Mickey Mantle: The American Dream Comes To Life® (Frequently Asked Questions) (2024)

Mickey Mantle FAQs
(Frequently Asked Questions about Mickey Mantle)

Part Two
(Excerpted from the award-winning DVD,Mickey Mantle: The American Dream Comes To Life^® - The Deluxe LostStories Edition - Mickey Mantle tells his own life story (autobiography) on DVD. Click Here to learn more about it.Click Here to see an outline of the contents of the DVD.)

11. How many times was Mickey Mantle named Most Valuable Player?

Mickey was named the American League's Most Valuable Player three times: 1956, 1957 and 1962.

12. How many times did Mickey lead the league in home runs?

Mickey led the American League in home runs four times: 1955, 1956, 1958 and 1960. Curiously, the year he hit the most homers - 1961 with 54 homers - he came in second to Roger Maris, who hit his record 61.

13. How many World Series did Mickey play in, and how many World Championshipsdid he win?

Mickey played in 12 World Series (1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964) and won 7 World Championships (1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, and 1962).

14. What was The Mick's best year?

That is a question that is open to debate, but it is hard to argue with1956, the season he won baseball's Triple Crown. Mickey led not only the American League but also the entire major leagues in all three categories, with a .353 batting average, 52 home runs and 130 runs batted in (rbi). He had the most home runs of any Triple Crown winner ever. He was named American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) and also received the Sultan of Swat Award for leading the majors in slugging. Mickey felt it was his best year and he wrote a book about it - "My Favorite Summer: 1956." Other exceptional Mantle years were 1957 when he won his second Most Valuable Playeraward and hit his career high batting average of .365 (only to lose out to Ted Williams in the batting race - Williams hit .388), 1961 - the year many fans feel was his best year - when he hit his career high 54 home runs (only to lose out to Roger Maris, who hit his record 61) and 1962 when he won his third Most Valuable Player award.

15. Who was named Rookie of the Year in 1951, Mickey's rookie season?

Gold Glove Award during his 18 year career. Mickey was received his Gold Glove Award in 1962. It's believed that Mickey's phenomenal speed caused many to not appreciate his fielding ability. Mickey was able to catch-up to balls that other outfielders couldn't reach. Instead of straining to catch fly balls and line drives, Mickey was usually there waiting for the ball. He made it look deceptively easy. There have been few outfielders who could cover the amount of ground Mickey covered. That he was able to do it with relative ease fooled many people into thinking he wasn't a great outfielder. In Yankee Stadium, with it's vast centerfield dimensions when Mickey played there, Mickey was a Yankee pitcher's best friend.

17. How many career home runs did Mickey Mantle hit?

Mickey hit 536 career home runs, which placed him third in career home runs when he retired.

18. How many World Series home runs did Mickey hit?

Mickey hit 18 World Series home runs. His 18 World Series homers are still the record for most home runs hit in World Series play.

19. How many runs-batted-in (rbi) did Mickey have in the World Series?

Mickey drove in 40 runs in World Series competition. Mickey's 40 World Series rbi are still a record for World Series play.

20. How many home runs did The Mick hit in All-Star Games?

Mickey hit two home runs in All-Star games: A three-run homer in 1955 in Milwaukee (hit left-handed off Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts), and a solo home run in 1956 in Washington (hit right-handed off Hall of Fame pitcher Warren Spahn).

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