An amazing player
Stengel remembers Mickey's greatness
NEW YORK (UPI) — Casey Stengel picked up the newspaper, fished out that same section he always does and couldn't help going back to a lot of things when his eyes caught the big, black headline, "Mickey Mantle Quits."
He went back to that first time Mantle reported to the Yankees for spring training at Phoenix 18 years ago.
"... and the only thing wrong with him was that he got embarrassed when he couldn't do good . . ."
Casey also went back to that World Series with the Milwaukee Braves when Mickey's arm was so sore he couldn't comb his hair and Red Schoendienst made matters even worse by falling on Mantle's arm during a run-down play.
"... he didn't tell anyone so nobody knew he couldn't throw at all. He never asked out, though. That wasn't in him."
Remember shots
And then Stengel went back to some of those unimaginable shots Mickey bludgeoned over distant buildings.
"... He could hit the ball furthest of anybody who ever lived. I know Ruth could hit 'em too, because I chased some of the balls he hit, but he never hit any as far as this here fella . . ."
From his home in Glendale, Calif.-where he's nearly completely recovered from recent stomach surgery—the 78-year-old former manager of the Yankees and Mets spoke glowingly about his retiring one-time center fielder who played under him 10 seasons.
Casey tossed in a couple of revelations.
"In a personal way, this fella was timid you know. I mean not bold.
"I was very sorry for him when he first come up. He got hit on top of the head in practice once. He just misjudged the ball and it hit him square on the head.
"He woulda liked to have gotten outta the park the back way, but there was no back door, so he had to come on in. He was so nervous he shook."
Stengel remembered something else also.
"You know some people said things because he didn't go to war on account of his physical condition. Well, he went to war twice that nobody knows about. I know about it though.
Got mad at himself
"He wanted to go so badly that twice he went to take examinations, once in Bartlesville or Tulsa and the other time in Jacksonville. They failed him both times. He was so mad he didn't pass, you'd never believe it."
Casey then talked about Mickey Mantle, the ballplayer. "They always ask me about the greatest player I ever had—and I managed some great players. Don't forget I had DiMaggio, too. They don't come much better.
"But Mantle was an amazing player. Easy to manage. For a fella his size he was the best base runner I ever saw. He had good ways about him. He never liked the other side very well, but you wouldn't ever hear him knock another player.
"Himself, yes, but never a guy on the other side. Remember when he led the league in three departments?"
That was 1956 when Mantle had a .353 batting average, 130
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1969
RBI's and 52 homers. "I was good and mad at him because I thought he should've led the league in five departments, not just three."
Casey understood
Stengel readily understood Mantle's impatience with himself when he'd kick the water cooler in the dugout or fling his helmet to the ground in disgust. So Casey never censured him too much for that.
"In the old days, they used to put you in the clothes closet for something like that. I know they did me." he said.
"But you hadda know the reasons why Mantle did these things. He watched himself, though. He'd wanna kick
something maybe after he struck out, but if he saw concrete around he'd make sure and take a good look at it."
When you listen to Stengel talk, you can't help but sense the enormous pride he feels over Mantle's manifold accomplishments. It's the same type pride Mickey's father would feel about his son were he alive today.
"I don't know anyone who wouldn't be proud to have a son like him," Casey says. "No matter how well he did he never took the lead talking.
"I don't see how he could be so good and not be egotistical about it. He's got a fine disposition and he was a game player."
Casey and Mickey
When Casey Stengel (left) skipped the New York Yankees in 1948, Mickey Mantle was still playing sandlot baseball in Oklahoma. Together, Stengel and Mantle were part of a Yankee dynasty.