Biggest Folk Heroes in Baseball

Lou Gehrig was already one of the best players in the history of Major League Baseball, but it was his tragic, early death by a then-unknown disease and now famous “Luckiest Man Alive” speech which have elevated him into folklore status.

Lou Gehrig Luckiest Man Alive

Gehrig’s name is not only tied to the disease that took his life, but his speech from July 4, 1939 at Yankee Stadium is one of the seminal moments in sports history.

In the seven decades since his death, it can be argued that his illness and speech have eclipsed his fantastic career as a player

Jackie Robinson

Does Jackie Robinson‘s role in sports folklore even need to be explained? The man who broke baseball’s color barrier created a seismic shift around America. It can be argued Robinson’s arrival in Major League Baseball was very important for the race barrier in America during that generation. He put a face to the racial disparity in America and was politically active during the Civil Rights Era after his career ended

There is no athlete whose name and aura ruled over sports like Babe Ruth.

Babe Ruth

From him famously making more money than President Hoover in 1930, to his legendary home run prowess, to his charity with children, to his ghost lording over baseball for decades after his retirement, to the Curse of the Bambino, Babe Ruth served as the icon for Americana in the first half of the 20th century and beyond.

It has been 96 years since Babe Ruth arrived in Major League Baseball. Yet, he remains the greatest power hitter the game has ever seen but the number of people who actually saw Ruth play decreases every day further enhancing his folk status

How Mickey Got to 500 Home Runs

With the passing of Ralph Houk last week, it brought to mind several contributions Mr. Houk made to baseball and the Yankee organization. The one I’m most fond of is his impact on Mickey Mantle hitting 500 home runs. Mickey was my childhood hero and I would have been crushed if the “Mick” didn’t get to 500.

However that accomplishment was in jeopardy after the 1965 season. He was so discouraged with his performance that at age 34, the best center fielder in Yankee history (okay, DiMaggio was pretty good) could no longer run or throw well, and was no longer an effective hitter from the left side of the plate.

After the 1965 season, Mickey had played in 2,005 games. He had batted .306, with a .426 on base average, a .576 slugging average, and 473 home runs. However, Mickey assessment of his career was that it should have been better. One of the milestones that Mickey hadn’t accomplished was hitting 500 home runs. He thought he should have had 500 by this time.

Mickey was suffering from weak knees, aching legs, a bad right shoulder that would need surgery, and his mental state wasn’t good. Mickey was on his way to the Mayo Clinic for three days of examinations.

He was seriously thinking of quitting. With his shoulder hurting so much he couldn’t even throw a ball, legs that will never get any better, Mickey was pretty discouraged.

Mickey's Home Run Swing

Mickey was really depressed.  He didn’t want to go out as a bad player. Mr. Houk told him that no one would want him to go out that way, but that Mickey didn’t realize what he meant to the public, the Yankees, and his fellow players. Just having Mickey Mantle on the team had been a great influence on everyone. He told Mickey he didn’t realize how good he was. Mickey left that meeting willing to give it a try indicated he would like to play until he was 40.

Mickey did play three more years following the 1965 season. He finished he career with 536 home runs, a .557 slugging average, a .421 on base average, but he lost his .300 lifetime batting average.

On numerous occasions, Mickey told friends that his biggest regret was that he didn’t finish his career with a .300 batting average.

It is known that Mickey deeply regretted not retiring with a career .300 average, and second-guessed himself about not retiring sooner. It’s always easier looking at things in the rear view mirror, but if Mickey had retired after the 1967 season he could have both a .300 lifetime average and 500 home runs.

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