Today on the blog, my second American league outfielder on my 1960's All-Decade team, and it was an easy pick with Mickey Mantle, even if he put time in at first base as well towards the end of his legendary career:
Mantle is one of those guys I really don't think we need to get
into as far as his accomplishments on the baseball diamond. It'd be kind
of like a joke to start writing about his career since it would take up
a book's worth.
But alas, 500+ homers, a bushel of World Championships, three Most
Valuable Player Awards, a Triple Crown season in 1956 and the hearts of more fans than we can even
imagine to this day.
"The Mick" in all his glory, enshrined in his rightful place in
Cooperstown, along with his longtime buddy Whitey Ford in the same HOF
class.
Though
his true glory days were during the 1950s, Mantle would still take home
one of his MVP trophies in the 1960s (1962), with three runner-up
seasons, his only Gold Glove (1962), eight All-Star nods, and a home run
title (1962).
The
man became an American icon, idol for millions, and easily one of the
most recognizable celebrities over the past 100 years before sadly
leaving us way too soon at the age of 63 in 1995.
Not too bad a Hollywood script...
