New York Yankees: The Lowest Point in Mickey Mantle’s Career
June 8, 2011 · Harold Friend · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
It was the lowest point of Mickey Mantle‘s career.
Mantle and his good friend, Tom Molito, were in the Yankee Stadium locker room prior to the shooting of the classic video, The 500 Home Run Club. Mickey was feeling great, especially since sportscaster Bob Costas, whom Mantle trusted implicitly, would be hosting the video.
The conversation turned to some of Mantle’s most satisfying home runs. The two of them thought for a second or two, and Tom knew immediately that he had made a bad move the instant he blurted out,
“How about the two home runs you hit off Walker and Wilhelm to beat the Baltimore Orioles, 4-3 in 1960? I was at that game.”
Tom realized that there was too much baggage that went along with those two home runs that Mantle hit on August 15, 1960, which drove in all four New York Yankees runs to win a game the Yankees had to win.
Mantle’s mood changed, but only for a second. Tom could see his face projected regret, but it was quickly transformed into a look of vindication.
“The day before I hit those home runs was the low point of my career. Casey pulled me from the game after I hit into a double play. People think it was because I didn’t hustle running to first, but it was worse than that—if anything can be worse.”
It was at that moment that Mickey told Tom something that he had said before, but that everyone seemed to ignore.
“I thought that there were two outs.”
What is worse: not hustling or not having your head in the game? Maybe it’s the same thing.
The Yankees had lost the first game of the doubleheader to the Washington Senators and were tied 1-1 in the sixth-inning of the night cap.
Mantle came to the plate with Hector Lopez on first and one out. He hit a sharp ground ball to third base. Reno Bertoia fielded it cleanly and fired to second to force the out on Lopez.
Shortstop Jose Valdivielso made a good throw to first base that everyone in Yankee Stadium knew would be in vain, until Mantle was called out.
Casey Stengel sent Bob Cerv in to replace Mantle in center field in the seventh-inning. The Senators won 6-3 in 15 innings.
The next day, Mantle started in center field. Young Jerry Walker started for the Baltimore Orioles against right-hander Art Ditmar.
Mantle hit a two-run home run (his first round-tripper in 16 games) in the fourth-inning off Walker to tie the game at 2-2, but the Birds took the lead with a run in the eighth-inning on a Jackie Brandt home run.
In the Yankees’ half of the eighth-inning, Hector Lopez drew a walk off Hoyt Wilhelm, bringing up Mantle. The crowd pleaded for another home run, but all Mantle could do against the knuckle-baller was hit a high pop-fly behind home plate.
Catcher Clint Courtney dropped it.
Wilhelm checked Lopez at first and delivered. Mickey took strike two.
Courtney fired the ball back to the pitcher. Lopez took his lead off first, Wilhelm delivered and the crowd went wild.
The ball landed in the lower deck in right field. Mantle actually tipped his cap after he touched home plate with the winning run.
The two games defined Mantle for the rest of his career. He never forgot how many outs there were again.
References:
Holbrook, B. (1960, Aug 17). “Stengel Magic: How it Works.” Boston Globe (1960-1979), pp. 17.
“Pair of Two-Run Homers by Mantle Shades O’s, 4-3.” (1960, Aug 16). Boston Globe (1960-1979), pp. 25.
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