Hank Aaron, Leo Durocher, Mickey Mantle and Tom Gorman talk baseball with Dick Cavett in 1979 (PBS)

[@clifforddriver9434]

Dick Cavett understood the moment better than anyone with a microphone. With the opportunity to interview a living legend. He never missed.

[@rstefanie2622]

Simply amazing. 1) Leo Durocher was in attendance for Babe's called shot in 1932 & Bobby Thompson's shot heard around the world. His description of both events is simply amazing. I had never heard of the Mark Koenig 1/2 share story. His description of Ruth not being able to relay signs is also a great secret of baseball history. 2) Hank Aaron was pure class. I also feel he was slighted in this interview but Mickey kept drawing him into the conversation just shows how Mickey was truly a great team mate with his fellow ballplayers. 3) Mickey was very entertaining here & was a good story teller. Great footage...thank you for posting this gem.

[@spy1965]

I immensely enjoyed this interview. Durocher is hilarious. Thanks for sharing it.

[@GeorgeVreelandHill]

This is not just an interview. This is history.

[@felixmadison5736]

For a 74 year-old baseball junkie like me this is pure heaven.

[@davidschwartz2763]

I have a new appreciation for Leo Durocher, honestly. He seems incredibly respected by the majority of those he managed and had his finger on the pulse of the people he mentored. I love great storytellers with their own flair and style, and he had that in aces, too. I never really watched many interviews with Mickey because as a Milwaukee fan growing up and to this day, the big clubs always get the attention. But now I feel like I cheated myself out of knowing how modest and sharing of a player he was, which was indicative of his constantly trying to put light on Hank. I loved the ump being included in this talk, too. The stories they must have are priceless.

[@4noonww]

I could not agree more, what a gem. An eyewitness account of two of baseball's most historic moments and of Babe Ruth, every word by Leo drew me in more

[@Stewbie63]

Geeez...Leo was one hell of a story teller and historian. His ability for detail was amazing.

[@ralphshelley9586]

Hank Aaron a class act player with no weaknesses!

[@J0EYbagaDONUTS]

As a New Yorker every kid I knew wanted #7 on the back of their Little League jersey . Mickey was a class player . A players player . A great teammate to all and my personal childhood hero .

[@robertpoen5383]

Cavett didn't let Mickey finish the story. When Casey was done testifying to Congress, and after Mickey was sworn it, he was asked to comment on the the antitrust exemption, and Mantle replied, "What Casey said."

[@edwardklintworth2004]

Thanks for editing and taking the commercials out, really good.

[@AmericasChoice]

38:00. Mick calling Henry Aaron probably the best all round ball player ever. High praise. Hank was a great fielder and base runner in addition to being such an amazing batter.

[@Pittie21]

Say Hey was my GOAT

[@AmericasChoice]

@@Pittie21 Durocher called him the best Centerfielder ever.

[@psiclops521]

The best interviews with groups like this are where the interviewer shuts up and just lets them reminisce, because then you get all the good stories.

[@rogerrambo4172]

UK fan new to Baseball here. I LOVE Mickey Mantle, I discovered him before falling in love with the game so I'm a Yankees fan. You can see what a naturally great man he was in this interview, I love the way he helps Durocher out when it looks like his mouth is about to get him in trouble.

[@chlduiowks]

Leo the Lip. Gotta love him. Saw so much in his career, and loves to talk.

[@TommyDimopoulos]

From a man who loves the game, seeing these gentlemen on one stage is incredible. Always loved and watched the Dick Cavett show. Thought he was the best interviewer of his time. However, this was not one of those times. Clueless about the about the game of baseball and frequently interrupted the guests. Mr. Aaron was always the epitome of class and Mickey being Mickey always downplayed his accomplishments and repeatedly showered praise on Mr. Aaron. One superstar admiring another. Great to see.

[@tristollefson1461]

Great interview! Loved baseball from the past!!

[@buddmannable]

Look up the definition of the word "Class"......you will see Mr. Aaron's picture...

[@krisscanlon4051]

Just in case you think Dick was too intellectual! Dick was just an amazing interviewer...no who was on...he brought the love out for these baseball heroes

[@ralphshelley9586]

Loved his show. He had style and wit.

[@paulsolon6229]

Micky is kind. Not to many qs to Hank, and several times micky draws hank into the conversation

[@lovedavantlamour301]

I get the feeling he liked Hank more than Willie , for somewhat obvious reasons

[@leoderosia9279]

When I was a kid people would ask if I was related to leo....some real legends here.

[@73Trident]

I liked it. Mick gave Hank his do as one of the greatest to ever play the game. But to this day nobody ever hit the ball as hard or farther than the Mick.

[@lgen2458]

I never saw Mickey Mantle play as I first started following Major league baseball in 1970 shortly after he retired in the spring of 1969...From the 1970 baseball season to the present (which is 52 baseball seasons) the player/hitter who hit the ball the hardest and farthest was Eddie Murray,who also like Mickey Mantle were/are the only switch hitters to hit over 500 home runs.

[@NewarkBay357]

@@lgen2458 Excellent point.

[@allanmacmillan7823]

@@lgen2458 I saw an aging Mantle in spring training in the early and mid 60s, saw Aaron beginning in '66 when the Braves moved to Atlanta (my hometown) and saw the entirety of Murray's career. No man hit the ball farther and harder than Willie McCovey.

[@AmericasChoice]

@@allanmacmillan7823 McCovey was a great player.

[@drbonesshow1]

Leo Durocher's greatest contribution to baseball was in not signing Herman Munster to a contract as Munster would have ruined every Major League ballpark. Look it up.

[@r3tr0actiongamer24]

Underrated comment

[@Scott-ly2nk]

Leo has a big ego you can tell i still dont see where everyone thought leo is the one that got willie going into the bigs hard to believe a complete ball player such as willie would need leo s help

[@jgrau5089]

Durocher's greatest contribution to baseball was the way he handled the Jackie Robinson debut.

[@drbonesshow1]

@@jgrau5089 Forgive me as I have a sense of humor. The Munsters. Look it up.

[@allanmacmillan7823]

@@drbonesshow1 Mr. Ed hit an inside-the-park homer off of Sandy Koufax. You can look that up too.

[@pianopappy]

At 39:38 Cavett and Mickey Mantle talk about Mantle's manager, Casey Stengel, and Stengel's testimony before the Senate Anti-Trust and Monopoly Subcommittee in Washington on July 9, 1958. Senator Estes Kefauver, the subcommittee chairman, couldn't get a straight answer from Stengel, who responded in what was often called "Stengelese; that is, meandering responses which went way off the subject and frequently made no sense. As Mantle indicated on this program, he followed Stengel on the stand. What Mickey didn't get to say on this program was how he responded to Kefauver's first question--which was, “Mr. Mantle, do you have any observations with reference to the applicability of the anti-trust laws to baseball?” Mantle replied, "“My views are just about the same as Casey’s." You can read more about it at: www.historynet.com/encounter-casey-stengel-filibusters-estes-kefauver.htm

[@adamdorgant9454]

At 32:02, they start talking about the Book Ball Four, which was a great Book to read and Laugh out Loud Funny!!!!

[@oldtimer794]

I read that the judge asked Mickey what happened. He said, "I think Roy Rogers rode in and the guy got kicked in the head by Trigger."

[@pearldiver1006]

I watch the Mick hit the first Homer back 1965 in the astrodome over the 406 sign. It was a towering blast that followed the arc of the dome. Ask frank Howard who hit the hardest line drives in baseball.

[@davidperez2536]

These guys are awesome

[@dennisnardone5009]

Tom Gorman -- A wonderful respect and love of the game.

[@benpagano7603]

So awesome thank you

[@charleswinokoor6023]

Durocher tells that funny story about how Dizzy Dean would go into a visitor’s dugout and tell them they might as well cancel their meeting. He then would tell them exactly how he was going to pitch to each player. Does anyone else who had that kind of confidence come to mind? Larry Bird, of course. Cavett was an excellent interviewer, but he could sometimes be too cute and clever, which was the case with this baseball bunch.

[@robertsprouse9282]

Its called getting them into a conversational mode..and RICK MORANIS of SCTV did an absolutely hysterical impression of CAVETT and DICK's sidebars with the esoteric theatrical field related references.

[@NewarkBay357]

My favorite baseball hero of all time is Mickey Mantle. Hank Aaron is a definition of class. Tom Gorman is almost a caricature but exudes the essence of honesty. Those kids that Cavett was giving the advice to are around 40 years old in 2022. If anybody was close in style to Leo Durocher, it was Billy Martin, who was actually the better Manager of the two.

[@steveborkowski4330]

Always hoped Martin would manage the Cubs.

[@TheBatugan77]

Martin also got a World Series winning base hit. He was clutch.

[@wayne8276]

Good stuff.

[@lgen2458]

The top dozen players from 1960 to the present were Hank Aaron,Willie Mays,Frank Robinson,Mickey Mantle,Roberto Clemente,Johnny Bench,Mike Schmidt,Ricky Henderson,George Brett,Eddie Murray,Brooks Robinson,and Reggie Jackson.

[@NewarkBay357]

What about Mike Trout? He will be among the All-Time Greats.

[@Scott-ly2nk]

Dont forget dick allen the man got a bad rap

[@J3MOdh3NOWX3S]

Pete rose, Ken griffey jr ?

[@teetoo3790]

David Ortiz for the clutch hitting in the playoffs and World Series is up there.

[@Redmenace96]

Mr. Aaron is such a class act. Mantle is suggesting that he was on his way to 755, long before sportsfans realized it. Baseball, today, is pretty much garbage. Would be helpful if a man such as Mr. Aaron could play and be the face of the league.

[@fenwayify]

Baseball today is not garbage. It's filled with a group of players and coaches far more diverse than these folks saw at the start of their careers. The top players earn huge salaries, but most of them worked their way up from meager beginnings, including earning paltry pay in the minors. Aaron stands out for his sheer dignity as a human being. During the early days of baseball integration, black players (who mostly were among the most talented, else they wouldn't even be in the league) didn't have the luxury to fool around like Mantle and Ford (or Ruth) or they'd be gone in an instant. The era these baseball figures represent also was mostly or at least partly before free agency, meaning they were essentially owned by their ball clubs. Baseball today, has been passed by, with its methodical pace and lengthy season. The game is actually still wonderful in its nuance, but fewer fans remain who recognize it or care. Like in the film, Field of Dreams, baseball has and does mark the passage of time, but such markers have lost import in a world of growing hostility and division, facing existential crises like pandemics, climate change, mass shootings and endless war. Now everybody wants instant everything. Delaying gratification once reflected maturity and showed character...such attributes today are for losers...so many easy choices at the flick of a button.

[@robertsprouse9282]

@@fenwayify, CLIMATE CHANGE? So, when did the climate begin to change? When was it not changing? What happened to AL GORE's declarations in his movie? Why have the computer models been inaccurate so much? Coming to fruition, rarely, at that; why? AND WHILE YOU ARE LOOKING THAT UP.. read DR. MARK IMISIDES refutation of climate "change" formerly known as GLOBAL WARMING AND THE NEW ICE AGE, by using physics' and thermodynamics mathematical formulas. You can find that in the fall issue of SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPE MAGAZINE. If you don't know, find out what a JOULE is. And, by all means, democrat, debate me on climate "change". 😉

[@robertsprouse9282]

@@fenwayify, and Baseball today is garbage: VIRTUALLY A THREE OUTCOME GAME ONLY FILLED WITH THIRD RATE HITTERS AND PITCHERS. PITCHING IS ANYTHING BUT DEEP..its why the same five to 8 guys vie for the CY YOUNG AWARD, every season. You can name consistently great sub-26 year old pitchers on one hand.. Meanwhile, on offense.. Strikeout, homerun, or popout/flyout= three outcomes. Rarely do you see triples, and individual 40 doubles seasons anymore, and most guys average about 125 strikeouts a year, with some around 180-200 or more..Where are the 200+hits guys? Walks have become in priportions to strikeouts almost archaic. Strikezone discipline is at an all-time low. The players are about the money they get from jacked up homerun numbers, and pitchers are the same with strikeouts. You say diverse players, but U.S. BLACKS have virtually stopped playing the game. Basketball and football have completely overtaken it in the black community and with only 8 percent as opposed to 25 percent in as recently as 1980, of U.S. black players in MLB, all of the Dominicans, P. RICANS, VENEZUELANS, MEXICANS, and CUBANS along with ASIANS, in the world, cannot make up for that lack of the demographic that owns most of the offensive records in hardball= U.S. BLACKS. Nope.. YOUR MOVE..

[@fenwayify]

@@robertsprouse9282 Arguing climate change is what you drew from my comment? I was simply expressing the enormity of the state of affairs currently facing us, as well as the complex multitude of issues that distract us and demand our attention; nothing new. On climate change, it matters little that change is a normal part of its process, nor to what extent humans are causing it. It is simply the accelerated rate it is occurring and what are the consequences. The extent to which humans and animals are migrating due to lack of food/water security reflects serious threats, perhaps already dire. Can anything be done to mitigate the severity of change is the real issue. Of course Dr. Imisides and other skeptics (like you) will say otherwise to the bitter end...

[@robertsprouse9282]

@@fenwayify, you haven't got the guts to read that issue of SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPE, nor look at climate computer models' accuracy, nor answer any of my refutations, YOU JUST passively aggressively play the "WHY ARE YOU DEBATING my point? I barely mentioned it." No, you assumed the sale. And, the "ITS COMPLEX" schtick shows me you'll petitfog the issue to save being refuted out of your point and to show you cannot refute. So, stop playing games. You brought up climate change first, and stop pretending its settled science. This heretic aint buying your act. AGAIN, I WILL ASK in a different way: When did the climate ever not change? How many climates around the world have never changed until capitalistic industry, errrr fossil fuels consumption and agri-capitalism errrrr, cow flatulence? Name days, times and years, and number of climates. YOUR MOVE, GENIUS.. If you can.

[@r3tr0actiongamer24]

3:32 it's actually .247 batting average 6:25 Top 5 MLB Manager ejections 5. Tony La Russa 87 4/3. Leo Durocher Earl Weaver 94 2. John McGraw 132 1. Bobby Cox 161

[@chadchesney3858]

Neat show. But I wanted to hear from Mickey and Hank. Hank hardly got a word in.

[@oughtssought1198]

Dick Cavett seems to forget Henry Aaron is there Mantle keeps bringing him into the conversation

[@mcgurkryans]

250?? That’s hard as hell

[@danwroy]

Scott Weiland in a cowboy hat, and now, Dick Cavett with a baseball mitt

[@lovedavantlamour301]

I don’t know if he was just joking around or if dick genuinely did not understand certain things about baseball the way some of his questions implied , but it made for a great show regardless , he’s my favorite talk show host , and probably the best to ever do it

[@minnesotafats8140]

Just one of those insanely Athletic white guys from the Midwest like Joe Namath, John Riggins, Tommy Morrison, etc..

[@pearldiver1006]

Remember the Mick was not a big guy. I think he was 5'10" and 185 to 205lbs.

[@JamesJones-bd1jg]

Mickey had powerful arms and wrists. Also his legs and hips. He had a strong solid body which was perfect for being a power hitter.

[@AmericasChoice]

@@JamesJones-bd1jg Yup, he was built like a full back. And his forearms were huge.

[@JamesJones-bd1jg]

Mickey had huge for arms. He also had a solid butt which meant he could really get into a pitch. He was just a superb athlete.

[@dennishill8356]

Racist Dodger Player: We have a petition saying we don't want to play with a black ballplayer. Durocher: "I don't care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a fucking zebra. I'm the manager of this team and I say he plays."

[@gstlb]

Too bad Cavett interrupted Mickey asking about Ruth as a pitcher 😢

[@Scott-ly2nk]

Leo and lasorda have the same. Big head lasorda was something like 1-10 with a era of about 5.90. But you hear him talk he struck out everyone

[@richardpeetrinpeetrin9817]

Dick Cavett("D.C."), "King Of the Intellectuals"!😮

[@markko17]

Leo "forgets" to mention that the reason the Giants got so hot the last 50 or so games of the 1951 season is because they had a guy out in center field bleachers/scoreboard with binoculars stealing the other teams signs.

[@jgrau5089]

How did he passed on the signals? Bunch of BS

[@Grandpa_Moses]

@@jgrau5089 No it's true they did, it's been documented

[@AmericasChoice]

@@Grandpa_Moses Old as the game itself, any advantage you could get...

[@MrMakemyday3]

leo the lip

[@paulsolon6229]

Cavett catches ball weirdly. He never played the game. The ball comes to your glove, you don’t put the glove to the ball

[@TheBatugan77]

@paul 👈😆 You bend over to catch balls.

[@lovedavantlamour301]

Tell that to Rickey “ snatch “ Henderson

[@TheBatugan77]

You're not going to believe this: on that stage are the first & last Yankees to wear #7. Look it up!

[@vedicastrologyteacher]

Cringey but a sign of the times: "We get one who can't even run", and "They all can run except this one" - "He's a slow one" - talking about Elston Howard the first "black one" the Yankees ever had. They actually said "black one" several times. Leo Durocher even hints that he called Don Newcombe (a black man) every name in the book trying to get him to fight him - almost literally admitting he called him THE racial slur. He says (to paraphrase) "I called him everything trying to get him to fight me - you know what I mean Henry". You know that includes the "N" word. 49:00 There was no malice intended or offense taken in those remarks. But looking at it now, it looks bad.

[@AmericasChoice]

20 years from now people will same the same thing about you. Tmes change. Maybe you should just try and relax...

[@34Packardphaeton]

I despised Leo Durocher: he was an unpleasant schmoozer, imo.

[@TheBatugan77]

GivesAShit what you despise? Zip it pinhead.

[@richardmiqueli2385]

Mantle and Aaron the most spectacular athletes there and deroucher wouldn’t shut up.

[@TheBatugan77]

Cavett didn't invite Durocher on his TALK SHOW to shut up. You weren't invited. So shut up.