. Mantle’s thinking was that he was going to die soon anyway so he might as well live for today.

“People call me a role model,” Mantle said when his cancer was discovered. “And I guess I am in a way. Don’t be like me.”

In later years, Mantle also said he had a dream of dying and meeting St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. “Mickey,” said St. Peter, “with all the things you’ve done, I’m afraid we can’t let you into Heaven. But since you’re here, would you mind autographing a few dozen balls for us?”

I think many of his idolized Mickey because of his heroic feats on the diamond and his aw-shucks honesty off of it. But the media protected athletes back in those days the way they protect Obama today. Had everyone known the truth then, Mantle might not have enjoyed the reputation he had.


15 posted on 08/14/2012 8:21:57 AM PDT by OrangeHoof (Our economy won't heal until one particular black man is unemployed.)
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To: OrangeHoof
That's a great story.

It reminded me of this from David Falkner's 1995 book The Last Hero, The Life of Mickey Mantle, pages 180-181.

"Dave Nelson was a rookie second baseman for Cleveland in 1968, Mantle's last year, He was not much of a hitter, but he was quick, could steal a base, get his bat on the ball, and make the plays in the field. His first trip to Yankee Stadium, he said, was memorable in ways he never anticipated. ... 'I was just a young kid then, just turned twenty-three, I think, and there I was in the big leagues, in Yankee Stadium, and I'm just in awe of the place. I don't remember who was on the mound - maybe it was Al Downing,' he said, 'but Mickey was on first and I knew his knees were gone. I had no clue at this time that other clubs had decided some things among themselves out of reverence for him. So, in this one at bat, I pushed the ball, push-bunted right between the pitcher and first base and they had to go for it. I had great speed so it was a base hit. I turn around halfway down the right field line, and there's our first base coach walking towards me, and he stops me and tells me 'Hey, Dave, we don't bunt on Mick out of respect for him.' I go to myself, 'Oh-kayyy.' So then I walked back to first base and I'm standing next to Mickey Mantle. I'm looking at this guy's arms and they look like tree trunks, and I'm saying, 'Man, he's gonna pinch my head off,' and then he pats me on the butt and he says, 'Nice bunt, rook.' And I look at him and say, 'Thanks, Mr. Mantle.'"

19 posted on 08/15/2012 6:34:51 AM PDT by Amagi (Chief Justice John Roberts is a traitorous weasel.)
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