Mantle Eyes Retirement

Mar. 20, 1965 - Mickey Mantle says he’s going to bow out while he is still on top.

“None of that hanging on for me,” said the American League’s only $100,000-a-year ballplayer.

“I want to go out like Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, and Stan Musial. I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me.”

How much longer did he expect to play?

“I feel as good right now as I have in the last 10 years,” said Mantle today in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. “But I’m not kidding myself. I know my legs can go on me at any time. I’d like to think I can have five more good years, but if I can get three more good ones, I’ll be lucky. My right leg is getting worse.”

Mantle will be 34 next Oct. 20.

The powerfully built slugger reviewed all the managers he played under and gave his impressions of them.

“I started out under Harry Craft at Independence, Mo., in 1949,” Mantle said. “I was a kid then and would get down on myself if I made an error or struck out. Craft taught me not to sulk but fight back and try that much harder the next time.”

Mantle’s first major league manager was Casey Stengel.

“He was like a father to me,” said Mantle, “and I mean that. My dad died after I had been with the Yankees a year, and I guess Casey felt it was up to him to bring me up right. He kept me when I wasn’t ready for the big leagues. He had confidence in me. He taught me to think, to play hard from the first pitch to the last.”

Ralph Houk, Yogi Berra, and Johnny Keane, who followed Stengel as Yankee skipper, all contributed to Mantle’s baseball education

“Houk made me captain,” said Mickey. “He got me to thinking I got to be better. He gave me more responsibility. I felt I had to put out more to deserve the honor.

“Yogi is one of the best friends I ever had. He made me want to win for him. I went all out for him and did the best I could to help him.

“Keane is one of the best baseball men I ever met. In one week, I heard him talk more inside baseball than I had ever heard from another manager. The players respect him. I’m sure he’s going to be good for the club.”

What was his greatest thrill in baseball?“I’d have to say the home run I hit off Barney Schultz in the ninth inning of the fourth game of the 1964 World Series against the Cardinals,” said Mantle.

Are there any other goals left?“Yes,” he said. “I’d like to play in more games than any other Yankee. I’m fourth now with 1,883 games. Only Gehrig, Berra, and Ruth have played in more. With luck, I should do it next year.

“I’d also like to hit 500 home runs. I may do that this year. And I’d like to win another most valuable player award. No player has done it four times.”

What pitchers have caused him the most trouble?“I’d have to break that up between the regular season and the World Series,” Mantle replied. “Dean Chance of the Angels and Dick Radatz of the Red Sox are the toughest pitchers for me to hit. In World Series play, I’d have to say Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax.”

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