The Mick - Early Years

In the Summer of 1951, three men wore #7 for the Yankees. Cliff Mapes, a light-hitting outfielder who was traded to the St Louis Browns in the middle of season began with the #7 on his back. Bob Cerv, another Yankee outfielder, also put on the seven jersey that season. But it was the third player to wear that number in 1951 who gave it prominence. That third player was Mickey Mantle.

Mickey Mantle came up to the Majors for good in 1951, playing in right field, alongside Yankee great Joe DiMaggio. DiMaggio retired that year, and Mickey spent the next eight seasons trying to live up to the high standards of the Yankees center fielder.

In the early part of his career, he was not embraced by fans, who fondly remembered DiMaggio and the Yankee glory days. It was only his tape measure home runs, and finishing second in 1961 behind Roger Maris in the Home Run race, that led Yankee fans to truly embrace him as one of their own.

As a rookie, in the 1951 World Series, Mantle got his spikes caught up in a drainpipe covering. He never played pain free again. Despite the constant pain, Mantle was three time MVP, won seven World Series and lost five. He hit a still-standing record 18 World Series home runs.

TOMORROW - OFF THE FIELD