On Mantle’s birthday: Unpublished photos from ’61
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Oct 20, 2011 
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On what would have been Mickey Mantle’s 80th birthday, LIFE magazine has published previously unseen pictures of the 1961 Yankees. As the magazine explains:
In 1961, during spring training, LIFE gave 25-year-old Yankee shortstop Tony Kubek a camera and asked him to photograph his teammates: Mantle, Berra, Maris, Ford, and the rest of the players on what would, in time, be seen as one of the greatest teams in baseball history. The resulting photos were never published (see slide 12 in this gallery for a possible reason why). Now, five decades later — on what would have been Mickey Mantle’s 80th birthday — LIFE.com presents those never-seen pictures, along with Kubek’s own insights and memories of the era, the Yankees, and his own stellar nine-year career.
Go here to check out the gallery.
Over at the Hardball Times, Chris Jaffe brings some perspective to just how young Mantle was when he died at age 63. That’s younger than Nolan Ryan is right now.
Photo from LIFE magazine
If Freidman goes to the Angels that will be scary. His baseball operations philosophy is quite good.
I looked at those pictures earlier in the day. How young they were, and playing baseball for money was the greatest goal any American boy could have, at least me. They were, mostly, rich for the day, but they still seemed to love playing. Mugging for Kubek’s camera said it all. They were talented kids, but kids nonetheless.
Nice little earthquake just felt in San Francisco.
Nothing major, just a quick jolt and a few little rolls. They’re laughing about it on the radio.
Just a 4.2 is the initial reading. Show’s over, nothing to see here.
If Freidman goes to the Angels that will be scary. His baseball operations philosophy is quite good.
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On the positive side, he’d be out of the division and hurting the Rangers who have quickly become less likeable than the Angels.
Great photos….Really capture the spirit of those guys.
# UnKnown October 20th, 2011 at 6:01 pm
# Villa Nova-Ya October 20th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
Unknown -
Why? did they expect to win in a sweep? Or did they not like the questions they were asked? Why be snippy when a few nights ago you were telling the press that the chicken strut was the spirit within you (or whatever the heck Washington said)??
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Yeah no kidding. Washington can strut when it is going good, but if he makes decisions tonight again on who he uses to Pinch Hit like he did last night, well then he won’t be struting at all and the Cards will be taking a “Happy Flight” to Arlington.
When asked why he used German over Torrealba Wash says, “Can you guarantee me that if I used Torrealba he would have done anything different?” Washington said. “I used the guy that I thought could get me a base hit.”
That accompanied with Wilson explaining to a media member that holding out 4 fingers results in an IBB, when questioned about allowing so many walks, is pretty funny to me.
Big game tonight. A Ranger loss and things are going to get really dicey.
Very cool
Last time a 5.8 or greater earthquake directly hit California (that is, not off the coast) was –
(a) 1995
(b) 1998
(c) 2000
(d) 2001
(e) 2003
Many Thanks for the memories of the Mick and that great summer of ’61.
BTW, The Yankees have no time for beer in the dugout, chicken, video games, etc., while we are taking down tyrannical dictators.
Check the link, and see what happens to those who oppose the Pinstripes of the Yankee Universe
http://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/.....nkees-hat/
@Joelsherman1: #Yankees scouts love Darvish, but Hal Steinbrenner/Cashman unlikely to authorize big $$ to win post #thinkIgawa #Rangers #Bluejays are faves
I hope a major one will hit soon.
Has been way, way too long any significant earthquake hit that area.
Re-sending the link……….The Yankees have no time for beer in the dugout, chicken, video games, etc., while we are taking down tyrannical dictators.
Check the link, and see what happens to those who oppose the Pinstripes of the Yankee Universe
http://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/.....nkees-hat/
Correction: I hope –> I predict
The memories of those days and the players especially The Mick are locked in me forever. Will always remember “Bullet Bob” Turley seated at the end of the Yankee dugout stealing signs like he was blinking his eyes. He was the very best at it and there’s no telling how many of those stolen signs helped the Yankees to a win.
Good, put out misinformation about lack of interest in Yu Darvish. #Istillthinkwe’regoingtogetAroldisChapman
Wonderful pictures and stories.
Mickey, Yogi, Whitey. Ellie, Moose, Bobby, Roger…… The list goes on and on.
Those were truly very good to great ballplayers, at the top of their games. It was a different era, and NY was king of the hill, in so many ways.
The only unfortunate thing was that, at age 6 going on 7, I was way too young to appreciate that greatness.
I’m on the fence about Darvish. The scout’s drools are important, of course. But, like Cash and Hal, I’m still feeling burned by Irabu and Igawa. It’s easy to say it’s only money, but, it’s not my money.
I’m on the fence about Darvish. The scout’s drools are important, of course.
Cool Trenton Thunder Trivia:
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.....8;sid=t567
Happy birthday Mickey Charles and may your 80th find you in a better place with Mickey Jr., Billy, your high school sweetheart Merlyn, and twin brothers Ray and Roy among so many others.
Tell Mutt there was a reward for working hard in the Oklahoma mines. You did him proud.
doubt they will make it known their true level of interest with the blind bid posting
“I just hope God has a place for him where he can run again. Where he can play practical jokes on his teammates and smile that boyish smile, ’cause God knows, no one’s perfect. And God knows there’s something special about heroes.
So long, Mick. Thanks.”
Bob Costas from Mantle’s funeral
http://theswearingens.com/mick/eulogy.htm
loved the Mick…
Don’t be a tightwad Hal
i think Hal has some of that tendency…he never wanted to get involved in the team’s operations when Dad was alive, where Hank looks like a chip off the old block of a younger George…
The way Mick touched a generation is unheard of in today’s world….I wonder what happened?
Igawa really shouldn’t influence anything as the process behind that signing was so horrible.
When The Mick was right, there was and never has been anyone better………I still to this day remember going to the Stadium early to watch BP and the sound of baseballs being launched into the far reaches of building….Every time the movie ” The Natural ” comes on there’s the scene where Roy Hobbs auditions to make the club and just hits moon shots into the upper deck of the old War Memorial Stadium….Well folks that was what Mantle used to do from both sides of the plate, and that crack would just reverberate throughout the empty Yankee Stadium…..
I’ve always been fascinated by Mantle. More so than any other Yankee – past or present.
He had his issues off the field, but he truly was the most physically gifted ballplayer to ever play this game.
1 year ago today the Yankees were winning Game 5 of the ALCS.
Stinks how early the season ended this year.
too bad today’s generation couldn’t have lived thru the times of the 60′s yankees….you really missed something.
Mantle really was a fascinating guy……I mentioned to GB7 the other day that I had watched the HBO documentary on him (must watch if you haven’t)….his swing when he was young was so good….especially from the fight side. You certainly get a better idea of why he lived like he did……he thought he was going to die in his 30s like all the other men in his family. And was quoted lated in life saying that” if he knew he was going to live this long ….he would have taken better care of himself”. Truly one of a kind.
The stuff the chicken wings boys in Boston were up to this year was childs play compared to the Yankee clubhouse in the 60s
blake October 20th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
The stuff the chicken wings boys in Boston were up to this year was childs play compared to the Yankee clubhouse in the 60s
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That’s for sure. The biggest difference between those days and now is the media.
The writers would keep all that frat party stuff to themselves. Now, they couldn’t twitter or report what they saw or heard fast enough.
GF,
Certainly a different world…..that’s for sure..
I love sharing Mantle’s birthday
/shameless plug for birthday wishes’d
I think winner of tonights game wins the series.
still can’t believe they’re not playing.
Happy birthday, sfochild.
Does that mean you’re a child of the greater San Francisco International Airport area?
San Bruno? Milbrae? Burlingame? SSF?
The Mantle HBO special is on Saturday, 22 October at 12:30 PM, EST.
http://www.hbo.com/sports/mant.....#/schedule
I really miss the daily Yankee game when the series is over…..it’s usually how I unwind after everyone is in bed and I can finally sit in my chair and relax. Its like my favorite TV show that comes on every night.
Thanks GB. For those that haven’t seen it its really good.
GB – thanks for the tip. I’ll have to dvr it.
GF,The reporters were usually out carousing with them.
Curt Young is interviewing for the pitching coach position in Oakland. Wonder what the Red Sox will ask for in player talent as compensation? Gio Gonzales? Is this the new way for them to rebuild a bankrupt farm system? Trade off their coaching staff and front office personnel?
Any time guys. Happy to help. I have my Coor’s, popcorn and pizza ready to go. I’ll hoist a few for Mick. I’m sure that he’d do the same for me.
No Darvish despite his 7 secondary pitches.
If he has seven of them are they really secondary? Think about it.
Wouldn’t shock me if the Yanks are playing possum on Darvish…….they keep saying they want pitching….he’s a risk….but he’s also the guy they can go get really for money only…….no draft pick or prospects lost.