Mickey Mantle: The Denny McLain Gift Home Run #535

[fek2000]

I love it when Mickey tells these stories. Thanks to the poster and YouTube.

[JustinVerlander35]

It was Jim Price catching. The game took place, Thursday, September 19th, 1968. Mickey Mantle hit the homerun in the top of the 8th off Denny McLain to make the ball-game 8-2. The starting 9 for the Tigers that day was: Dick McAuliffe Mickey Stanley Al Kaline Gates Brown Norm Cash Jim Northrup Eddie Matthews Jim Price Denny McLain

[longlakeshore]

Story is it landed on an empty seat in the upper deck so hard it broke the back of the seat... love this story. Denny went 30-5 that year, the last pitcher to win 30 in a season.

[jerryg1964]

@longlakeshore actually he was 31-6

[kfc63822]

hi

[JimColyer]

Mantle had the greatest swing in the sport.

[newhotman1001]

My brother was at this game and was seated about 5 rows behind the Yankees dugout. It was Jim Price catching (no. 12), not Freehan (no. 11), that day. He remembers McLain saying something to Mantle that was "where do you want it?" Mantle gave him a sign and McLain grooved the pitch. He still laughs about Pepitone showing McLain where he wanted his pitch and Denny knocking him down. It's a great story.

[rhelob]

Denny McLain got win number 31 in this game won by Detroit 6-2.

[bishopaz]

great story,i luv it.

[DMR4736]

That tigers team had a lot of heart and character in '68, coming back from being

down 3-1 in the Series against Gibson and St Louis

[lewearly]

Regarding the Price/Freehan controversy: It was indeed Jim Price. We checked the box score. Mickey was so used to Freehan as catcher that he misremembered. We also re-listened to Rizzuto's call, and there is static in our recording where Rizzuto says "Price" that makes it unintelligible unless you know it's Price. Then you can tell that he does say Price, not Freehan. We apologize for the confusion and our error. We thank everyone, especially those who pointed out it was Price, not Freehan.

[tomehr]

Well, I don't get it. If Phil Rizzuto's radio call says Freehan was the catcher, and Mantle says so too, how do we have two guys claiming it was Jim Price? Anyone have the box score?

[faffaflunkie]

Your going down, Pep.

[qitrodz]

I have mixed feelings about this. I also rooted for Denny, but was so disappointed when he was banned. Why some never learn about mixing gambling and sports.

Go YANKS!!!!

[onethumbpicker]

PETrudeaufan  It wasn't a pizza, it two hot dogs. Thanks for reminding me though. He didn't expect to be called on to pinch hit, hid the hotdogs under his jersey, "didn't want a hit"(he claimed), and ends up sliding head first into second base for a double. Mustard and ketchup all over the front of his jersey. He told Mayo Smith he did it because "He was hungry". The Gator. I think he got fined a couple hundred bucks.

[TitaniumByFire]

Who would have thought a thug like denny had a heart ?

[PETrudeaufan]

That was a good summer. Mickey Lolich was a funny pitcher too. And then there was Gates Brown who had to slide into second base with some pizza under his jersey. 1968 Tigers.

[mindspring57]

I was living in Detroit at the time, and I read about Mantle's home run the next day in the Detroit Free Press. It was commonly accepted that the pitch was a "gift" so that Mantle could end his career with a home run. As I recall, Detroit was ahead, and the home run did not affect the result of the game. Also, as Mantle rounded the bases, he doffed his cap in McLain's direction, as if to say, "thanks, Denny."

[mflatt12]

I remember reading this story in several of Mickey's biographies when I was a kid. Either All My Octobers, or the The Summer of '56 or The Mick.

[Scoclamor]

Here's what Red Smith, writer had to say, "There was no assurance that Mantle would hit it. It is simply not possible to pitch a home run on purpose. Lob up a cantaloupe and tell the batter it is comming, it is still a playable 5 to 1 he will pop it up, beat it into the dirt or miss it altogether."

Harry Markson, Director of boxing for Madison Square Garden, "When a guy has bought 534 drinks in the same saloon, he's entitled to one on the house".

[Scoclamor]

It was Jim Price. Mantle had quite a game 2-2 with 2 walks also. Mantle scored both Yankees runs in a 6-2 loss. The game was tied 1-1 at one point, but then the Tigers erupted for 3 runs in the 6th, and eventually stretched their lead to 6-1 when Mantle came to bat in the 8th. Mickey hit his homerun (he would hit his final career homerun later against Jim Lonborg) #535 to pass Jimmy Fox. Pepitone BTW, answered McLain's brushback with a single, befoe McLain retired Robinson and Tresh.

[lewearly]

@Scoclamor Thanks for your insighful comment. We really appreciate it.

[Scoclamor]

@lewearly Want more?

[lewearly]

@Scoclamor We welcome all comments. If you have more please feel free to post them.

[buffuzo]

@Scoclamor

I was at that game as an 11 year old. Mickey really smoked it into the upper deck in right field. We (the Detroit fans) gave him a standing ovation. My dad and I were sitting out near the left field foul pole. One of my best memories as a kid and of Tiger Stadium. Another was getting Joe Sparma's autograph, not many folks remember him, but he was a pretty decent pitcher on those 60's Tiger teams.

[raiders1967]

It is great to read your comments. I am a fan of the Tigers and have been all my life. I was born in 1964 so I don't remember the 1968 season. One question for you. For a game in September 1968 against the Yankees, why are there so many empty seats in Tiger Stadium in the picture in the video?

[abata15]

I'd love to see this footage. I'm wondering if maybe

Freehan came in the game late so he could see Mickey for the last time?

[61dodgelancer]

Credible articles I have read say that in fact it was Jim Price who was the catcher NOT Bill Freehan.

[61dodgelancer]

LOL! McLain's autobiographies contradict each other. The two earlier books say Bill Freehan was the catcher. His most recent book says Jim Price was the catcher.

[61dodgelancer]

I looking at McLain's autobiography "I Told You I wasn't Perfect" (2007) right now. On page 111 McLain writes, "I signaled our catcher, Jim Price, to come to the mound. I told Price "I want Mantle to hit one"."

I'm also looking at McLain's autobiography "Strikeout" (1988) right now. On Page 44 McLain writes: "I called Bill Freehan out to the mound."

I'm also looking at page 157 of McLain's autobiograpy "No Body's Perfect" (1975) right now. McLain writes: "Bill Freehan was catching."

[tigerfan0659]

For all here...I was present at that game. Bill Freehan was not catching...it was Jim Price. The Tigers had clinched the pennant a couple of nights prior and some of the regulars had the day off. Check the box score from that game. I remember being a little disappointed because two of my heroes, Willie Horton and Bill Freehan weren't in the line-up. But watching the Mick blast one...that was a thrill!!

[tigerfan0659]

For all here...I was present at that game. Bill Freehan was not catching...it was Jim Price. The Tigers had clinched the pennant a couple of nights prior and some of the regulars had the day off. Check the box score from that game. I remember being a little disappointed because two of my heroes, Willie Horton and Bill Freehan weren't in the line-up. But watching the Mick blast one...that was a thrill!!

[BITCHPLZSTFU]

Our generation (90's) got Griffey who is pure class. Kids today get Pujols who is also a great drug free role model, plus he's a hell of a hitter more akin to Ted Williams and Musial than the Mick.

[JamesMcPatrick]

I'm pissed that my generation gets Bonds, when others got the Mick.

[BartA22]

@JamesMcPatrick Understand your frustration....but, there are some great hitters with integrity in today's game .....Puhlos, Vlad Guerrero, Jeter. I am a Dodger fan and I believe that both Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier have a chance to be great while still keeping their head on straight.

[MikeBlitzMag]

Baseball's all time greatest hero and in relation to a key pitcher from the best World Series ever (1968). It doesn't get any better than this!

[presleyrules]

I'd heard this story a long time ago. I was listening to that game on radio as it happened. I grew up in Tiger Stadium in the 60's and saw some of the greats play; incl. the Mick. Today's players still don't compare.

[juantimmy]

Yeah, it was Jim Price, Freehan had the day off. I've always felt Freehan was vastly underrated, and this kind of confirms it...

[lewearly]

Yes he was.

Check Phil Rizzuto's actual radio call:

"He's thinking, I laid one in for you, hit it! And sometimes when you know what's comin it's tough to hit it. They're all grinnin - Mickey, McLain, and the catcher, Freehan, and OH BOY! THERE IT GOES! IT'S A FAIR BALL AND VERY DEEP! Aw, you gotta give that McLain some credit, I wanna tell ya. He's grinnin a mile wide. Boy I tell you, you think these ballplayers don't have heart, Frank, and then - THERE'S MICKEY NODDING TO HIM! THANKING HIM!"

[Scoclamor]

@lewearly Just listened to it now. GREAT!

[FrankeeFraud]

I read TWO of Mclains' books, and he said is was FREEHAN in both of them.  Might want to check your info....

[3crowns21]

@juantimmy Freehan was the best AL catcher of his generation and should be in the Hall of Fame. He played every inning of that 15 inning All-Star game and was a real warrior.

[ps2dude13]

@juantimmy

is it the same jim price that is a tigers radio announcer?

[rainbowstew46]

Bill Freehan was not the catcher that day!

[flyers22]

Mickey Mantle was THE, all time great.

[flyers22]

Mickey Mantle is the all time king of baseball. My basement is a Mantle shrine, and I am a Phillies fan! R.I.P good man.

[airmikeliu]

Oh brother! I wish i lived in Mickeys Era. Mickey Mantle probably hit 1000 hr's if he stayed healthy and took care of his injures and the long nites at the bar.

[Giruni]

R-I-P Mickey Mantle

[fanfestdhl]

Plain and Simple

THE MICK

[seccaman3]

Classic Story!!!

[leshager]

that is a GREAT story! it had me laughing..ive heard Denny McLain tell it too, The Mick was Denny's idol.

[miles7981]

was this the inspiration for the 'Field of Dreams' scene where the kid winked?... that is funny....

[jimmy1time]

God bless you Mickey! The best!

[mannyrama]

What a great story! Very funny! They were real characters, Mickey Mantle and Denny McLain. What a treat Denny McLain gave the Detroit fans in Mickey's last at-bat in Detroit.

[3crowns21]

@mannyrama Good point about the fans appreciating Mantle's last HR in Tiger Stadium. I listened on radio and we all knew Mantle was retiring after that year.