Mickey Mantle - interview - Later with Bob Costas 10/20/91 New York Yankee

N.Y. Yankee slugger MICKEY MANTLE is interviewed on LATER WITH BOB COSTAS which aired on October 20th, 1991. #mickeymantle #bobcostas #interview #baseball #billymartin #whiteyford #rogermaris #newyorkyankees
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[@rogerdvorak6045]

When I was a kid Mickey Mantle was my hero. I'm 80 years old now.

[@vmarc4682]

Me too. I could never understand why he was booed all the time. Mickey was right when he said he was more popular and loved after he retired. It must have been very stressful playing under those conditions.

[@garywilson5733]

Mickey Mantle, what an Icon. So talented, so humble. Thanks #7.

[@sananto6896]

Mantle was an awesome player who wins the triple crown with amazing numbers, yet he is as humble as can be.

[@williammasselink]

What a legend. Hated him and the Yankees as a Tigers fan growing up, naturally, but what an incredibly talented and colorful player that did so much for the game.

[@jeffduquette4345]

Bob Costas was a pro at interviewing... he keeps things friendly and interesting. Like talking to a friend!!!!

[@ClevelandLiveMusic]

My favorite interviewer

[@bhupeshdihenia6514]

There was something special about Mantle. He was flawed human with insane baseball gifting. His love for baseball ⚾️ is what I share with him. Costas has genuine love for baseball too.

[@dennis3178]

Baseball gifting?

[@peterheiman8621]

I was at the Memorial Day 1956 game when Mantle hit the facade the first time. His previous at bat he beat out a bunt. Definition of complete player.

[@username-zj9id]

I agree. There's never been a guy who had the power to hit the ball out of the stadium and also had the speed to beat out a bunt. And he could do either from both sides of the plate. I'd love to have seen him run before the knee injury in 1951. He may have been the fastest baseball player ever AND the most powerful.

[@MrRufusRToyota]

@@username-zj9id Bo Jackson was the other.

[@username-zj9id]

@@MrRufusRToyota bo had amazing potential, but I don't believe he ever actually hit a ball out of a stadium or beat out a bunt.

[@pianopappy]

@@username-zj9id He came the closest to hitting it out of Yankee Stadium; and, he became the first to hit what people started calling "tape-measure" homeruns after he hit a ball over 500 feet out of Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC off pitcher Chuck Stobbs. He also beat out several bunts his rookie season.

[@username-zj9id]

@@pianopappy I know. I was talking about bo Jackson

[@mikeguthrie5432]

I was pleasantly surprised when Bob Costas had the interview with Mickey Mantle back in '91. I had always known that Mantle was a heck of a player, but at that time I was a San Diego Padres fan and I thought we had some good players too. But what got me in this interview was that he, Mantle, was so "down to earth" and un boastful about himself. I'm thinking he was indeed one of the "BEST"!

[@Bill-jc1fy]

Growing up I was a huge Yankee fan. I was at a game at the old Yankee Stadium in 58 otr 59 and Mickey had been out for 3 or 4 weeks on the dl and in about the 7th inning he came up to pinch hit and the crowd went nuts and gave him a 10 minute standing ovation. As soon as we all sat down he blasted a home run and the crowd erupted again. Mickey was the most popular guy in New York.

[@nickcupkovic5721]

I met him in front of his restaurant in 57th st 1985 I said Mickey let's do a shot and he obliged What a great moment in the history of life!

[@TicklerDude]

Congrats, you contributed to his liver failure and eventual death

[@MrFranconn]

Mickey has such great stories. Costa is a great interviewer.

[@dzanier]

Costas idolized Mantle. It’s hard to even describe the degree to which so many considered Mantle their hero.

[@MrFranconn]

@@dzanier yes he did. I remember when he did a show with Mickey and Mays. When introduced, everyone gave them a standing ovation. Except one person, it was Gibson. He said something like, hell I may have to knock them down again. I LMAO

[@genehollon1472]

In a two or three hour KILL TIME conversation , MICKEY had some "INTERESTING " stories to tell. I SURELY remember sharing that with him in 1980, in boston, while we waited for a scheduled public appearence.

[@MrFranconn]

@@genehollon1472 not sure what you are talking about. In1980 I was in New Haven, but did go to Boston for a WE of fun.

[@thomasstengel7356]

My dad's favorite player when he was a kid. I'm pushing 50 now and he still tells me Mantle stories. It's endearing how self deprecating Mickey was but it's also a bit sad that he, possibly, didn't fully realize the impact he had on fathers and sons and their shared love of baseball.

[@billysikes1374]

He was my dad's guy, im 47 now, dad died in 94, he was only 44, He is the reason I collect Mantle cards, the greatest ball player ever

[@ForlornFreddy]

Love this interview. It was really moving that Mickey paid tribute to Gehrig in his speech.

[@SteveBrant55]

One of the great interviews I've ever seen! Mickey Mantle was both the greatest and a humble, kind-hearted guy. Never fought with anyone. So many lessons here for today. Thanks for uploading this!

[@ClevelandLiveMusic]

Costas was a great interviewer...especially with Baseball players

[@edmerc92]

Unfortunately he waited too long to seek help for his alcoholism.

[@MarkTitus420]

For me Mickey, you're back and more popular and loved more than ever - only took me 50 years to realize that.

[@raoulbataller5454]

Few people became as precious to a whole generation of boys, the smile, the modesty, the reliable performance. All of us teenage boys in the '50s, stepping to the plate at recess at our elementary schools, declared before we hit, "I'm Mickey Mantle." We all wanted to be. We still do. I turn on reruns of old ball games just for a glimpse of him at bat, one more time. It brings that much back.

[@robert3350]

The greatest!

[@gsracer8]

I met and chatted with Micky (my childhood hero) in the 80's. When he shook my hand it was like a bear claw.

[@fenwayify]

What strikes me about this interview is the level of sincerity Mantle expresses. He seemed to have such a basic decency about him, with a wonderful sense of humor. When he challenges Bob, offering his watch as a prize, you can see the level of joy and rapport he had with others, apparently even more so with teammates, particularly Martin and Ford. Still, it's hard not to think of the pain and regret he felt regarding his alcoholism-being a good, noble, superstar athlete doesn't make you immune to the human condition...Mantle knew Costas adored him and always carried his rookie card in his wallet. I love watching these old "Later" shows. Costas is a superb, well prepared interviewer. I wish he'd come back and do more...

[@johnsilva7852]

My sentiments exactly

[@nkmason8284]

He’s back on HBO max

[@fenwayify]

@@nkmason8284 Yes, and his first show featured an interview with Aly Raisman that was as compelling and uncompromising as any of his Later show work. Costas is not just bright, he's well informed about the topics most relevant for his guests. As a result, I think they feel respected and trusting when talking with him. With that trust comes insight you rarely find on TV...I sure hope this new show lasts...

[@gredw6733]

I was fortunate enough to see Mickey Mantle play in person one time. It was in the summer of 1965, near the end of his career. I could see that he played with pain. I clearly remember two plays. The first was a line drive to center hooking away that he tracked down with a burst of acceleration. The second was beating out an infield hit with his spikes clawing the baseline dirt out behind him. He was clearly special. It's hard to describe.

[@lovedavantlamour301]

Bob costas is such a great host , and it’s almost startling the way he looks one age and seemingly has photographic recall of an entirely different era in baseball when Mickey asks about the watch

[@christmilesis7077]

Mickey was my idol when I grew up in the 1950's. So much so that I practiced and became a switch-hitter myself in my teens and later during college ball at the University of Illinois. RIP Mickey.

[@ronherrera8327]

Mickey Mantle was my idol as a kid, I knew who Mickey Mantle was before I knew who the president was. What a great interview.

[@machinegunjackmcgurn7453]

My hero. Love you forever Mick.

[@r3tr0actiongamer24]

Hmm I'll just watch about 5 minutes of this...........annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd i watched the whole thing. Great interview

[@peek-a-moose2491]

How many times did I go to Yankee Stadium as a kid. I usually sat behind first base in the middle deck of the old Yankee Stadium. Occasionally, I sat behind third base. From there you could look inside the Yankee dugout. But I preferred first base becasue there was so much action there. Even when Mantle got into the on deck circle waiting for his turn at bat, the crowd would roar. RIP - Thanks for all the memories when baseball was great!!!

[@lothar52]

Mickey is so… SO… Down to earth. Ya feel like ya know him even if ya never meet him. God I hope he got a new knee in heaven and is playing some ball 🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️❤️

[@trock6577]

The amazing thing about Mantle was the enormous power he had and he was 6 feet 195 pounds. He wasn’t a huge guy though very strong. No one will ever hit a baseball farther than he did on many occasions. He will forever be a cherished part of my youth.

[@jermaf]

He had Popeye forearms.

[@garywhitt98]

And still had the record for fastest time to first base.

[@trock6577]

Gary Whitt I’ll put his 1956 season against anybody’s season in history. Imagine what he could have done with 2 healthy knees for his career and taking better care of himself.

[@garywhitt98]

@@trock6577 He was amazingly gifted: fast, strong, and ambidextrous. I’ve got to agree with you. The closest thing I can think of to his degree of talent is Ruth’s ability to pitch and hit better than any in the league.

[@machinegunjackmcgurn4188]

@@trock6577 If Mickey would have been healthy and taken care of himself, his Triple Crown numbers would have been achieved annually.

[@8044868]

A blind man could tell that it was Mantle's turn in the cage during batting practice just by the sound of his bat making contact with the ball.

[@nicholasdepina2944]

Sounds like a gun shot lol

[@user-tm7me1ef9l]

We had tickets to see the Yankees in 1963 in Detroit. Mick broke his foot in Baltimore 2 days before the game. The 7th game of the 1960 series was the only time my parents let me stay home from school. It was an exciting game, but heartbreaking for me and Mick. My aunt taught Mickey Jr. in Dallas.

[@getx1265]

Fortunate to have gotten to watch him play live once at Comiskey in May 1966 as the Yankees came to town. Of course, we were there early to watch all of batting practice.

[@josephpetrizzo3524]

Mickey mantle was the best center fielder in the 1950's, after joe DiMaggio retired he could hit for power, run like a deer, and had a cannon for an arm, i miss you mick R.I.P. AND GOD BLESS YOUR SOUL. ⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾

[@brupic8968]

mantle was my fave ball player and was the best for a few years in the mid '50s. not many pick him over mays.

[@RH-cv1rg]

Wasn't Willie Mays a centerfielder in the 1959s who hit more home runs than Mantle?

[@Breeder333]

I wasn't old enough to have seen him play but he is my favorite player of all time.

[@lovelessissimo]

Why

[@truthvibes3330]

@@lovelessissimo Theirs Babe Ruth and than theirs Mickey Mantle .

[@lovelessissimo]

@@truthvibes3330 why would you have a favorite player that you've never seen play? How can you find a bond in that? You can't root for them in games, or follow their stats. I'm not saying its wrong or stupid. I just don't get it.

[@jermaf]

I saw Mickey at the tail end of his career when he was a shell of his former self and he was my favorite player. He was larger than life.

[@MrFranconn]

@@lovelessissimo do you really have to ask? He was one of the best.

[@joshuahymer15]

Mickey Mantle. I can still remember being a little leaguer wanting to stand just like a Mickey did at the plate.

[@ClevelandLiveMusic]

I love baseball so much and feel I caught a golden era of 1968ish on

[@jimroth7386]

I remember Mickie Mantle as a Pittsburgh Pirates fan at 8 years old and remember seeing Yogi Berra watching Bill Mazorowski's homer sail over the left field wall in Forbes Field in Pittsburgh in game 7 of the 1960 world seried

[@jimallen8]

Great interview, great stories . .

[@brooklynwilbury4446]

Mickey Mantle hit his 7th MLB home run on ... 7/7/51 And the Yankees were seven runs behind when he hit it.

[@genehollon1472]

VERY interesting . I was in my junior year at high school.

[@rstefanie2622]

Not a Bob Costas fan here, but he was right about the long ovation for MM on MM Day. It was June 8, 1969 and I was sitting down the right field line (sect 23 Box D) lower level. There's actually a YT video of MM passing by us in the golf cart. One of the best days of my life.

[@williambobka5163]

Bob Costas is one of the best in the business

[@chlduiowks]

Bob is special. He knows his stuff.

[@mikedoran8513]

Mickey Mantle day at Yankee stadiim memorable speech by the great YANKEE CENTERFIELDER the crowd wouldn't let him speak for 10 minutes those YANKEE fans sure liked old #7

[@elcamino101]

Awesome interview

[@charleswinokoor6023]

Great interview, Bob.

[@chadtellevik5479]

Excellent interview

[@Horselessheadman703]

The pull of drinking is powerful..the night's last drink flows into tomorrow..

[@johnschmidt6431]

Great interview of the Mick !!!!!

[@emmgeevideo]

Mickey Mantle was my hero when I was a kid. I grew up in Kansas City but I was a Yankees fan. The A’s weren’t much to cheer for back then.

[@japanesereadingandwriting]

Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@Redmenace96]

I love Mickey Mantle. I love Mickey Mantle! He is a conflicting character, though. He is like your father. Love him, but eternally in conflict with him. He is an icon, beyond us mortals . (despite schilling watches)

[@mcelhinn]

When I was a kid, he was it. Everyone knew Mickey Mantle even when I was like 5.

[@isaaccervantes5955]

Wow I’d never seen this whole interview . Awesome

[@eli2times423]

Legend

[@bobmoss4016]

First week of June 1991...was staying at a hotel in Atlanta. Card Show at the hotel across the street. I saw Mantle....and that was that....

[@acousticshadow4032]

That watch bit at the end was hilarious! I got Kinder, once he said Boston; lucky guess.

[@RMBrumLtColonelretUSMC]

Saw him play in 1961 at old Tiger Stadium - hit two homers both left handed one against Jim Bunning - Tigers won 101 games and finished 8 games behind the Yankees. Many baseball historians consider that Tiger team the best 2nd place team in history. Cash won the batting title .361 with 41 HR’s and 132 RBI’s - Colavito hit 45 Homers with 140 RBI’s - Kaline finished 3rd in hitting with a .324 average - Frank Lary won 23 games - Bunning won 19 I think or 17 can’t remember.

[@mikebradshaw6484]

I was two years old in '61 and have heard that was the best Tiger team ever.

[@filemonruiz7363]

What a nice guy he was

[@jerrybrownell3633]

Back in the 60's The MLB game of the week always featured the Yankees. A lot of people got to see The Commerce Comet and all the other New York stars- Berra, Richardson, Boyer, Tresh, Kubek, Pepitone, Elston Howard, Ford, Maris etc. So a lot of kids grew up watching Mickey ply his trade.

[@Mandolin1944]

Just imagine his statistics if he had not ruined his left leg in his second season and if he had been playing at at time with players were actually fit and did not go drinking after every game. I really believe he had no equal.

[@texasstadium]

You will not see the likes of this man ever again.

[@clydeb7713]

Nobody EVER had better skills,NOBODY!

[@genehollon1472]

In 1980 I was in Boston for some noted occurence. It was storming and raining , a real uncomfortable day. Micky had a major part in the public presentation scheduled for after lunch I had a minor part, so we sat in the hotel room all morning laughing, joking etc. . We had mutual friends back in BIRMINGHAM ALA and killed time reminiscing and killing time. I had met a couple of U.S. presidents , but hardly remembered them. B U T I SURE REMEMBERED MICKEY MANTLE. I have never ask for an autograph from any one as I did not wish to be a bother to them. B U T, I sure wish I had gotten MICKEY'S AUTOGRAPH. HONESTLY, If I had asked Mickey for the shirt he was wearing, He would have REMOVED IT, GIVEN IT TO ME, and put on another shirt . I mentioned that to him , some years later, and he said " YOU SHOULD HAVE ASKED ME, I would have been tickled to gice you the shirt."-- 'WOW, THE MISTAKES WE MAKE !!!!!!!

[@genehollon1472]

OOPS !!! N O T giCe you the shirt," giVe you the shirt."

[@josephvilardo]

he is my all-time favorite !!!

[@opticscolossalandepicvideo4879]

Joseph vilardo he was a bad husband and father who beat up his wife and kids. Not a nice man

[@josephvilardo]

@@opticscolossalandepicvideo4879 I will always remember him for his spectacular accoomplishments, Joe Vilardo

[@user-bo8nb2mi]

With Mickey there you just knew the Yanks would win annual world series.

[@wolfsden3812]

Some men are men there are special people that I can say get my full attention and that's WW2 vets sadly non are living and Mickey Mantle also not living but boy can they both tell some great stories

[@lovedavantlamour301]

To tell you the truth it’s difficult to fathom a player who never did any sort of physical conditioning or strength training beyond maybe pushups and sit-ups in addition to actually playing the different sports he did in high school having the kind of physique he did , let alone belting 600 ft homers with the speed of Rickey Henderson AND as Jane leavy said in her biography , no ligaments at all , in either leg … Mickey was one of a kind

[@cherokeefiddler]

good stuff!!

[@wayne8276]

Good stuff right there.

[@mjcruiser4238]

Wow - in 1990 you could get an interview with Mickey Mantle for $400 bucks

[@williamreitinger8978]

The greatest to wear #7 on a jersey in baseball.

[@misein1]

Read the book DYNASTY. About the Yankees 1949-1964. A great read.

[@shawnnixon2616]

Growing up in the 90s I had no clue he was still alive lol I thought he was long gone and had been for 100 years, same as Babe Ruth lol I didn't understand time all that well

[@andrewcross8244]

It is such a shame that the Mick’s autograph is among the most faked in history. He signed for SO many people. He was a true player, and would sign for HOURS for adoring fans. And now, 18 out of 20 Mantle Autographs are FAKE. How terrible. Effin crooks

[@chlduiowks]

I want one of those watches.

[@jritechnology]

@18:06 Ellis Kinder, Boston, July 7th 1951 top of the 9th inning.

[@user-bo8nb2mi]

If I had only saved those baseball cards.

[@roberthimmelman3816]

Sad to see him selling watches after such a great career.

[@jritechnology]

@16:35 If anyone has seen the movie 61*, Mickey and Tommy Jane would have been twins at this point if they were the same ages in life....if not, at the very least, regular brothers.

[@aidanmiranda6140]

I can’t believe I spent 15 minutes digging though history just to actually get Ellis Kinder as the answer

[@genehollon1472]

B U T !!!!! You got it R I G H T !!!!!!

[@johndurrer7869]

This is who Mike Trout would’ve been like if the Angels didn’t draft him

[@nadiazahroon6573]

This guy played when my mom was growing up.

[@yankee2666]

Thst's a foolish statement.

[@Redmenace96]

@2 min the Great Mickey Mantle describes being forgotten, or better, a lull in his popularity. Bob Dylan experienced that. Ray Charles experienced that. People forget the greats. 20 years go by, and everyone wonders where are the heroes?

[@alexyoungen9999]

Mickey mantle bowling alley

[@nomikes4392]

I understand they wanted to retire Billy Martin's uniform with Billy in it

[@Ruouiji]

His rookie card sold for over 12 million clams!!

[@Boxscot49]

11:40 had me dying

[@jeffsmith2022]

RIP # 7...

[@NicholleChristineEdwards]

When men are scared of your Glory they have none.

[@sunnydhamija549]

Red rooster (Australian restaurant) more popular in 2000!

[@mmagic3534]

Mickey may have misremembered the Bunning incident. That is because, in a regular season MLB game, Freehan never caught Bunning in a game in which Mickey had hit a home run.

[@malkinmalone]

Every time I here an athlete tell an old story half the details are wrong. They just kind of make the details up as they go.

[@CasiodorusRex]

He died 4 years after this interview.

[@jude999]

And he said he never felt better.

[@paulocohenA_]

@@jude999 he was diagnosed with cancer in ‘94

[@sunnydhamija549]

KFC after the interview finished? GREAT IDEA.

[@Motoicon]

Mantle is the Pete Maravich of Baseball....

[@pick6trading]

11:30 😂

[@sunnydhamija549]

Coke for the 2 drinks at $5 they bought at the deli in New York City.

[@sunnydhamija549]

SOME LIKE Amy Jo johnson now live in LA Hawaii or nz.

[@jmad627]

Geez…I’m 60.

[@ClevelandLiveMusic]

Me too....

[@georgehare2915]

lol. he worked hard not to say BABE RUTH IS THE GREATEST AND ALWAYS WILL BE. leaving babes name out/ speakes volumns

[@mzman4183]

Freehan never caught Bunning in a regular season game.

[@bwaters735]

Mantle looks about 75 here

[@Redmenace96]

So, MM agrees to appear on TV? So, he can sell watches??? Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio? (to sell some coffee makers)

[@carlt8188]

He died 3 years later.

[@tommyriam8320]

4:22

[@ChrisP-in8qr]

Joe D didn't have to be a prick, but who knows what he was going through

[@chadchesney3858]

Maybe it’s because modern sports has gotten so F’ed up. The salaries, the cry babies and then the wokeness🤮🤮. Me, I more and more are drawn to classic sports. Back when the stars were PATRIOTIC Heroes. There has been and never will be anything like America’s love for baseball in the 50’s and 60’s. Really from the beginning to about 1980. By then the NFL was booming.

[@Blosh83]

Does anyone know if Mantle was a Freemason?