Mickey Mantle.

Mickey Mantle. Mickey Mantle (1931-1995), American baseball player, one of the greatest center fielders in the history of the game. Mantle hit 536 home runs in his career, the most ever by a switch-hitter (a player who bats right-handed and left-handed). He won the Triple Crown in 1956 when he led the American League (AL) in home runs (52), runs batted in (130), and batting average (.353). Mickey Charles Mantle was born in Spavinaw, Oklahoma. He was named for Mickey Cochrane, a star catcher who eventually was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. After graduating from high school, Mantle signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees and played for its farm club, the Joplin Miners, in Joplin, Missouri. He joined the major league club in 1951, playing right field alongside Joe DiMaggio, the long-time Yankee center fielder. Mantle struggled at times and almost quit baseball, but his father talked him into staying with the Yankees. He finished the year with a .267 batting average and 13 home runs. In the World Series he injured his knee when he tripped over a drain in the outfield. After the season DiMaggio retired, and Mantle became New York's starting center fielder. In 1952 Mantle boosted his batting average to .311, and his home run total to 23. He continued to post impressive numbers throughout his 18-year career with the Yankees. His highest batting average was .365 in 1957, and his highest home run total was 54 in 1961. Mantle led the AL six times in runs scored (1954, 1956-1958, 1960, 1961), four times in home runs (1955, 1956, 1958, 1960), and once in batting (1956). He was named most valuable player (MVP) in the AL in 1956, 1957, and 1962. The Yankees reached the World Series 12 times during Mantle's career (1951-1953, 1955-1958, 1960-1964), and he set World Series records for most runs (42), home runs (18), runs batted in (40), and total bases (123). Throughout his career Mantle was dogged by physical ailments. He continually battled a bone-inflammation condition in his left leg, and his accident in the 1951 World Series was the first in a series of injuries he suffered while playing. In 1967, in an effort to spare his legs, Mantle became a first baseman. He retired after the 1968 season, finishing his career with a .298 batting average, 536 home runs, 1,509 runs batted in, and 1,677 runs scored. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.