Mickey Mantle: One of a Kind Rookie, 1952.
In all areas of entertainment, it is only once in a blue moon that someone truly unique and talented enters the stage, and at once all are struck realizing that indeed they are witnessing something truly special, something original, something magical. America witnessed this magic when Elvis Presley entered the scene, and even perhaps when little Michael Jackson started out with the Jackson Five.
When Mickey Mantle first reported to the Yankees and commenced his professional baseball career, instantly all took notice. Mantle played his first two years of organized ball in the minors, one was in a D league and one in a C league. Scouting reports were presented by the Yankees’ Harry Craft, and all reports glowed with amazing promise for the new kid. Craft managed Mantle at the lower levels. In a 1950 report Craft made the following comments about Mantle:
“Can be a great hitter. Exceptional speed. Just an average shortstop. Has a fine arm and a good pair of hands. Lets the ball play him too much. Attitude excellent. Will go all the way. He has everything to make a great ball player. I would like to see him shifted to third base or the outfield.”
While at Joplin, Mantle crushed the ball over 400 feet from both the left side and the right side. He had pounded 14 homers left-handed and 12 dingers right-handed. Up to that point perhaps the greatest switch-hitter of all-time was Frankie Frisch. Frisch took note of the young phenom and confessed that this feat at the lower levels was unprecedented.
Reports also made mention of the fact that, in addition to his impressive power, this player was also a very skilled bunter. It was indeed a rare combination in a player, one who could smash the ball over 400 feet and also baffle you with a crafty bunt . . . followed by blazing speed, from either side of the plate. Indeed, Mickey Mantle was a one of a kind ball ball player.
1951 was Mantle’s rookie season. The slugger displayed glimpses of a new era. The great and beloved Joe DiMaggio had been the New York Yankees center fielder for the past 13 seasons. He was a Yankees hero and legend when young Mickey came up to join the ranks at the tender age of nineteen.
When DiMaggio first got his first look at Mantle, he commented, “There’s the next great ball player.” The Yankee Clipper was asked if Mantle reminded him of any other ball player. DiMaggio laughed and replied, “He makes me think of Mickey Mantle. I’ve never have seen anybody like him before.”
The Mick did seem different to all. He had amazing speed, strength and natural athletic talent. Another rarity was that he could hit with authority from both sides of the plate. Into his second season in the league, there were predictions that Mickey would become the greatest switch-hitter of all time.
When Mantle was called up with the Yankees, the team paid heed to Mr. Craft’s suggestions. They wanted him to play the outfield. With DiMaggio still in center field, the team chose to play Mantle in right field, believing all the while that the Mick would succeed DiMaggio when he decided to retire.
Craft started to experiment with Mantle in the outfield in the minors. Initially Mantle had some difficulties adjusting to his new position, and some were rather embarrassing. While at Phoenix one day, Mantle went back for a fly ball in the gap. He lost the ball in the sun, and the ball careened off his cranium and went for an extra-base hit.
Unexpected events developed while Mantle was in the minor leagues that jeopardized the start to his professional baseball career. With all the press and accolades he was receiving, and upon viewers’ sight of the strong physical specimen that Mantle was, many people began questioning why this young man was not enlisted in the Service. People began writing letters questioning Mantle’s patriotism, and the campaign started to gain some steam.
What many people did not know was that while playing football in high school Mickey was kicked in the left shin just above the ankle. What set in as osteomyelitis, which is a disease of the bone. Evidently, the condition had been arrested, but it was possible for it to recur.
Mantle did make a trip to the draft board doctors at Miami, Oklahoma. Upon the doctors’ findings, the government decided to classify Mantle as a 4-F in December of 1950. The letters from the busy-body onlookers continued, and once again Mantle was examined medically, this time in Tulsa. His 4-F condition was reaffirmed. The issue would not go away yet. In August of 1951, Mantle was required to undergo yet a third examination . . . this time at Fort Still. Once again, the results were the same. The multiple examinations finally served to quiet the alarms of onlookers.
In right field for the Yankees in 1951, Mickey did show some nervousness early on. Accounts indicate that any unsteadiness was helped considerably by his exceptional speed. Being most familiar with having to throw shorter distances, from the shortstop position, Mantle at times over-compensated with his throws from right field, at times sending the ball too high and over the heads of his targets.
It was Randy Gumpert of the Chicago White Sox who gave up the first homerun to Mantle. At Comiskey Park, hitting left-handed Mantle scorched a line-drive over the visitor’s bullpen, and the ball went over 450 feet into the right center field seats. It was one of the longest blasts in the 42-year history of Comiskey.
On May 4th, the Yankees were in St. Louis to play the Browns at Sportsman’s Park. Mantle’s young wife Merlyn Johnson was in attendance to see her sweetheart play. The couple had met at a football game where Mantle was the star back; Merlyn was an attractive drum majorette . . . for the opposing team. As it turned out, Mickey not only helped his team win the football game, he also won the girl performing for the opposition. Before the game against the Browns, Mickey looked over at his bride and said to her, “I’ll hit a homer for you, honey.” True to his word, Mantle pounded a pitch far deep over the right field pavilion roof.
As was the case though, as most would expect, during his inaugural season Mantle experienced some trying times. Many of the older, more experienced pitchers were able to outwit him. Often, Mantle took swings at bad pitches, thrown purposefully out of the strike zone. As was the case with DiMaggio while in his slumps, it was clear that Mantle was not at all pleased with himself when trying to tolerate a lacklustre performance. After one hitless afternoon, Manager Casey Stengel tried to console a sullen Mantle; he told Mickey, “Don’t take it so hard. You’ll wear yourself out. You are bound to run into a lot of days like this. Look at DiMaggio and Berra. They didn’t make a hit today, either. Mantles replied, “That’s all very fine, Mr. Stengel, but it doesn’t help me any. I can do better. I should do better.”
Overall, in the early-going of 1951 Mantle performed very well, seeing this was his first crack at the major league level. Stengel figured that Mickey could use a little more work, so the rookie was sent to Kansas City for more work at the minor league level. Mantle was emotional but he took the news reasonably well. With his eyes welling up he said, “It’s all right. Nobody has to tell me I’ve got lots to learn about hitting and playing the outfield.”
In the minors again, Mantle made the best of the circumstances. Proving his worth and talent, he smashed the ball and was hitting .364 when he received the call to return with the Yankees.
With Mantle’s help, the Yankees went on to win the 1951 AL pennant by 5 games over the Cleveland Indians. Mantle started the World Series against the New York Giants in right field. Unfortunately, in the second game the ever aggressive Mickey went sprinting after a line-drive and twisted his knee while stepping on a drain cover, and he had to be hospitalized.
The Yankees did go on to win the World Series in six games. They not only celebrated another world championship in 1951, but they could also relish the thought of the great possibilities that they may have filled the big shoes of Joe DiMaggio, which was the only consolation to the fact that the Yankee Clipper would indeed retire after the 1951 season. Mickey was that one of a kind ball player, that rare and raw talent that was bound for greatness. And, it was instantly evident to all in 1951, even Joe DiMaggio.
Written by Stephen C. Jordan, 2009. Jordan has written articles for several publications including the Portland Press Herald and the Sporting News. He is the author of Bohemian Rogue: The Life of Hollywood Artist John Decker (Scarecrow Press, 2004) and Hollywood’s Original Rat Pack: The Bards of Bundy Drive (Scarecrow Press, 2008).