The World of Baseball

Major League Baseball has seen its share of outstanding switch hitters, meaning that they bat both right-handed and left-handed. This is a unique skill to have. No one did it better than Mickey Mantle. Mantle played 17 seasons in MLB, all with the New York Yankees (1951-1968).

Mantle broke into the big leagues in 1951. He would replace the legendary Joe DiMaggio in centerfield. There was alot of pressure for Mantle to perform well. He started putting up solid numbers in his sophomore season in 1952. Mantle led the American League (AL) in on-base plus slugging in 1952.

Mantle led the AL in home runs for the first time in 1955 with 37. He would have his best season in 1956. Mantle won the triple crown, which means leading the league in home runs, runs batted in, and batting average. He hit 52 home runs, drove in 130 runs, and hit .353. Mantle led the AL in runs scored (132), slugging percentage (.705), and on-base plus slugging percentage (1.169). Mantle won the AL Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

Mantle won a second straight AL MVP in 1957. He hit for a higher average (.365), with 34 home runs and 94 runs batted in. Mantle would win his third AL MVP in 1962.

Mantle won 7 World Series championships. He hit 18 home runs in the World Series. Mantle led the AL in home runs four times, runs scored five times, and walks five times. He also led the AL in on-base percentage three times, slugging percentage four times, and on-base plus slugging percentage six times.

Mickey Mantle finished with 536 career home runs and 1,509 runs batted in. He made the All-Star team 20 times. Mantle was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. He passed away at the age of 63 on August 13, 1995. Mantle is regarded as the greatest switch hitter in MLB history and one of the most talented players ever.