Mickey Mantle: My Knee Injury in the 1951 World Series

Mickey Mantle tells the story about his knee injury in the 1951 World Series. Excerpted from the award-winning program, Mickey Mantle: The American Dream Comes To Life®. Available on DVD at 1-800-THE MICK / www.themick.com.

• Category

  Sports

[mannyrama]

I wonder how great Mickey would've been if he hadn't been injured so seriously and so much. He was injured so much. The knee injury from the 51 Series was just the first. I saw a picture of Mickey on crutches detailing the injuries he suffered in his career - it's remarkable! He had to tape his knees before every game. It's amazing he could walk, much less play. But he never complained - he just picked up his bat and glove and gave it his all. Mickey was more than a legend - he was a true hero!

[Evan Pukajlo]

pry would of hit over 800 home runs.

[Dpal93]

In the 50's, Mantle. Because Mays didn't hit his took it to another level in the 60's.

[tellthetruthg]

Mays or Mantle if you were a GM who do you sign in the 50's ?

[snowmelt2]

A groundskeeper forgot the cover on the drain that day. That's whose fault it was

[flbldeditalian071]

@pokemonree1 -- Would be? he is in the top 3. I'd say Babe, Mantle, and Mays are top 3. But I honestly believe Mickey is the greatest ballplayer who ever played. He did so much during his career while he was so hurt. Without the injuries, he would absolutely have broken Babe Ruth's career Hr record and who knows what else. As great as he is considered to be, he is still very underrated. #7> Anyone

[DennisOvation]

I don't think that's correct. Joe D was famous for NOT hot-dogging; he was famous for making every catch look graceful and easy; he was always moving when a batter was at the plate, watching the pitches and swings and anticipating where a ball would go. I've read a couple books on Joe D and am aware he was not a very nice guy, but Tommy Henrich (sp?) told Mickey, "You play OFF the Dago; you don't run for balls that he can catch." Really, Mickey did this to himself, unfortunately.

[Magnificence7]

I used to be a baseball player like you, then I took an arrow in the knee...

[averagejoe511]

Every word he says is with such humility and charm, man this guy had character!

[doctornoooo]

very simple: dimaggio hot dogged it all right: he waltzed over to catch a ball seeing Mantle coming on and only at the last moment yelled  I got it, causing Mantle to lurch to a stop, snag his foot on a sprinkler and thus began the series of injuries which the int ital one compounded in short without di maggios grandstanding, Mantle might well have become the best of all ever, thanks Joe

[Alan Leake]

Mickey himself commented that if he had had a chance to play in Atlanta Stadium when Hank Aaron had his great home run years instead of Yankee Stadium, he would have had a chance for 700+ career home runs in the Majors.

[itpduder]

Some think Dimaggio did some kind of hot dog play on that ball to look good to the crowd, thus injuring Mick.