1985 - Mickey Mantle

Late Night with David Letterman

[@tryingtobefairandobjective3480]

Ladies and gentlemen. One of the top 5 hitters ever and the best switch hitter ever.

[@mattdon2164]

Mickey was and still is the greatest story teller ever in baseball history. Love how Dave just sits back and lets Mickey recount all the funny details. Cant believe it is almost 22 years since Mickey passed on. He is still sorely missed...

[@Missditabomb]

Ya, that Mickey is something, isn't he? Wow. Just a humble and shy man from Oklahoma. Mickey NEVER, EVER felt he was the best. And that is why we get this great interview. Mickey was never about EGO; he was always the shy country boy, Mickey. He is so lovely.

[@IllllllIIIIIIIIlllllll]

Him and Pete Rose are the best story tellers

[@brianf481]

I am a MM fan but his story telling has a lot to be desired!

[@justinamenta7241]

@@IllllllIIIIIIIIlllllll yup, and Bench is great too!

[@rayp4050]

Man, I could listen to these old timers' stories all day long!

[@kknight4189]

@M yeah but baseball players don't play their sport in silk panties and knee highs

[@jbfonfrias9133]

I was born & raised in nyc & a lifelong Yankee fan since I was 10 (now 68). Mickey Mantle was my favorite player, & number 7 is what I wore on my back when I played ball. Long live the Mick !!!

[@jeffreykoran4820]

WHEN I WAS 11 YEARS OLD...MY FAMILY WAS IN NEW YORK TO VISIT OUR RELATIVES...WE WENT TO THE OLD YANKEE STADIUM TO SEE THE YANKEES PLAY THE LOS ANGELES ANGELS...WE GOT THERE EARLY FOR BATTING PRACTICE...MY 2 COUSINS AND I BROUGHT OUR GLOVES HOPING TO CATCH A FOUL BALL...WE WERE IN THE UPPER DECK IN RIGHT FIELD...A YANKEES UTILITY PLAYER NAMED ROGER REPOZE WAS TAKING BATTING PRACTICE...HE HIT A LONG FLY BALL TOWARDS ME WHICH I CAUGHT ON THE FLY...IT KNOCKED ME DOWN BUT I HELD ON TO THE BALL AND GOT A STANDING OVATION ....ONE OF THE GREATEST THRILLS OF MY LIFE...DURING THE GAME...MY FAVORITE PLAYER MICKEY MANTLE HIT A HOME RUN...NUMBER 7 HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY LUCKY NUMBER

[@miguel.ledesmaledesma1790]

I am a die hard Mets fan,but i am also a baseball historian.This guy from commerce Oklahoma was something else.Such brute strength from such a small guy relative to his power.And NO steroids!!!!

[@Erik-sw8wm]

Wasn’t that small. 5’11 195lbs.

[@SONNY2869]

Wish today's ball players had the class and style of the Mick. Forever a star and as popular today as he was in the 50's and 60's. I'm so glad I got to see him play at Yankee Stadium . Memories I'll never forget.

[@mikes3827]

Mickey was before my time, and even though I'm a diehard Red Sox fan, a BIG regret of mine is to never have watched a Yankees-Red Sox game at the old Yankee Stadium. To think of all the legends who played there. Now I'm not too keen to go to the new Stadium, as they say the new Stadium is cold and sterile compared to the original.

[@josecarranza7555]

What class? LMAO mickey was a drunk and cheated on his wife with numerous groupies.

[@psychedelicfright85]

@@mikes3827 you just described most modern architecture. Very cold and sterile.

[@Missditabomb]

I've never seen David Letterman clap for a guest like that. Mickey must have been one of his heroes, too! Love it!!

[@Missditabomb]

Love The Mick's laugh. So genuine.

[@anakina1]

These are priceless, Dave is playing it perfect here. We are never going to get stories like this. It is always great hearing from Mickey.

[@leafyutube]

This is why George Costanza wanted to name his kid "Seven". Not only is it a great number, it's also a living tribute.

[@Ken-dv9uf]

I thought it was for "Seven of Nine" on Star Trek Voyager...... :-)

[@vantheman1234]

leafyutube Larry David loves The Mick

[@38ddkelly]

Better than "Mug"

[@snappy452]

Al Bundy, too.

[@alexanderson7047]

Hahahahah straight up

[@leftys408]

I sold food in the stands at Fenway Park, 1964-66. In 1965 on a hot August night the Yanks were in town , fighting the Sox for 9th place. I got there early and saw two guys literally carrying Mantle into the park, he was so drunk he couldn't stand. Needless to say he wasn't in the starting lineup, but in a tied game he came up to pinch hit in the top of the 9th. I couldn't believe my eyes. He took a couple pitches and then socked one over the left field wall. As you chugged around the bases, I knew it was something I'd never forget. RIP Mick, from a lifelong Sox fan....

[@jiveassturkey8849]

He was only 53 here, he would be dead 10 years later, age 63. RIP Mick.

[@lendrury2771]

My boyhood sports idol the mick with all his injuries and battle with alcohol still put up tremendous stats and exhibited utmost class

[@Missditabomb]

David Letterman, totally enraptured. The Mick was definitely a hero of his. I have never seen David Letterman clap so much on introducing a guest.

[@michealcramer7755]

Mickey Mantle one of my hero’s growing up. I do not care how he lived...I love the guy.

[@SquareOne75]

That's why he's cool

[@ElSmusso]

Mark Andrew F aren’t you a good man if you love women?

[@markandrewfreiburghaus8438]

@@ElSmusso I'll rephrase: Mick loved the company of women even though he was married. I'm not judging. He was a good man and a hell of a ball player.

[@markandrewfreiburghaus8438]

@Mark Richardson That's debatable. He was certainly one of the greatest.

[@waynej2608]

He was my childhood hero, too. Great #7!!😃☝👍👏👏👏👏

[@GaryFox11000]

Fantastic , baseball player , incredible athlete genuine nice man ! He was a mans man & his boyish charm is really terrific ..

[@cw7601]

One of the Greatest Yankees..RIP Mick

[@jimpowers0810]

The Greatest!!!!

[@rocketsredglare2298]

Long live " The Mick". He was good. Real good.

[@225marklin3]

Heroes are not merely good. By definition they are great.

[@kingschlong9288]

@M OK PUTZ 👌

[@cueball7428]

Will always be the symbol of the golden age of baseball. gone forever🎉

[@Missditabomb]

And Whitey Ford is alive to this day. (Friday May 4th, 2018). I wish Mickey could have had a longer life. Mickey was just putting together the pieces of HIS puzzle when he died on August 13, 1995. That was a very sad day. I remember it clearly. Whitey will be 90 on October 21, 2018. I am sure Whitey has many a tale to tell !!!

[@stripervince1]

My idol growing up. Just something about him. I was at mickey mantle day Jun 69, still got my ticket!!!

[@225marklin3]

"That's a million laughs, Mick."

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

He said "laps".

[@cheddarcheese7928]

The most interesting.Greatest story teller in baseball history.With Rose in a distant 2nd..Gotta love the Mick!!..

[@jacenoley2597]

I've been listening to Mickey Mantle interviews and he is one of the nicest entertaining guys I've ever heard. Back in the old days baseball stars like Mickey were paid good salaries but not outrageous salaries like today. You could understand and accept that they were paid more than you, but there was not the feeling that it was way beyond reason like it is today.

[@Kk-fc5jw]

This brought tears to my eyes…..he could of played a little longer but his drinking took over……… he is the greatest to ever play……the Babe is #2

[@JamesSmith-qj9kd]

I can't afford to attend a Jimmy Buffert concert let alone a MLB baseball game .

[@alanbercovitz840]

Seeing him play at Fenway Park early 1960's one of the highlights of my childhood. What they say about he's the only player that the peanut sellers stopped selling peanuts to watch him bat is true. Here he was in enemy territory and there was a tension throughout the stadium every time he came up to bat. I've seen a lot of other great players, was at the stadium in SF when Bonds hit his 700th, etc.-no other player generated anywhere near the tension that Mantle did. Never saw a check swing, it was a vicious rip or nothing. One game he hit home runs his 1st two at bats, then a single, then Dick Radditz stuck him out in the rain. Great memories.

[@skywoof7]

In game 3 of the 1957 WS, Brave 2nd baseman Red Schoendienst landed squarely w/his full weight on Mantle's right shoulder on a pick-off play at 2B. Long story short, Mantle's shoulder was never the same again and he was never able to swing a bat from the left-side without incorporating a bad hitch he developed in order to continue hitting left-handed. As it turned out, this created all sorts of problems for Mickey hitting certain pitchers such as submariners generally, and Dick Radditz in particular. Radditz was a huge guy who sort of slung the ball up to the plate side-armed w/plenty of juice and rising action on his fastball. As I remember it, Radditz owned Mantle because Mickey couldn't get on top of that pitch quickly enough. Most people were aware of all the problems Mantle had throughout his career with his legs, but that right shoulder injury really hindered him throughout the rest of his career as well. The fact that he virtually never worked out, drank a lot of his meals, and rarely if ever took care of himself also contributed to his precipitous decline during his final couple of years playing. Regardless, he was just about the most complete player I ever saw, and that still holds to this day. As far as I was concerned and for much of my youth, a Mickey Mantle a/b was the most exciting moment in sports.

[@lynneferencik1378]

what a memory that must be for you!

[@alanras370]

Mantle was a superbly complete player. Wasn't he the fastest in the majors down to first when batting left-handed? Obviously had the most raw power, and a great ability to deliver when needed most. Yet I have to say, if the topic is "completeness," Mantle was a fast-footed solid defensive player, but he wasn't in Willie Mays' league defensively and neither was anybody else. They weren't even close. Mays was a better base stealer and regarded as the best base runner overall of his time. Also his intangible enthusiasm was infectious beyond, I've read and heard, anyone else in the game. I'm sure Mays wouldn't loved to trade teams with Mantle, and Mantle would've loved to trade bodies with Mays so he didn't have to play in pain. Another large disadvantage Mays had was playing in a bad park where the wind robbed him of about 100 home runs

[@jamesburke3929]

@@alanras370 Whitey said Yankee stadium robbed Mick of at least 200 HR's

[@joesmith-jb4ls]

Mickey. My all time favorite

[@shawngregory1429]

Good interview eventhough this was during a dark time in the Micks life

[@bradmcminn]

All present day baseball players owe Mickey Mantle and those like him for their huge salaries. They kept baseball relevant in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. P

[@29MAF]

the stories had me rolling

[@jackvanderpool3417]

Must have been tough for Bob Costas to do that interview. No one was a bigger fan than Bob. Grew up Loving Mickey.

[@tonyguadagno6917]

Wow , Still makes me smile!

[@Missditabomb]

Love Mickey's laugh.

[@lavoisierhobbes1607]

Gotta love the Mick's country boy charm: "I caught 'eem cheatin' at cards"

[@in2rock275]

Upper Deck signed Mantle to do autograph sessions at sports collectibles shows in the early 90's. He never could understand why grown men cried when they got to meet him. We understand Mick.

[@Frank_Cohen]

1:19 we know, now, he's not "just kidding." This interview is remarkably candid, requiring little ability to read between the lines. Stories not as humorous but more fascinating given what we know now. Great document

[@billgreen6263]

This is GOLD !!!

[@larryagrapides9790]

The Legend!

[@Hemingway2go]

So charming.

[@mrmiked6577]

Can you imagine being so nonchalant to say "So, I'd like to thank Tom Hanks and Mickey Mantle for being here tonight" ??? LMAO!! #Legends

[@caveman3096]

And tomorrow night we will have Jay Leno (future time slot rival! Ha!)

[@josephdellaselva484]

Oh Mick!! Don't tell that story.

[@jeffcesnik2830]

great stories mick amazing center fielder

[@angelorollo3350]

I will always love Mickey Mantle!

[@jeannineroberton4019]

Legend, Hero

[@qtpysusie54]

So down to earth :-)

[@johnnyjohnson157]

Greatest baseball player ever,

[@johnnyjohnson157]

Their both two of the best ever.

[@clouddweller1195]

That is right!

[@skywoof7]

He wasn't, but he very well could have been. He's certainly in the conversation for one of the most complete players ever. Just was hurt too often and didn't really work at taking care of himself. Quite the contrary actually. Had Mantle been healthy and focused, he potentially could have owned the baseball record book. I'll miss Mickey Mantle forever!

[@depaola63]

Hr even said Willie was the best!

[@Veal44]

If he didn't have the knee injury/alcoholism bar none the best ball player ever.my fathers favourite player so I really idolize the man...

[@DanielLDees]

Love the Mick, forever.

[@frankc.9345]

This is when David was at his best never missed his show

[@joeyd1957]

I love The Mick

[@garysimone4977]

Guy was my hero

[@waynej2608]

There was only one Mickey Mantle. A true legend!

[@kellienicolebrooksschettin6598]

Thanks Dave the real Mick,he got Moxy,what its a soda,you didn t know,well thanks grown up with family from Brooklyn and jersey a Mets fan and Yankees fan too if I'm allowed to say that...Mickey Mantle was one of the great legends of baseball,I only had some rare photos my uncle was in the press,former pro football player gave me,so I don't know much about him,nice to see some live video of him,cool bean,thanks...I love this intranet stuff it freaking beautiful...I'm just crazy for juice...ESPN crazy commercials...piece out

[@cowboysfan782008]

I was born in 1968 so Mantle was before my time but I always had older friends with even older brothers, and I started seriously collecting BB cards around 1974/75, and Mantle was still a very big name when trading. Eventually I had a pretty good collection and I also had "Every" complete set from 1970-1979, and I forget exactly what I paid but back then you could buy a complete set for a pretty small amount of money, $250? My favorite year was 1975 when the cards had very colorful borders.

[@Missditabomb]

Longest standing ovation David Letterman ever gave a guest.

[@enriquedomingueziglesias5035]

Que alegria para mi ver aqui en U.S.A, ,a este gran pelotero de los Yankees Mickey Mantle,bendiciones ,5:46PM,7/10/2018,Raleigh,NC.

[@porkfrog2785]

an awe-struck, childlike Dave, grinning from ear to ear...brought back to earth by the 'gun to the head' story...wow...that's good TV

[@rpinpr61]

Yankees, tradition and the Mick.

[@MrBagui-ll6jx]

This was Mickey Mantle alive on 1985 year, but until to 1995 year , he passed away on 1995 year, that's 10 years later. It's amazing alive.

[@mrearlygold]

Besides my Dad of course, Mickey was my childhood hero, then in my teenage years Muhammad Ali became my hero. I'd like to think I picked 3 of the greatest people in the world in my 1st 15 or so years on the planet to admire.

[@jerradmechals1]

Wow this was cool

[@joeambrose3260]

They headed up the eastern seaboard and ended up in Cincinnati, that's some detour!

[@Cristian-vm1bg]

and still gave credit to roger. Man what it must've been like to be a yankees fan that year...

[@mattes7844]

"I'd like to thank Tom Hanks and Mickey Mantle for being here...tomorrow nigh, Jay Leno"

[@danielburns6634]

Miss you Mickey... You lived your life with no regrets.

[@wolfsden3812]

Love Mickey

[@marshaevelyn1]

There is something in the Oklahoma water because both Mantle and Johnny Bench are of the same sense of humour and both are homespun story tellers.

[@Mr5thWave]

Seven of my 64 years were spent in Oklahoma. I love that state. If only it had a beach, lol.

[@bigshash9946]

Great storyteller.

[@mrlafayette1964]

I'm reading the book, lively and entertaining and in his own words.

[@DanielLDees]

The Magnificent Mickey

[@yankees4ever504]

WE LOVE 'YA MICK!!

[@thaynerasmussen2083]

Mantle4ever My favorite player. When the news paper was delivered me and my brothers eagerly sought to find out how he did!⚾️⚾️👍😍👌

[@damianfurino3691]

Agreed!

[@donaldbricker625]

Love the Mick

[@tedtimothy9074]

We went to a game at Tiger Stadium. Mickey had announced his retirement and this was to be his final appearance in Detroit. The pitcher was Denny McClain. When Mickey came to bat, McClain motioned that he was going to groove a pitch right down the middle. Mickey didn't believe him, but McClain did what he said. Mickey didn't swing. he just watched the pitch float past him. On the next pitch, McClain did the same thing. This time Mickey swung and hit a home run. The crowd went crazy. Mickey rounded the bases. When he reached home plate, he looked at McClain and tipped his hat. The next batter was Joe Pepitone. Pepitone looked at McClain and motioned for the same treatment that Mickey got. McClain threw a fast ball right at his head.

[@gb2828]

Your story is 100% "spot on" - I was at the same game !! -

[@tedtimothy9074]

@@gb2828 We were sitting around third base in the second deck

[@kyokogodai-ir6hy]

That book (The Mick) is an awesome read.

[@baldilocks1914]

Class guy the mick!

[@josephcarpenter6921]

Mickey

[@piggsy9349]

Everyone stand for the greatest mlb player that ever lived.

[@slickraider5027]

The Commerce Comet is still the greatest that ever stepped up to the plate. In a 100 years from now when baseball is the subject 9:31 ct the names of Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle will be brought up. RIP The Mick.

[@roadtrip2943]

You can see Mickey cracking jokes with mark Scott on home run derby

[@1badhaircut]

Imagine being a 21 year-old rookie and having to replace the legendary Joe D?!

[@gavinwatkins6526]

imagine a 25 year old didi filling in for derek jeter

[@chrisyaz9417]

Gavin Watkins harder replacing joe-d

[@jimtruscott5670]

19 year old rookie

[@jackcraig4268]

DiMaggio wasn’t that nice to him. But when Mantle was the star he often took some scared rookie to dinner.......

[@df5295]

Let's go knock back some foams! 🤣

[@drumsport]

I have a t-shirt listing The Mick's 10 longest home runs. Only Mark McGwire cracked the list at #8 at 535 ft. Mick's longest was 630 ft., and the one that hit the facade in left field at Yankee Stadium reportedly was still rising! Could have gone 700 ft. A $40m player in today's market.

[@drumsport]

Sorry.........just checked the shirt. Mick's longest, verifiable shot was 660 ft.!

[@roadtrip2943]

Them 1950s ballparks had huge dimensions to center field. Yankee stad, tiger, cleveland muni, Philadelphia

[@clydeb7713]

Mickey was old school. He loved the game and it showed. Those guys in his era were great because they didn't play for the money.

[@racmonti]

And Mick didn't juice

[@clydeb7713]

Ruth Ann Monti Do you have any evidence of your claims?

[@karlbork6039]

Coolest guy ever.

[@MJ-pk4gh]

Mickey was the best!

[@caseyjones2818]

The MICK, LOVE IT

[@josephdellaselva484]

Did Diane Brill ever get on the show, David? Take care of that will you?

[@greghuntjr.8284]

#7

[@elbrianoboesito9632]

RIP Mic,Whitey and Billy!!

[@MrDevin62]

He is the coolest, most beautiful man aside from being a great baseball player. Also, he's my cousin!

[@gracom1977]

Really? Pretty cool

[@MrDevin62]

As The Mick would say, "Yup!"

[@balerjohnson3099]

You must be from the same area as me .

[@jasminewashington5953]

Yes really beautiful

[@baldilocks1914]

Terri Vogt I call BS

[@robfreeman5783]

@3:45 "Good place to eat, and everything." The laughter at that is kind of painful. Everybody knew. On a completely unrelated note, can we just be in awe of the fact that Mickey Mantle said, in 1985, that Tom Hanks was a tough act to follow?

[@thomasvalentineholick4942]

WONDERFUL VALENTINEMAUI BLESSINGS GOLDEN ANGELS. ALOHA TRUTH SERUM WISDOM HELPING HUMANITY TODAY.

[@HereIStandNow]

"Tomorrow night... Jay Leno..."

[@MelvinMansoor]

Never forget Seinfeld about Mantle dunking his donuts

[@chefrobert987]

It was DiMaggio., Not Mick, dunking his donuts.

[@jamesburke3929]

Kramer punched Mickey . I remember that episode

[@scottmclaughlin5221]

Best story- After the 1956 season (Triple Crown winner) Mantle was asked to take a pay cut!

[@dennisbresee5403]

Mantle made 100,000 his last year

[@beautifulearth4165]

Ah the good ole days before Colbert screwed it up.

[@rickrick5041]

The interview was much too short.

[@rickrick5041]

What a player! When he came to bat you were spellbound like you knew something was going to happen and it often did.

[@austinstratman1809]

Mickey And James Dean born in the same year 1931.

[@browningautomatic2393]

GREAT VIDEO ! THURSDAY 7/6/23 JULY 6, 2023

[@robertbroatch4263]

So natural, down to earth, my fave player.His interview with Bob Costa is much more revealing, interesting, touching.

[@pauliej22]

The headline that would of ended his career.. Mickey Mantle drunk shoots wife in head "

[@damianfurino3691]

Please consider the following: Mickey was kidding!

[@damianfurino3691]

Paul Juliano Please don't throw stones at a Legend.

[@tangobango9653]

The Mick was very good at “Night Games” & it wasn’t baseball.

[@karenmccaffrey1975]

❤️love the Yankees!!!