Show everything & anything of "The Mick"

[GKreindler]

Wow, Jimmy, I can't believe that it's been that long since you picked up a Mantle piece! You HAVE been away for a long time. Either way, I'm hoping you'll remedy that soon. Or else.

I had been searching for these two photos for almost 8 years now.





I had seen them together on a plaque in an image search, but could never found out where the originals came from. Immediately, I fell in love with the poses, as they're pretty perfect for those panoramic paintings I love to do. It wasn't until earlier this year that I found out that they were from an issue of Sports Illustrated from '56, which was just blind luck for me to fall upon. And thank god I did.

It's amazing how powerful the man was.

Graig

[71buc]

I just finished reading Jane Leavy's The Last Boy. At the risk of sounding like a heretic, I have never understood collectors fascination with Mantle. Don't get me wrong I have a number of items related to Mantle myself to include cards, autographs, figurines, and magazines with him on the cover, etc. Although I realize his significance to the game I don't get why he is held in such high esteem. I don't think he can be considered in the same class as or Aaron as a player or Clemente as a man. I began collecting in 1970 at age 7 so I obviously missed seeing him play. My father is of the generation that enjoyed watching him play and although he is a die hard Yankee hater he professes a love for Mantle to this day. When I ask him about it he says, "You have to have been there to know what he meant to people that watched him." I often wonder what his significance would have been if he played in Milwaukee or Pittsburgh rather than New York. When I read the rehashed stories of his exploits off the field and his battles with injury and alcoholism I don't see nobility. Instead I see a player who never fully developed his God given talent. He appears to be a more of cautionary tale. I don't mean to sound derogatory or minimize his impact and the passion others feel about him. However, the fascination he evokes in fans and collectors has always been more interesting to me than the man himself. Perhaps a Mantle fan out there can help me understand what I am missing?

[doug.goodman]

In honor of Albert in the WS, here is a scorecard from Mantle's only career 3 HR game :

[MVSNYC]

game used bat 1955-1958

upper deck signed ball

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by MVSNYC

game used bat 1955-1958

upper deck signed ball

WoW Mike That Mick Gamer is Awesome!

[MVSNYC]

thanks, man! it's one of my best pieces now. i love swinging it!

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by MVSNYC

thanks, man! it's one of my best pieces now. i love swinging it!

Geez Mike. I'm in love with the ball marks on the barrel. Just look how deep they are. You know the Mick was just crushing the ball in the mid fifties. Congrats Mike, that's a real keeper.

[GKreindler]

Mike,

Granted, I'm no mantle expert, so take this reply with a grain of salt.

I think one of the reasons he's as revered and noted with baseball fans (and to a big extent, collectors) has a lot to do with where he played. If he had been in Milwaukee or Pittsburgh, I think it's fair to say that he would have still been considered a great player, but not to the extent that any star player in New York would be. I think that no matter how you slice it, New York was really one of the main centers of media in that era. So, combining that with the fact that he was in the World Series with the Yankees almost every year, especially during a period in which so few regular season games were actually televised to national audiences, it's just a recipe for his super-stardom. And I know that so many people have written about this that it seems pretty cliche and trite by now, but the whole country bumpkin thing, as well as those boyish good-looks, really did a lot for him. Bob Costas (as well as many others) always said that central casting couldn't have come up with a better baseball player.

As the years went on, and his idolators grew up, I think that love-affair only grew with Mickey's post-baseball career mishaps. I guess there was something incredibly appealing to have a hero who was so faulted, someone with the same 'regular' problems that 'normal' people had. And of course, none of those faults were malicious by any means, but more of a sign of human weakness more than anything.

I think that as Americans, there is also just something very appealing to us regarding the 'what if?' question. The fact that this kid would have been one of the best ballplayers to have ever breathed is always the common thought surrounding the man. And when it's combined with the notion of where he came from, his family's history with Hodgkins, the death of his father, the knee injuries and how that all steamrolled into a life that was lived with that sense of an inherited death sentence, well, you just get something magical to a lot of people. Or at least, that's what I think.

It was actually through Leavy's book that made me like the man even more. And though he was my father's favorite player (he grew up watching him, too), his name just never had the same kind of sex appeal as someone like Gehrig's. But now, I feel like I can really see what the big deal is...

Just my two cents!

Graig

[MVSNYC]

Hi Mike- i was born in 1974, so i definitely did not see Mantle play...but there is something very romantic & compelling about his character and exploits on the field (and some off). have you seen the HBO documentary "Mantle"? it is incredible and (i think) answers some of your questions, from the men & women who were there. they start to dissect & explain why he was looked at as a hero and/or even a God. also, on a similar note, have you ever read & listened to Bob Costas' eulogy for Mantle? it was written by Costas & Billy Crystal the night before the funeral in a hotel room in Dallas. it is simply moving, and helps people of my generation get a glimpse into why he was so worshipped.

Eulogy text:

http://theswearingens.com/mick/eulogy.htm

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by GKreindler

Wow, Jimmy, I can't believe that it's been that long since you picked up a Mantle piece!
Graig

Not by choice Brutha, not by choice.

I've been looking and looking and looking some more. So even though there's a whole lot of photos for sale out there, it's still slim pickens more times than not.

[Lordstan]

Graig,
I think you should paint them together like this!



They'll look great.

Jimmy,
I agree with your point above. There seems to be a bit of a lull in the picture market recently. Now that you got me hooked...Damn.

Best,
Mark

[roarfrom34]

Mantle/Brooks Robinson wire photo from 1964

[Frozen in Time]

Since Mickey has been the primary focus of my collection, I am a little frustrated that I can not share more of it with you at the moment - hopefully that will change soon when the house remodeling is finished.

If I may add my 2 cents to the question of Mantle's enduring popularity (which has already been addressed beautifully by others on this forum and more extensively in a countless number of columns, documentaries and books).

Aside from his natural baseball abilities (explosive power from both sides of the plate -longest HR's ever recorded, world class sprinter speed - as a rookie 3.1 sec from home to first from the right-side of the plate and 2.9 sec from the left), if you saw him play in the '50's you just wanted to be him! Not only hit and run like him, but look like him, walk like him, talk like him. It remains a form of hero worship that is difficult to explain to those who as young boys did not experience it first hand and is still a mystery to those of us that did.

This is one of my favorite photos - a Type I taken on Sept.14, 1950 in his Joplin uniform and used by the press as he was about to start a 2 week travel run with the Yankees which began on Sept 20. On the back of the photo , in addition to the photographer's name, written in pencil "to the Yankees".

Another Type I from June of 1951, shortly before Mickey was sent down to the KC Blues which clearly shows the effect of the enormous pressure he was under during his first 3 months in the majors.

[GKreindler]

Frozen, I PRAY that we get to see more of your stuff. That shot of him with Joplin is KILLER. I can't wait until the remodeling is done!!

Here are some paintings of the Mick I did, the first of which might seem familiar!


April 14, 1951, 9" x 12"


September 16, 1951, 30" x 70"


May 14, 1955, 9" x 12"


June, 1956, 26" x 40"

As well as a few in-progresses:


1951, 11" x 14"


May 14, 1955, 9" x 12"


August 9, 1955, 30" x 64"

Can't wait to see more from everybody!!

Graig

[Frozen in Time]

Just beautiful Graig - Mickey never looked better!!!! The easy scroll-down from my photo to your painting of the same 1951 image is pretty cool.

I am certain I have some images of Mickey that you may not have seen before (approximately 2,000 Type I's including over 200 that are from 1951 or earlier).

All I can do at the moment is post images that I saved from winning bids at a few auction sites. Once I get this work done on the house I can bring the collection home, get a scanner and learn how to digitize the photos myself. Most of the interesting ones are from private collections of sports photographers that I have obtained over the years as well as many from the Mantle estate. I just love early images of Mick, #6 batting and action images and that mile-long grin at the age of 18 and 19.

Again your paintings are absolutely super!!!!!

By the way, I like your first name - one letter removed from mine.

Cheers,

Craig