Mickey Mantle Obit - ESPN with Keith Olbermann

[@billajello9686]

I told my father back in 1967 that I didn't care what it took, I wanted to go see Mickey Mantle play that year and sure enough, we went and saw the Yankees play the Tigers at the Stadium and I saw Mantle play for the first and ONLY time in my life and I was a happy kid. He's still my childhood hero today and always will be one of my favorite Yankees of all time, right up there with Ruth, Gehrig, Munson, Berra & Jeter.

[@gmuny2010]

Talk about irony, I was in rehab when he became ill and later passed. I owe Mickey Mantle big time! I did all the work, but he helped inspire me!

[@actownsend7288]

Alcohol free since February 11th 2023. Keith Olbermann and Vince Gill inspired me!!!

[@DavidWilliams-jf7cr]

I was 9 yrs. old in 1963 and mickey was my favorite player. I watched him come to the plate at cleveland municipal stadium and heard the crowd boo him endlessly, I was surprised how loud it was. sam mcdowell on the mound threw a pitch and mickey put it in the right field upper deck 3 feet foul, the crowd booed with relief again endlessly. it was so intense as i watched him waiting for the right pitch, and he got it. this one went into the right field upper deck fair ball . a mickey mantle home run i will never forget.

[@tbhildreth]

Even though this is an old video it still chokes me up when I see the "moment of silence" at Fenway Park for Mickey Mantle. A Yankee getting showed that respect in Boston is something!! Even though I was not alive when Mickey played he is my favorite player of all time. KZbin has gave me a chance to see what a great person Mantle was off the field as well as on. He was so humble and just a great human being, I think that is why he is so great and will never be forgotten on and off the diamond

[@keefriff99]

Keith is such an eloquent writer and speaker. Regardless of what you think of his political opinions, you have GOT to admit he's a supremely-gifted broadcaster...one of the best.

[@verywired1]

keefriff99 - HA!! he's a fucking traIn wreck.

[@wolfech1]

He’s a douche bag, fuck him

[@yankee2666]

Sorry - ignorance and eloquence are not bedfellows.

[@tigernike23]

No one cares MAN UTD.

[@USMarineNamVet]

Always will love, and remember Mickey Mantle in my Bronx Heart. Grew up watching him hit those long "going...going...gone." Home runs. He was my Baseball hero..

[@ronniebishop2496]

Michael Padilla Yes being from Oklahoma we thought he should have played for Boston, that Yankee fans did not deserve him. But they did deserve people like Joe DiMaggio. lol However because of Mickey Mantle the Yankees acquired more fans than without him. Booing Mickey Mantle. for years. Until 1961

[@USMarineNamVet]

And Because Carl Yastrzemski was born in New York..we felt he should have been a NYY. Boston did not deserve him. Never Booed him though. Mantle would have looked funny in a Boston RS Uniform. Carl would have fit right in.

[@dwlarson1951]

He was my hero too. In Illinois.

[@robertharvey9047]

Mets Yankees

[@torpedo58]

@MANCHESTER UNITED F.C Piss off

[@gynandroidhead]

He was, as Jane Leavy put it - The Last Boy. Twenty years ago today he passed.

[@RandyDubin]

This whole video is sad enough, but knowing that the majority of the people featured in this obit are also no longer with us make the sadness in this video even more profound....

[@dougalmac54]

There will never, ever be a more popular, more universally liked, and better baseball player than Mickey Mantle. He was magic with a bat, and if he had played the 281 games he missed because of injuries, he would have every record in hitting there is. The Mick hit home runs that are still looked upon with awe at the distance, the power, and the wonder of his hitting ability.

[@Breeder333]

I was to young to see the Mick play but my neighbor was a HUGE Mantle fan and taught me to be one too. Thanks Mr. Mantle for being authentic

[@EmceeNolan]

@jdt2003 X 10000000. It was beautifully put together all-around; from the set, to the graphics, to the music, to the on-air talent, to the sharp writing. It was one of those magical times when everyone was on the same page. Unfortunately, that never lasts forever.

[@daboys1215]

I was not of that era. How I wish I was. To see baseball in a more pure time. Free of million dollar contracts and steroids. I did not understand why my dad reacted the way he did at Mantle's passing. It did not register with me. He practically cried watching the broadcast of Mick's funeral. It wasn't until 2012 when Gary Carter passed away that I got it. That's when I realized what he had felt 2 decades earlier. It turns out that Carter's idol was Mickey Mantle. Interesting how it came full circle. At least with my dad and I. RIP Mickey RIP Gary

[@kieranorourke766]

daboys1215 I was a part of that era, the man inspite of his pain was the greatest switch hitter ever.

[@harajukugirlloveandG]

Thank you for putting this up we all need to remember what a great player and person he was as told by the people that were there not the people who make things up in these books that are coming out rest in heaven with you wife and sons god bless you......

[@LFD254]

Buck Showalter said it best and I can concur-when I was a kid playing Little League here in NY in the late 50s/early 60s, our league talked a local restaurant into supplying uniforms. Every kid got a form and when they were returned, almost every single one had asked for the number 7.

[@stripervince1]

My idol growing up in Brooklyn in the 1960s. Still have my ticket for mickey mantle day june 8 1969

[@drlov2000]

Without all the injuries, The "Mick" would have surely hit 700 homers. Two of the greatest ball players of all time wore Yankee Pinstripes. RIP Mickey.

[@THOMAS81Z]

closer to 800

[@aveojohnee]

Honesty and integrity, what more can you ask, Rest in piece my friend.

[@RicardoRoams]

I was lucky enough and the right age to see Mickey Mantle play.

[@joejoewest]

I missed the old ESPN SportsCenter, where you have top journalists like Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann and Charley Steiner.

[@lonnordbye9941]

Mickey Mantle was my hero growing up and still is today. I got to see him play in Minnesota and thought I was in heaven. Years later as a baseball player and promoter in Rapid City, South Dakota, I got to again relive my dreams. My friend Ben Eicher and myself decided to start a new league team. We decided to call it the Boutons, after Ben's good friend Jim Bouton. Jim a former Yankee pitcher, is most famous for the book Ball Four, and the inventor of Big League Chew. The book highlighted many things about Mantle and his career. Ben was also friends with Keith Olbermann of ESPN.. Keith made often mention through the years about Bouton. The highlight, one evening watching Sports Center, was Olbermann wearing our Bouton uniform top on his program. Bouton's book wasn't flattering to Mantle, but that would never matter to me. After seeing Olbermann wearing the jersey, I felt like a kid again. Love Baseball and Mickey Mantle.. Sorry about the quality of the video.

[@sauquoit13456]

On this day in 1956 {August 12th} Teresa Brewer with Mickey Mantle performed "I Love Mickey" on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show' The song was recorded in a professional recording studio the next day and one month later on Sept. 22nd it entered Billboard's Top 100 for a three week stay, peaking at #87 Earlier in the day in the 1st game of a double-header against the Baltimore Orioles 'The Mick' hit his 41st homer of the season R.I.P. Ms. Brewer {1931 - 2007} & Mr. Mantle {1931 - 1995}

[@DanielLDees]

Rest peace, Great one.

[@katemctiernan7167]

Mickey Mantle was a great player, but he was unable to stay healthy, which kept him from fulfilling his full potential. He could've been the greatest Yankee player ever, maybe the greatest baseball player ever, but because of his frequent injuries, that made him appear to have to same luck as Wile E. Coyote, we'll always wonder how much more he could've done if he'd been healthy. RIP Mickey.

[@johndaniels9782]

no disrespect at all but I half to ask this question, was you abused as a child and the reason I ask is there are so many things we can say about micky but you picked an of the chart topic and I'm sorry if I've ask a non of my buisness question . but if you were abused my heart is with you and no one should ever half to endure such agony and distress

[@billythedoggie]

as a child a few times i actually went to yankee stadium(compliments of the fresh air fund) we usually sat in the bleachers...those 50 cents seats...but we got to see Mickey's back...and we would yell "hey Mickey turn around" he would turn and waved to us with his glove hand.i never forgot that...because he was our hero i believed that when Mickey got up to hit...a home run was coming..and the yankees would win..and yes we all wanted to get his baseball card not for money because we loved him

[@SonicRemaster]

Outstanding program.

[@Revengetoyourliver]

RIP to the greatest man in baseball ! Love you Mick

[@earldeanpowell]

Still can't watch without weeping

[@billarmstrong42]

Wore #7 as as an old fart playing slow pitch. Unfortunately, could never live up to the Mick's ability. :) It was an honour. Still miss you Mick.

[@Missditabomb]

Mickey Mantle, as disclosed by Jane Leavy in her biography, "The Last Boy", was sexually abused as a little boy by his step-sister and it went on for a long time. There was also an older neighbourhood boy who abused little Mickey as well. Mickey rarely ever talked about it. One of his friends said that when he did tell him, afterward Mickey went on the biggest bender ever. I do believe Mickey had PTSD from the abuse. I think that is what caused him to slowly destroy himself. He was trying to cope. Don't forget, in those days, there was very little help for a person in his situation. Still, Mickey was the GREATEST despite his demons. You are free of your torment now, Mickey. Finally, you can rest in peace.

[@pedalsbeatlejuicelodermeie319]

Something bad happened to my step father when he was a kid and never ever talked about it but I know it was bad because he would run off to other states to drink himself blind and come home a couple of weeks later when he ran outta money . . He looked just like Robert Redford and was a brilliant man anything he tried to do he could, he never hit us kids or abused mom but that drinking would be his greatest foe and ultimately caught up with Don and cancer of the skin. 1932-2000 R.I.P. big daddy.

[@jamesanthony5681]

I didn't read her book and this is the first I'm hearing of the sexual abuse, but my understanding of his drinking/carousing/living to excess, was Mickey's belief that he was going to die young like his father and uncles who worked in the mines, and he wanted to pack as much life as he could into what Mickey believed was going to be a short life.

[@Missditabomb]

@@jamesanthony5681 Yes, he always said that. He said all of the male figures in his life died young of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and he figured he would too, so he was really hard on himself. "If I knew I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself", is a famous quote of his. But I do believe that inside of himself, there was the trauma of his early life and what happened to him and that needed masking. He couldn't deal with it. Also, near the end of his life, when he was sober, in the interview with Bob Costas, he tells of trying to get closer to people; especially his surviving sons, and telling them he loved them. He said, (paraphrasing), "I don't know, it's weird, I can't GET CLOSE TO PEOPLE or something. There's something in me, I guess I'm just weird or something". That is very telling. People who have been abused and can't TRUST would say something like that.

[@544005]

Great program on my favorite player

[@billgurian4822]

Mickey Mantle, at his peak, was the greatest baseball player ever ! Forget statistics, the mere sight of #7 in the on deck circle caused the stadium to literally shake and the opposing pitcher to become visibly rattled. He was so fast and powerful that the infield played in the short outfield and if he wanted to he could bunt for a single at anytime . I was at the game when he hit a ball over the 461 ft sign half way up the bleachers and over a 30 ft fence. Do you see anyone today hitting balls out of stadiums and across the highway into someone's back yard? I don't think so! That was a fairly normal occurrence for Mickey.

[@why-why-whywhywhy]

@Bill Gurian-Spoken like a true Yankees fan. However I think your 'take' would ring more true if you were replace the name Mickey Mantle with Hank Aaron & the #7 that the Mick wore with #44. The #44 worn by the second greatest player of all-time, right behind the g.o.a.t. He being, Tyrus Raymond 'Ty' Cobb.

[@jdt2003]

This is when Sportscenter was relevant. I would watch it daily. It was much more professional, organized and a much better product.

[@THOMAS81Z]

agreed

[@billythedoggie]

thank you to me and lots of other kids in the fifties who lived in the new york area he was and will always be the greatest baseball hero of our lives i would of never and i mean never had the chance to actually see him standing outfield if not for those fresh air buses that took us kids from the poor sections of new jersey for free and i would like to thank them for that we didn't have money for a hot dog or soda that was not part of the deal but getting into yankee stadium was enough thanks.

[@kascnef]

i remember when he died i was watching the news on abc with my late nana...very sad....

[@MyyyClips]

What a terrific post!!!

[@fek2000]

Thanks for keeping that promise Doc

[@MyyyClips]

That was a terrific post!!!

[@scottlewis8681]

As a Phillies fan but a lover of the game of baseball this was a sad day for me but mostly my mom who was a true Yankee fan I am so glad that I had the chance to see Mickey, Rodger, Elston, and Yogi play at the stadium when my uncle took me to see a few games. Thanks for the memories. srl

[@mz6504]

Keith describing this is awesome…..

[@Crackers2549]

When Mickey Mantle said.." I'm no role model", it brought tears to my eyes but the truth is, we as youngsters looked up to him and he was many a kids idol .. Everybody loved Mickey Mantle and he was a great ball player! Like all human beings he just had some flaws but we still loved him!

[@andybabernitch9938]

Crackers2549 The reason i watched the Yankees was to watch " The Mick " And to think WHAT he COULD have done if he stayed HEALTHY throughout his playing career. I always called him fondly " THE EXPECTED YANKEE " You always expected so much from him , AND he rarely disappointed you !

[@richierugs]

mantle routinely hit 450 foot blasts at yankee stadium that the center fielder just ran for ten seconds and then caught--now those shots hit a restaurant and make highlights....

[@870Rem12gauge]

The Yankee radio broadcasters, 1959..."Just look at that swing, look at those arms."

[@Crackers2549]

Mickey Mantle #7... Mick was "The Man"!.. Saw him play in Chicago and I was a Sox fan but Mickey had more talent than anybody, but had to play injured his entire career and it hurt his numbers!...What a ball player... like Bob Shepherd would say "Numba 7, Mickey Mantle, numba 7".....

[@balerjohnson3099]

The Commerce Comet did well and made all of us from Commerce proud.

[@coolmamac]

@jdt2003 You are so right. The shows are just pop sports. I miss these old broadcasts.

[@THOMAS81Z]

his backhanded running catch in the 56 world series that saved a perfect game !!!

[@870Rem12gauge]

His outfield skills are over looked due to his batting history.

[@brainsareus]

yes,he was one of the greatest. 'the' greatest? no one can answer that.

[@mz6504]

The Mic……immortal….

[@jbelcher74]

Thanks for posting this even with the quality. I just got the great Keith Olbermann to tweet this out. I'm interested to see how much activity you get after that.

[@scarredwithstars]

Now it's on Deadspin since Keith is coming back to the ESPN

[@AndersonDE7]

Former Yankee shortstop and broadcaster Tony Kubek once said that if Mickey had played in the same ballparks as Hank Aaron (Milwaukee and Atlanta) he would have hit more than 1000 home runs. Having grown up watching Mickey's entire career, I am sure that is true.

[@WorldwideWyatt]

Mickey was awesome, but 281 games is less than 2 seasons. No way he made it to 714, much less 755 home runs.

[@wiedep]

I've met him and he his. Enough already, I gotta go watch O"reilly.

[@joesmith-jb4ls]

Being from Baltimore, we didn't like the Yankees, but the Mick was my hero

[@billyj298]

("he hits the ball further than anyone lh...he hits the ball further than anyone rh..he is faster than anyone in baseball,,,,he throws better than anyone in baseball") CASEY STENGAL ...("he was the best player of our era") BOB CERV...("we didn't care who was in the other dugout, when mick was in the lineup we felt we were the best team").TOM TRESH...(" if he was healthy & the Yankees needed it, mickey could have stolen 100 bases a year") HANK AARON.......REST IN PEACE MICK!!

[@870Rem12gauge]

The Mick had many folks who had know idea of his image.

[@drlov2000]

I became a switch-hitter because of the Mick...

[@jeffsmith2022]

The Mick, # 7...

[@xtrontruth]

@tnlmtr The bell rang 7 times.

[@MyyyClips]

I saw your tweet to Keith and replied back to you:)

[@keefriff99]

I'm not saying he's not a royal pain in the ass to deal with...that much is obvious. I'm simply saying that accusing a television personality of being narcissistic and having an out-of-control ego isn't breaking news. That's why they're on TV in the first place.

[@markko17]

Actually, Olbermann is from New York. When he was sportscaster at Channel 2 here in L.A. sometimes he would show home movies he had taken at Yankee Stadium in the '60s when he was a kid. It would be nice if you "christians" would forget how to hate for at least 10 seconds!!

[@ChandlerPol]

@jdt2003 Yeah, you'd never see this kind of coverage nowadays. They'd have to move on after a couple minutes to mention the latest gossip or rumor or garbled athlete's comment on Twitter.

[@ChandlerPol]

Now Mercer has died, too.

[@aldiaz5140]

Hit the tracking button :-)

[@firebird7479]

5:38. I edited this.

[@sanderstrebor]

Kieth could talk about anything and it would be interesting.

[@Trinity61]

Mickey Mantle reminds me alot of the great Irish soccer player George Best...charismatic, good-looking, popular with the ladies, and could have been even greater if it wasn't for the booze.

[@SammyGriz]

Yeah, it's almost like he was human and made mistakes.

[@keefriff99]

Hopefully you're trying to be funny...O'Reilly is easily as out of control as Olbermann. The point is that both are incredibly gifted broadcasters. As much as I disagree with O'Reilly, he is masterful on-air. Funnily enough, I've read that Sean Hannity is actually one of the nicer personalities in cable TV...the complete opposite of his on-air persona.

[@wiedep]

I worked at ESPN when he was there and had contact with him and then again at NBC when he was considered for Nightly News. There is no bigger self-absorbed narcissist in the biz than this guy and his "opinions" are an outgrowth of his childishness. That's why he's been fired so often, he plays the game and after he's hired somewhere he loses control - I've seen this up close.

[@jamiemoffatt50]

Couldn’t you find a worse copy?

[@THOMAS81Z]

he had the greatest talent of any ball play just never used it to its fullest

[@NikkiScatch84]

@jdt2003 i agree it was much better back in the day!

[@cii1072]

Keith Obermann? Give me a break.

[@freespeachrulez]

hi

[@QED_]

Fame . . . is a killer like no other.

[@RealCasaBonita]

Arbiter well said my friend

[@yankee2666]

How do you know; you've never been famous? Fuck off.

[@keefriff99]

Right...unlike every other ego-less TV personality out there. Typical angry Republican who simply hates Keith for his opinions.

[@brainsareus]

i agree,sportscenter is all about gimicky,snarky crap these days. superficial and asinine. i guess it's as much a reflection of the society at large as anything else.

[@wiedep]

Mickey had accomplishments, Olbermann just talks and talks and talks... Never saw a mirror he didn't like.

[@allend2749]

mickey only cared about mickey. end of story.

[@verywired1]

keith olberman eats paint chips.

[@ussclaudejones1]

He was my hero too! Too bad Olberman is involved in this clip, he probably really didn't like Mickey, probably because he's not a communist! Wayne Arthur

[@wmw3629]

Quality of video terrible. Not watchable!