Mickey Mantle

             Mickey Mantle.
            
             Mickey Mantle, a man of courage, heart, and most definitely integrity had many adversities throughout his life, but none the less he was a great baseball player. Mickey Charles Mantle was born on October 20, 1931 in Spavinaw, Oklahoma. He then later moved to Commerce a few years later. He was named after an awesome baseball player and Hall of Famer catcher Gordon "Mickey" Cochrane. Mickey Mantle would take many problems throughout his life, but those problems is what I think makes him the legend that baseball fans will never forget.
             Mantle's dad was Elvin "Mutt" Mantle and his mom's name was Lovell Mantle. Mickey had three brothers. He had twin brothers named Ray and Roy, his brother Butch, and his sister Barbara. Mickey Mantle's dad was a lead miner in Oklahoma. He had a passion for baseball and even played with the semi-pros. As any other father he would pass his passion to his son Mickey.
             Mickey Mantle was 5-foot-11 and weighed 100 lbs. Many people thought he was very strong and muscular. Larry Schwartz of ESPN says that, "People liked him because of his destiny and not so much how he looked." Mickey Mantle would begin his career at a young age for the New York Yankees. Mickey Mantle began playing baseball when he was 19 years old. Mantle would struggle throughout his first year as a pro baseball player. He would strike out a lot his first year. It got so bad that the Yankees sent him to the Minors and he would get even worse. It was so bad that his first hit came in 22 at bats.
             Mickey Mantle was an awesome athlete. He broke records and he became know as a "hitting machine". The love for the game and his persistency brought him many rewards in baseball. Not only did he play baseball, but he played football and basketball in high school. In high school he thought that he might never get to walk again because during a football game he got kicked on the shin and got a bone disease.