Mickey Charles Mantle (October 20, 1931 - August 13, 1995) was an American baseball player. He is regarded as one of the best baseball players of all time. He played his entire professional career for the New York Yankees.
He was born in Spavinaw, Oklahoma. He was named in honor of Mickey Cochrane, a famous baseball player, by his father, who was an amateur player and fervid fan. Apparently his father was not aware that Cochrane's real name was Gordon, and in later life, Mickey Mantle expressed great relief that his father had not known Cochrane's real first name, as he would have hated to be named Gordon.
Mantle was a switch-hitter whose career was mostly in center field. He had played shortstop in the minor leagues, but on arrival at the Yankees became the regular centerfielder (playing only a few games at shortstop and third base in 1952 to 1955) until 1967, when he was moved to first base. As a centerfielder, he replaced Joe DiMaggio, whose retirement coincided with Mantle's arrival. Among Mantle's many accomplishments are All-time World Series records for home runs (18), runs scored (42), and runs-batted-in (40).
On January 16, 1961 Mantle became the highest paid baseball player by signing a $75,000 contract.
Mantle announced his retirement from baseball on March 1, 1969 and in 1974 he was inducted into the United States Baseball Hall of Fame; his uniform number 7 was retired by the Yankees.
Mickey Mantle died on August 13, 1995 in Dallas, Texas and was interred in the Hillcrest Memorial Park cemetery in Dallas.
