The Mick

by Mickey Mantle, Herb Gluck

The Yankees' star center fielder recounts his life and career, from boyhood to his glory days as power hitter and home-run king, and recalls his relationship with the other stars on the Yankee roster

Genres: Sports, Baseball, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Autobiography

260 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Mickey Charles Mantle was an American baseball player who was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.

He played his entire 18-year major-league professional career for the New York Yankees, winning 3 American League MVP titles and playing in 16 All-Star games. Mantle played on 12 pennant winners and 7 World Series Championship clubs. He still holds the records for most World Series home runs (18), RBIs (40), runs (42), walks (43), extra-base hits (26), and total bases (123).

Reviews

[Henry Avila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mickey Mantle a small town boy from Oklahoma, had more speed than Ty Cobb and as much power as Babe Ruth ( an unmatched combo in history). But riotous living, (he didn't think he'd live to see 40, like his father and uncles who died young) and injuries, caused this Hall -of- Famer not to reach his full potential. Casey Stengel his illustrious manager, always asked what if ? The son of a miner, who taught him to be a switch hitter, at an early age. Signed by the legendary New York Yankees the most famous baseball team in the world as a teenager. Playing a couple of years in the minors, No. 7 arrived in New York, and was immediately compared to jolting Joe DiMaggio and the Bambino , the Mick was 19! Becoming drinking buddies with Whitey Ford and Billy Martin, constantly in the newspapers, but not always in a favorable way to state a fact gently. He captured the big apple's affection as few ever had. Men named their son Mickey (Mantle's father named the Mick after Mickey Cochrane, the great Detroit catcher). Alcoholism made him a surly lout, causing much bad behavior towards his fans and contributed to his rapid decline of his career. A sad situation for his many friends and fans. They wondered how far in heights he could have reached, the lofty goal not attained. Mickey Mantle today is remembered as a great player and bigger than life man, with other Yankees legends, like Ruth, Gehrig and DiMaggio. The "Mick" never got to the summit as these men had, still he thrilled millions which only a handful have. If you like baseball this autobiography ghost written by another, gives you an insight by the player himself. Surprisingly candid in view and fact, Mr. Mantle regrets come through quite clearly, and his weaknesses that brought him down.

[Ken Heard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mantle provides a very minimalistic look at his career and that makes this book disappointing. He glosses over games and spends more time on his injuries, hijinks with Billy Martin and Whitey Ford and contract haggles each season.

The book reads at times like he's just turned on a tape recorder and co-author Herb Gluck just transcribed it, only putting in "writing" when he felt poignant moments were needed. For instance, at one point Mantle wrote about being alone his first year with the Yankees. He wrote of drinking coffee in a diner and watching people pass; the writing is more akin to a Studs Terkel on the loneliness of the working man than an Oklahoma kid playing baseball.

Also, Mantle almost laughs off his mistreatment of his wife. He was always gone, missing the births of at least two of his children. Once, it was because he was fishing with friends. He also got into a wreck after drinking and his wife, Merlyn, went "through the windshield." He said she received several stitches... enough to make him think about drinking for a moment or two. More than a few times, Mantle said others who drank were alcoholics, but he wasn't. Tell his liver that.

So, yes, Mantle was not a good person. He was a great baseball player, but other than him crowing about his statistics and occasional long home runs, he didn't offer much about the game in this book. And I question some of his facts. He said Billy Martin once was hit by three pitches in a game after Stengel offered $100 for anyone who was hit by a pitch. He said Martin was struck three times by a Philadelphia A's pitcher. I briefly looked on retrosheet.org for the instance, but could not find it. Not saying it didn't happen, but ...

Finally, I kept reading to see if Mantle would make reference to Jim Bouton, the Yankees pitcher who later wrote "Ball Four." Mantle hated Bouton for the book. I thought he'd mention that, or at least write about Bouton's pitching in the early 1960s when he was a star.

There are lots of books out there that provide the reader a feel of what that New York dynasty was like back then. Mantle's book is not one of them.

[Tim Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, but hardly the in depth coverage of a guy you'd think would have had much in depth coverage. A little disappointing based on that, but still not a bad read, albeit a quick one.

[Dave Estela · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Yankees fan who grew up in New York in the late 50s and 60s, I idolized Mickey Mantle. He was certainly one of the greatest players in the history of the game, but thinking about all of the 'what ifs' in his career - the injuries, the late-night carousing, the alcoholism - that without them he could've been so much greater. This book was written in 1985, well before he came out and admitted he was an alcoholic and only had a year or so to live. I feel for his wife Merlyn and his four boys that didn't have the husband and father they deserved. He was a great ballplayer but had flaws like every human who ever lived. Enjoyed the book for the most part, but knowing how his life ended makes you read this book with that thought in the back of you mind.

[Jeffrey Rubenstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up and to this day, Mickey Mantle is my all time favorite ballplayer. Written simply and with details that baseball fans would love to read. The Mick is a candid self portrait of an American legend. Mantle acknowledges that he was a far better and committed ballplayer than husband and father.

[Rick Fifield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably one of the most open and honest auto biographies I have read in a long time. Some of the stories Mantle tells he could have easily not told or put himself in a more favorable light. So kudos to Mantle for being so open with his story.

[Frodo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun escape to my own childhood days and my love of baseball.
Mickey Mantle was one of the superstars of a game I’ve always devoted time to as a player and fan. Reading Mantle’s refections on his life was really enjoyable.

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is a very good book about one of the best baseball players. It tells the life of Mickey Mantle

[Katie Frey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not the best writing style; still great to hear stories about the greatest players in baseball history.

[Jonathan Bechtel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it in high school, probably my senior year when I did no school work at all.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written to enhance pocketbook more than to illuminate his past.

[Mickey Lorento · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight in Mickey Mantle’s life. Super interesting, some crazy stories and interesting to see how the world has changed since then.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because he tells you about how it is to be a Major League Baseball Player and the excitements of it. To me it sounds like it's pretty fun but to not see your family for a while that would be tough and there's a lot of traveling. He was brought up to the majors at age 18 and they were calling him the next Joe Dimaggio, Lou Gerigh, and Babe Ruth in one. But he was to young and was not ready to be a major leaguer so they sent him back down. And when they brought him back up oh he was ready. A quote he said was when he looked at Dimaggio "I was to scared to even talk to him" said Mantle. Through his career he hit 521 all-time homeruns which is in the top ten of all-time and if he would of been in a hitter's park then I think he would have more runs than Hank Aaron. After his baseball career he opened a resteraunt called Mickey's Bar and Grill. It was very successful until it was bought out by another company. Then his son developed Hodgekin's Disease which is the same disease that killed his father. Mantle said "that there is nothing more painful than to see your son dying and there is nothing you can do". A month later his son died. Nowadays Mantle is in his grave and lived a very good life.

[Nick Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge Mickey Mantle fan, I really enjoyed this book. I won't lie, the beginning about his child life and him working in the field on his farm and mining in Oklahoma wasn't too interesting. As soon as it got to his professional career with the Yankees, that's when it got interesting. Without any spoilers, it was great reading about the suspense of games, the hardships throughout his seasons, the rivalries, the friendships, and of course the victories, especially the multiple World Series. My absolute favorite part of the book, being the statistic fanatic I am, seeing all of his stats throughout the 17 years he was in the MLB. Mickey Mantle has inspired me in many ways. First of all he was a switch hitter, someone who can hit from the right or left side of the plate, and I taught myself around the age 9 or 10 how to hit lefty so that I could also be a switch hitter. Another thing he inspired me to do was to devote my life to the game of baseball. One of my favorite quotes is when he was asked to fight in WWII, he responded "The only thing I can do is play baseball. I have to play ball. It's the only thing I know." Mickey Mantle will forever and always be my role model and inspiration in baseball, and I wear his number, if possible, whenever I play on a team.

[Allie Meador]

Title (APA): The Mick. (1985). Doubleday
Citation by: Allie Meador
Type of Reference: Biographical Reference
Call Number: B MAN
Hardcover: 248 Pages
Publisher: Doubleday; 1st edition (May 1985)
Author: Mickey Mantle
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385194560
ISBN-13: 978-0385194563
Product Dimension: 7.5 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
Cost: $8.95
Content/Scope:
• Here is mickey mantle's true story: honest answers to the questions that his fans have been asking for more than 20 years. The book a- bounds with those memories of when mickey was the toast of the town. But, it recounts the private events of his remarkable public life; from his humble beginnings to his personal triumphs.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias:
• The book is written by the man himself.
Arrangement/Presentation:
• The book is presented in chapters, as well as a table of contents.
Relation to other Works:
• Mickey has written several books over his life and published them.
Accessibility/Diversity:
• The language is easy to read and the book is organized into chapters.
Professional Review:
• http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11...
 

[Karl Lehtinen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Womanizing, drinking, more womanizing. This was not what I expected when I read this at the tender age of 12 (or so?).

But if you thought I wanted to grow up to be a baseball player before reading this book - I was ready to kill to do it afterwards.

But strangely it turned me off the booze. Punching out the windows of your own home just doesn't seem that appealing.

[Myke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, the scene where Billy Martin decides he is going to shoot it out with a game warden, rather than pay the $20 ticket is well worth reading this book for.

[Ron Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I was reading when my son, Matthew was born, it may not be great literature, but Hellfire; it's The Mick. I loved it. Mantle's Oklahoma humor shines through.

[Cws]

796.357

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is a little biography of mickey mantle's life

[Matt Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rated 5 stars because I loved and read it so much as a kid. I'm too young to have ever watched Mantle play, but this book made him one of my biggest baseball influences nonetheless.

[David Adamek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought it was very entertaining' but looking back, it's kind of sad.

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

read some time in 1987

[Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this book way back when I got interested in baseball, and was eager to learn the history . Micky takes us through his youth to the Yankees heydays and is an excellent read .

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story about a stoic an great baseball player.

[Elaine Reinhard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful biography. So many great insights into a Yankee hero. Loved it.