Mickey Mantle

Mickey Mantle

Mickey Charles Mantle was born on October 20, 1931, in Spavinaw, Oklahoma. Mantle’s parents were named Elvin ("Mutt") and Lowell Mantle. His nickname was "The Mick," and he was a switch-hitter, who went on to win four home-run championships, a Triple Crown, and three most valuable player awards during his 18-year career with the New York Yankees.
Mickey was barely out 2 years old before he was practicing baseball with his father who was a semi-pro baseball player. Mutt Mantle was so involved with, baseball he named his first child after the Detroit Tigers catcher Mickey Cochrane. Mutt believed that the only way to excel in the major leagues was as a switch-hitter, so he taught his son to swing from both sides of the plate. Mickey mostly used his natural right-handed swing against his left-handed father, then would turn around and bat left-handed against his right-handed grandfather.
Mantle played baseball and basketball at his high school in Commerce, Oklahoma, ...