What do you think?
Rate this book
Mantle: The Best There Ever Was
In Mantle: The Best There Ever Was, Tony Castro brings to life the man who is arguably not only the greatest ballplayer of his time but also the greatest ballplayer of all time. Castro offers illuminating new insight into Mantle's extraordinary career, including the head-turning conclusion based on the evolution of analytics that the beloved Yankee switch-hitting slugger may ultimately win acclaim as having fulfilled the weighty expectations once placed on him: of being greater than even Babe Ruth. Castro also adds intimate, never-before-published details from Mantle's personal life, as the author received unprecedented access to Mantle's widow, Merlyn, who hopes to rescue her husband's historical reputation from the public revelations of alcoholism, infidelity, and family strife. Castro offers the whole sweep of Mantle's turbulent life: his lonely, brutal upbringing with an over-bearing father and sexually abusive half-sister, his brilliant young baseball exploits, his titanic blowups from his frustration at not meeting expectations, his touching but doomed love affair with an actress in New York, his glorious seasons as a Yankee, and his alcoholism that destroyed his family and ultimately killed him. Throughout, Castro blends Mantle's public and private selves to present a fully-rounded portrait of this complex, misunderstood national hero.
280 pages, Hardcover
Published May 22, 2019
23 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Tony Castro
9 books24 followersTONY CASTRO is a Harvard and Baylor University-educated historian, Napoleon Bonaparte scholar and the author of the landmark civil rights history "Chicano Power," which Publishers Weekly acclaimed as “brilliant… a valuable contribution to the understanding of our time.”
Tony's latest book, "The Book of Marilyn," is a "thriller about the hunt for Marilyn Monroe’s lost diary—holding secrets that could rewrite history, topple power, and cost lives. Some truths are too dangerous to survive."
From its Amazon.com listing:
HOLLYWOOD’S GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL • Late one fateful night in 1978, Los Angeles prize-winning journalist Alex De La Cruz finds himself face-to-face with the story of a lifetime. Standing on his doorstep is Josie Clémenceau, a mysterious middle-aged woman whose timeless beauty evokes the golden age of Hollywood—but her eyes speak of shadows and secrets long buried. In her hands is a discovery that could rewrite history: Marilyn Monroe’s lost diary.
“Blockbuster mastery at its best… A gleefully explosive novel impossible to put down.” — LAMonthly.org
“An ingenious, pulse-quickening Hollywood-political suspense thriller.” — The Angeleno
What begins as a memoir of a movie star’s dazzling life quickly takes a darker turn. Hidden within the diary’s pages are revelations that shatter the mythos of America’s past. Marilyn Monroe, it turns out, had unwittingly stumbled upon a web of conspiracy tying the Mafia, anti-Castro operatives, and rogue CIA agents to one of the 20th century’s most infamous events: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Before she could reveal what she knew, Marilyn was silenced.
Now, Alex and Josie are plunged into a high-stakes race to uncover the truth. But powerful forces—spanning the worlds of politics, organized crime, and Hollywood’s elite—will stop at nothing to keep the diary’s secrets buried. What begins as an investigation spirals into a deadly game of cat and mouse, where every step closer to the truth puts Alex and Josie in greater peril.
As the lines between past and present blur, Alex discovers that Josie’s connection to Marilyn Monroe might be far deeper—and more dangerous—than she’s revealed. The diary isn’t just a link to history; it’s a ticking time bomb that could expose decades of corruption and deceit.
With whip-smart dialogue, relentless suspense, and a plot that unfurls like a tightly wound thriller, The Book of Marilyn is more than a conspiracy novel—it’s a brilliant reinvention of the genre. Part Hollywood noir, part political intrigue, and wholly captivating, this is a heart-pounding tale of secrets, power, and the unyielding search for truth.
Get ready for a novel that will leave you breathless until its final, unforgettable twist.
As a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, Tony studied under Homeric scholar and translator Robert Fitzgerald, Mexican Nobel laureate Octavio Paz, and French history scholar Laurence Wylie. While at Harvard, he was a regular lecturer at the JFK Institute of Politics.
He is also a popular public speaker known for his wit and humor. He most recently lectured at his alma mater, Baylor University, on The Religion of Sports: From Michelangelo to Derek Jeter.
Tony lives in Los Angeles with his wife Renee LaSalle and Jeter, their black Labrador retriever. Their two grown sons, Trey and Ryan, and their families also reside in Southern California.
Tony's latest book, "The Book of Marilyn," is a "thriller about the hunt for Marilyn Monroe’s lost diary—holding secrets that could rewrite history, topple power, and cost lives. Some truths are too dangerous to survive."
From its Amazon.com listing:
HOLLYWOOD’S GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL • Late one fateful night in 1978, Los Angeles prize-winning journalist Alex De La Cruz finds himself face-to-face with the story of a lifetime. Standing on his doorstep is Josie Clémenceau, a mysterious middle-aged woman whose timeless beauty evokes the golden age of Hollywood—but her eyes speak of shadows and secrets long buried. In her hands is a discovery that could rewrite history: Marilyn Monroe’s lost diary.
“Blockbuster mastery at its best… A gleefully explosive novel impossible to put down.” — LAMonthly.org
“An ingenious, pulse-quickening Hollywood-political suspense thriller.” — The Angeleno
What begins as a memoir of a movie star’s dazzling life quickly takes a darker turn. Hidden within the diary’s pages are revelations that shatter the mythos of America’s past. Marilyn Monroe, it turns out, had unwittingly stumbled upon a web of conspiracy tying the Mafia, anti-Castro operatives, and rogue CIA agents to one of the 20th century’s most infamous events: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Before she could reveal what she knew, Marilyn was silenced.
Now, Alex and Josie are plunged into a high-stakes race to uncover the truth. But powerful forces—spanning the worlds of politics, organized crime, and Hollywood’s elite—will stop at nothing to keep the diary’s secrets buried. What begins as an investigation spirals into a deadly game of cat and mouse, where every step closer to the truth puts Alex and Josie in greater peril.
As the lines between past and present blur, Alex discovers that Josie’s connection to Marilyn Monroe might be far deeper—and more dangerous—than she’s revealed. The diary isn’t just a link to history; it’s a ticking time bomb that could expose decades of corruption and deceit.
With whip-smart dialogue, relentless suspense, and a plot that unfurls like a tightly wound thriller, The Book of Marilyn is more than a conspiracy novel—it’s a brilliant reinvention of the genre. Part Hollywood noir, part political intrigue, and wholly captivating, this is a heart-pounding tale of secrets, power, and the unyielding search for truth.
Get ready for a novel that will leave you breathless until its final, unforgettable twist.
As a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, Tony studied under Homeric scholar and translator Robert Fitzgerald, Mexican Nobel laureate Octavio Paz, and French history scholar Laurence Wylie. While at Harvard, he was a regular lecturer at the JFK Institute of Politics.
He is also a popular public speaker known for his wit and humor. He most recently lectured at his alma mater, Baylor University, on The Religion of Sports: From Michelangelo to Derek Jeter.
Tony lives in Los Angeles with his wife Renee LaSalle and Jeter, their black Labrador retriever. Their two grown sons, Trey and Ryan, and their families also reside in Southern California.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 2, 2019
Being a marque celebrity is not always great, as it will naturally test one’s character. Mickey Mantle faced this experience when he moved from Oklahoma to Manhattan, as a 19 year old teenage New York Yankees rookie sensation. The gifted athlete, who was a foul mouthed alcoholic, did have a few positive traits, which anyone could admire. Besides his self-confidence he had a reputation for being honest.
Mantle’s father certainly gave his first son Mickey special attention. The book did not delve into Mantle’s 3 younger brothers and I wonder if they possessed any athletic talent. I further question the relationship they had with their gifted brother.
This biography is not written in the usual chronological order. Rather the author skips around with interesting themed chapters of Mantles life. The story is of another highly acclaimed athlete, but not a hero.
Mantle’s father certainly gave his first son Mickey special attention. The book did not delve into Mantle’s 3 younger brothers and I wonder if they possessed any athletic talent. I further question the relationship they had with their gifted brother.
This biography is not written in the usual chronological order. Rather the author skips around with interesting themed chapters of Mantles life. The story is of another highly acclaimed athlete, but not a hero.
June 17, 2019
Not much needs to be said to introduce readers to Mickey Mantle. No matter the age of a reader or how much of a baseball fan that reader happens to be, Mantle is one of those personalities who have become larger than life, long after death and even when all of his shortcomings have been revealed. However, there may still be readers who have not read much on the man and if you fall into that category, as I did before obtaining this book, then “Mantle: The Best There Ever Was” is a good place to start to understand why he became such a legend – oh, and a pretty good ball player as well.
The book starts with excerpts from interviews with Meryl Mantle, Mickey’s widow, that the author, Tony Castro, promised not to publish until after her death. Her answers revealed a belief that she had for a long time – that her husband, despite all the issues they had in their marriage, was a good man and also the best baseball player in the history of the game. Having whetted the appetite of the reader with this revelation, Castro makes the pitch why he believes this to be true.
However, that doesn’t come until the last chapter of the book. In between, the reader will be treated to many stories about Mantle told by Mantle himself (from interviews before Mickey’s death in 1995), teammates and his long-time love, Holly Bright. Through these stories, many of the beliefs that have been passed down are either confirmed or shown to be false. One example of the latter is the belief that Mantle and Joe DiMaggio couldn’t stand each other as there are examples of them helping each other. Another is that Bright was not close to Mantle after his marriage – the popular belief is that she was his girlfriend in his rookie year of 1951 but then they went separate ways after he married Merlyn. According to Bright, they were always close and that he really wanted to marry her, not Merlyn. He only did so because he was afraid to go against his father’s wishes.
That last point is important as that is always a theme in any narrative about Mickey Mantle – that he was loyal to his father and was always aiming to please him (or didn’t want to disappoint him), even long after Mutt’s 1952 death. Putting this pressure on himself to go with the terrible injury Mickey suffered in the 1951 World Series (another chink in the legend of DiMaggio and Mantle disliking each other) made Mantle a tragic hero even with his extraordinary accomplishments on the field. Castro also points out that this image of Mantle was further enhanced by the growing popularity of television as it brought Mantle to the homes of millions of boys and their fathers who ended up worshipping Mantle as their hero.
Finally, the book goes back to the point made in the title – why the author and Mantle’s widow believe he is the greatest baseball player to every step onto the diamond. Castro uses sabermetrics to make this point – at least that Mantle was superior to Babe Ruth. However, that is only part of the story why he states this. Castro also points out that so many of Mantle’s peers also made this claim and that Mickey’s championship pedigree should also be considered when making this statement. The reader will then be able to judge whether he or she agrees with Castro or not.
Because this reviewer had not previously read a complete book on Mantle or any of Castro’s previous work on Mantle, the material felt fresh and was very entertaining and easy to read. Readers who have read other books on Mantle may not gain new information and even feel that because these stories are just that – stories – they may not pass as completely factual. While that is a fair point, readers who just enjoy reading about this legendary New York Yankee will want to read this one, no matter how much they think they know about him.
I wish to thank Roman and Littlefield for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
The book starts with excerpts from interviews with Meryl Mantle, Mickey’s widow, that the author, Tony Castro, promised not to publish until after her death. Her answers revealed a belief that she had for a long time – that her husband, despite all the issues they had in their marriage, was a good man and also the best baseball player in the history of the game. Having whetted the appetite of the reader with this revelation, Castro makes the pitch why he believes this to be true.
However, that doesn’t come until the last chapter of the book. In between, the reader will be treated to many stories about Mantle told by Mantle himself (from interviews before Mickey’s death in 1995), teammates and his long-time love, Holly Bright. Through these stories, many of the beliefs that have been passed down are either confirmed or shown to be false. One example of the latter is the belief that Mantle and Joe DiMaggio couldn’t stand each other as there are examples of them helping each other. Another is that Bright was not close to Mantle after his marriage – the popular belief is that she was his girlfriend in his rookie year of 1951 but then they went separate ways after he married Merlyn. According to Bright, they were always close and that he really wanted to marry her, not Merlyn. He only did so because he was afraid to go against his father’s wishes.
That last point is important as that is always a theme in any narrative about Mickey Mantle – that he was loyal to his father and was always aiming to please him (or didn’t want to disappoint him), even long after Mutt’s 1952 death. Putting this pressure on himself to go with the terrible injury Mickey suffered in the 1951 World Series (another chink in the legend of DiMaggio and Mantle disliking each other) made Mantle a tragic hero even with his extraordinary accomplishments on the field. Castro also points out that this image of Mantle was further enhanced by the growing popularity of television as it brought Mantle to the homes of millions of boys and their fathers who ended up worshipping Mantle as their hero.
Finally, the book goes back to the point made in the title – why the author and Mantle’s widow believe he is the greatest baseball player to every step onto the diamond. Castro uses sabermetrics to make this point – at least that Mantle was superior to Babe Ruth. However, that is only part of the story why he states this. Castro also points out that so many of Mantle’s peers also made this claim and that Mickey’s championship pedigree should also be considered when making this statement. The reader will then be able to judge whether he or she agrees with Castro or not.
Because this reviewer had not previously read a complete book on Mantle or any of Castro’s previous work on Mantle, the material felt fresh and was very entertaining and easy to read. Readers who have read other books on Mantle may not gain new information and even feel that because these stories are just that – stories – they may not pass as completely factual. While that is a fair point, readers who just enjoy reading about this legendary New York Yankee will want to read this one, no matter how much they think they know about him.
I wish to thank Roman and Littlefield for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
April 12, 2020
The theme of Tony Castro's book Mantle: The Best Ever Was is introduced to the reader in the first chapter by Merlyn Mantle Mickey's wife then dropped for about two hundred pages and picked up at the end in unconvincing way. Sabermetricians I would think would argue the point of Mantle being the best in baseball when you have a lineup of Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Willie Mays and Henry Aaron and their achievements. The book consist mostly of Mantle lore, the stories about his father, 1951 knee injury, the woman carousing, and drinking, drinking, swearing and more swearing. Castro gives us personal observations and records that Mantle made in action but none of it provides new insight I didn't know before. Castro does give a different perspective on the Mantle-DiMaggio relationship. After reading Jane Leavy: The Last Boy I got the impression they never talked and DiMaggio never cared for him. This book seemed like they were buddy buddy. For those interested he interviews Holly Brooke the love of Mantle's life. Apparently, he found her late in life and interviewed her at length. Those are interesting chapters than the ones about his real life wife he never loved, Merlyn. Getting back to the theme of Mantle being the best ever baseball player he did have a great career. He missed a lot of games because of injuries and the most serious coming in the 1951 World Series. His numbers undoubtedly would have been better if he had taken better care of himself. Mantle played while he was taped up like a mummy but I will agree with Castro that from 1956- 1962 nobody in baseball could touch Mickey's numbers. For many Mantle lovers this book is worth reading about Mickey but it I don't think it adds much that hasn't been said in previous books like Leavy's: The Lost boy, Robert Creamer: Mantle Remember, and Allen Barra's Mickey and Willie. Being the best ever is debatable.
April 14, 2020
I appreciated the different perspective as far as how fame affected Mantle and the relationship between father and son was interesting. The author was clearly a fan of Mantle, and it seems like all objectivity went out the window with regard to his behavior. How did his his affair affect anyone else? How did his drinking affect his home life and his children? It barely mentions his kids. I know there are a lot of biographies on Mantle, so the author had to find a new angle, but I think the focus was too narrow and the behavior not discussed enough, other than how much greater he could have been.
December 17, 2021
I enjoyed this book a lot. The main thing I enjoyed about how there were many stories in it of his baseball career. There were many stories of when he was younger and his new life in New York. The story discribed his struggles and the adversity he has went through.
I think that the book could be improved by the pacing. Sometimes in the book he would go on about a story for too long. It would get boring and not fun to reaad. Otherwise I do not have any complaints. It was a very great book.
I would recommend this book to basically anyone. Even if you are not a baseball fan it is very interesting. This book is easy to read and I think that people of all ages should read this. It is not just on baseball and there is a lot about his life.
I think that any baseball fans would really enjoy this book. Even if you are not a Yankees fan you can appreciate his great career. He may have not been the best person but he was a great player, and his battle of a life. He faced many challenges through his career and the book shows that well. It makes it very interesting to all readers.
I think that the book could be improved by the pacing. Sometimes in the book he would go on about a story for too long. It would get boring and not fun to reaad. Otherwise I do not have any complaints. It was a very great book.
I would recommend this book to basically anyone. Even if you are not a baseball fan it is very interesting. This book is easy to read and I think that people of all ages should read this. It is not just on baseball and there is a lot about his life.
I think that any baseball fans would really enjoy this book. Even if you are not a Yankees fan you can appreciate his great career. He may have not been the best person but he was a great player, and his battle of a life. He faced many challenges through his career and the book shows that well. It makes it very interesting to all readers.
September 24, 2019
There is a lot to like here, but chunks where Castro is quite self-indulgent. A bit too much, "I knew him and he was my friend" for my taste.
Still, very interesting stories about Mickey's early years. Castro clears up that Mantle and DiMaggio got along quite well--despite the World Series injury.
Probably worth your time if you are an elderly Yankee fan like me. Otherwise, perhaps not.
Still, very interesting stories about Mickey's early years. Castro clears up that Mantle and DiMaggio got along quite well--despite the World Series injury.
Probably worth your time if you are an elderly Yankee fan like me. Otherwise, perhaps not.
May 9, 2024
The third and final biography of Mantle by the author. Touches upon important moments in Mantle’s life from his rookie season injury, to his triple crown season and features background from his wife and mistress. Chapters are framed using dreams Mantle had and shared with the author.
May 23, 2023
A fantastic book. Tony Castro is one hell of a writer. And, of course, there's the magic of Mantle. Wonderful!
December 16, 2025
Terrific book on Mickey Mantle
April 22, 2021
I was and still, in my late 60s, am a huge Mickey Mantle fan. As a teenager I waited outside the players' entrance, hoping for his autograph. He rarely signed except, I was told , for boys who looked like his sons....leaving me out, a tween girl very impressed by his baseball prowess, accomplishments AND looks!
Years later, after hearing this story, my husband bought me a framed autograph with a photo and his baseball stats (inexpensive, before Mantle passed away).
I have read probably all major and lesser known books about him so I decided to read this one as well. I found that some of the related stories had info that was new to me...ie why he was given no 7 rather than get his no 6 back when he returned from a short stint in AAA ball...I have to fact check the author's explanation, which is quite different than other stories about it.
I didn't care for his nonchronological style, jumping around in each chapter. Editing was poor at times...wrong dates, run on sentences, etc. Many identical pieces of stories were in various chapters, etc
Thus it is not a work of true stellar writing, but to me, a huge fan, it was a quick fun read.
I would say 3.5 stars but made it a 4 because it was quite enjoyable for a huge fan, despite the not always fine style.
Mickey is sorely missed by his fans
His name is still recognizable to younger generations who never saw him play. And hoping it will continue to be so in the distant future.
Years later, after hearing this story, my husband bought me a framed autograph with a photo and his baseball stats (inexpensive, before Mantle passed away).
I have read probably all major and lesser known books about him so I decided to read this one as well. I found that some of the related stories had info that was new to me...ie why he was given no 7 rather than get his no 6 back when he returned from a short stint in AAA ball...I have to fact check the author's explanation, which is quite different than other stories about it.
I didn't care for his nonchronological style, jumping around in each chapter. Editing was poor at times...wrong dates, run on sentences, etc. Many identical pieces of stories were in various chapters, etc
Thus it is not a work of true stellar writing, but to me, a huge fan, it was a quick fun read.
I would say 3.5 stars but made it a 4 because it was quite enjoyable for a huge fan, despite the not always fine style.
Mickey is sorely missed by his fans
His name is still recognizable to younger generations who never saw him play. And hoping it will continue to be so in the distant future.
August 29, 2020
A treasure trove of information about a Baseball Legend
I grew up in the era of Mantle and the mighty Yankees. But there has always so much suspect information about him that it has been hard to know what is true and what is not. I was disappointed that Billy Crystal got the relationship between Mickey and Joe so wrong in his movie *61. But at the same time it is a relief to find out that there was mutual respect between them. It just feels better to know that DiMaggio wasn't some ogre, as he has been portrayed by many of my Boomer generation.
It was amazing to find out that for all of Mickey's exploits off the field, that he had one soul mate through his entire life. How different would his life had been if he had followed his heart and married her instead of his hometown girl?
That is not to diminish his wife Merlyn in any way. After all, she stayed with him through all of his marital misdeeds and bore his children and raised them; plus she protected his legacy even after his death.
Like the heroes from the Greek Tragedies, Mickey was a 'god' who suffered with mortal flaws, and he and his family paid the price.
This book though, was filled with all the human details that are not well known to most of us who thought he was the greatest player of his era, and even the following era.
I grew up in the era of Mantle and the mighty Yankees. But there has always so much suspect information about him that it has been hard to know what is true and what is not. I was disappointed that Billy Crystal got the relationship between Mickey and Joe so wrong in his movie *61. But at the same time it is a relief to find out that there was mutual respect between them. It just feels better to know that DiMaggio wasn't some ogre, as he has been portrayed by many of my Boomer generation.
It was amazing to find out that for all of Mickey's exploits off the field, that he had one soul mate through his entire life. How different would his life had been if he had followed his heart and married her instead of his hometown girl?
That is not to diminish his wife Merlyn in any way. After all, she stayed with him through all of his marital misdeeds and bore his children and raised them; plus she protected his legacy even after his death.
Like the heroes from the Greek Tragedies, Mickey was a 'god' who suffered with mortal flaws, and he and his family paid the price.
This book though, was filled with all the human details that are not well known to most of us who thought he was the greatest player of his era, and even the following era.
November 27, 2019
Hagiographic biography of the Yankee slugger. Castro idolized Mantle and played some golf with him in the Dallas area where they both lived. Castro notes that Mantle’s post career (he was 33 when he retired) employment opportunities were limited by his drinking which he habitually began daily at 11:00 am. In every interaction Castro has with Mantle, Mantle is under the influence.
More happily, Castro tries to make the case of Mantle as the greatest baseball player ever. There are wonderful scenes of the Yankee coaches astonishment at the nineteen year old kid’s ability. He hit it a mile and was blindingly fast. Stengel was beside himself. He and Mantle eventually had a troubled relationship, but in the beginning Stengel was giddy at his good fortune and enthusiastically promoted his newest acquisition.
Mantle’s story has been told before, and will be told again. It’s a good one.
More happily, Castro tries to make the case of Mantle as the greatest baseball player ever. There are wonderful scenes of the Yankee coaches astonishment at the nineteen year old kid’s ability. He hit it a mile and was blindingly fast. Stengel was beside himself. He and Mantle eventually had a troubled relationship, but in the beginning Stengel was giddy at his good fortune and enthusiastically promoted his newest acquisition.
Mantle’s story has been told before, and will be told again. It’s a good one.
June 11, 2024
Tony Castro’s quasi-biography of Mickey Mantle mixed with his own interactions with the star from childhood admiration and beyond, is quite an odd book. Castro’s dedication to mantle and defense of the great Yankee as the best baseball player ever definitely shades this book as more of an argument than an exploration of the man, which makes this a book that is hard for anyone to read unless they are a serious Mantle fan. Even as a strong Yankee fan with a love for Mantle and his accomplishments, I found the adoration in this book to be distracting and, well, boring. Ultimately, I feel this book is simply forgettable, which is disappointing, as it is clear that Castro has a deep love and passion for Mantle. If you are a fan of Mantle, or even interested in the book, you can determine for yourself. But for me, this book was just okay at best.
July 26, 2019
Who doesn’t love Mickey Mantle? Well, probably most of today’s kids and their parents. But for those of us who remember (barely) the 1950s and the almost always triumphant Yankees, who could you love more? This isn’t a memoir or a biography really, just a lot of random stories the author dug out of the memories of old wives, girlfriends and assorted drinking buddies. I didn’t know much about his personal life except the drinking and carousing and purchased liver transplant but it was fun to read about The Mick. Was he the greatest ever? That will be argued about until he is forgotten but one thing that comes clear from this book is he could have been if he’d taken care of himself. Kinda sad.
November 23, 2019
Never knew much about Mantle (Red Sox fan) but learned he was injured his entire playing career after his rookie leg injury in the World Series. I knew he wasn't a great family man and this book confirms this. Great athletes are still human and some have their demons and the Mick did as well. It's hard to like him after reading this book. The question still exists - if he wasn't injured - would he have been the 'Best there ever was!'
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2019
Meticulously researched. Way too much for me. I got very little feel about Mantle the person and felt at time I was reading a hotel register. Castro is a very intelligent writer, but for me on this one too much data and not enough story or understanding.
August 27, 2019
The author's love and "gussying" writing about Mantle was over the top. I was and still am a Cleveland Indians fan so I didn't like the Yankees. Mickey was not my hero. I still liked the book and Mantle was a great baseball player.
June 28, 2019
Some interesting insights and stories that I had not heard of before. Hard to argue against Mantle's 56 and 57 seasons as the greatest back-to-back campaigns in the history of the game.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews