Mickey Mantle: The Denny McLain Gift Home Run #535

Mickey Mantle tells the story behind his home run #535, when Denny McLain intentionally let him hit one at Tiger Stadium. 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

Tags:

• Mickey
• Mantle
• Baseball
• New
• York
• Yankees
• Home
• Run
• Bronx
• Bomber
• Long
• HRs
• Tape
• Measure
• Homer
• Denny
• McLain
• Tiger
• Stadium

[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.

[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.

[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!"

[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.

[leshager]

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

[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

[jerryg1964]

@longlakeshore actually he was 31-6

[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.

[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.

[ps2dude13]

@juantimmy

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