Mickey Mantle was one of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) most celebrated players. Known as “The Mick,” Mantle was a prodigious talent from a young age. Yet, at the end of his life, he came to realize that his alcohol use was something he needed to change. Mickey Mantle changed his drinking, and he got to know, understand, and accept himself in the process.
Baseball career
Throughout his 18-year career with the Yankees, from 1951 to 1968, Mantle achieved numerous accolades. He was a 20-time All-Star, a three-time MVP (1956, 1957, and 1962), and won seven World Series titles. His best season came in 1956 when he won the Triple Crown by leading the league in batting average (.353), home runs (52), and RBIs (130). Mantle’s home runs, including some legendary tape-measure shots, became part of baseball lore; he reportedly hit a ball that traveled over 565 feet in Washington’s Griffith Stadium, one of the longest ever recorded.
Mantle’s career was defined by resilience in the face of injury. Plagued by knee issues, starting with a torn ACL in the 1951 World Series, Mantle endured chronic pain for most of his career, a condition that forced him to adapt his playing style. Despite these setbacks, he maintained his status as one of baseball’s most formidable hitters.
Problem drinking
Off the field, however, Mantle struggled with alcohol and personal issues. His fame and lifestyle took a toll on his health and family, leading to strained relationships and health complications later in life. By the time Mantle retired in 1968, he had left an indelible mark on baseball, though his physical and personal were something that he needed to deal with – and he did.
Mickey Mantel shares his story
Mickey Mantle changed his drinking
Mantle was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. After his career, he became a cautionary tale of fame and excess. In the early 1990s, Mantle’s health declined due to liver disease linked to years of heavy drinking. In 1995, he underwent a liver transplant. It was then that Mickey Mantle changed his drinking, and developed a greater understanding of himself.
“Mantle received thousands of letters of support after his transplant operation and discovered that the public could forgive and forget. People chose instead to remember his baseball feats, unforgettably part of the heroic character he portrayed.” (read the New York Times article).
He passed away on August 13, 1995, at the age of 63, leaving a legacy as one of baseball’s most beloved figures.
It’s never too late to think about change
Mickey Mantle changed his drinking, but it didn’t all at once. Even if you’re not ready to quit, you may be ready to explore the reasons you use. Whether you’ve noticed that using substances has started to interfere with things that are important to you, or someone you care about has expressed their concern about your relationship with substances, I can help you explore whether or not you want to make changes. Read more…