The fresh-faced Oklahoman came to big-league baseball as a teenager, playing for the sport’s greatest team and chosen to be the heir to its greatest player, Joe DiMaggio. As his career unfolded, Mantle not only delivered on the field—he transcended the game like few before him or after. Mantle was a 20-time All-Star, a seven-time champion, and a three-time American League MVP. He finished his Hall of Fame career with a .298 average, 2,415 hits, and 536 home runs. But as great a player as he was, Mantle’s allure ran deeper. His presence was larger than life, like a person invented by a classic American writer. And, like many characters of modern fiction, he was a hero whose flaws drew him close to the heart of those who admired him. This is the story of Mickey Mantle, told through the details of seven seasons that represent all he brought to baseball, sports, and the mythology of America.
