THE INJURY THAT CHANGED MICKEY MANTLE'S CAREER

In the fifth inning of Game 2 of the 1951 World Series, a seemingly routine fly ball to right-center field brought together three of New York’s greatest centerfielders in a moment that would change baseball history. Giants rookie Willie Mays hit the ball, sending Yankees veteran Joe DiMaggio, in his final season, and rookie Mickey Mantle, in his 98th major league game, on a collision course.

Yankees manager Casey Stengel had given Mantle simple instructions: "Go for everything." As the ball descended, DiMaggio and Mantle converged. It was a moment where the old guard and the future met, with the game hanging in the balance.

Mantle later described the scene to Jane Leavy in The Last Boy: "I was running as hard as I could. At that point in time, I could outrun anybody. I ran over to catch it as Casey had told me to. Just as I was getting ready to put my glove up, I heard him say, ‘I got it.’ Well, shit, you don’t want to run into Joe DiMaggio in center field in Yankee Stadium. I slammed on my brakes."

Unfortunately, Mantle’s cleat caught on a drain cover in the outfield, a piece of plywood with a rubber coating. His legs went out from under him, and he crumpled to the ground, motionless, his right leg twisted awkwardly beneath him. DiMaggio made the catch and quickly turned to see Mantle lying in pain.

Kneeling beside him, DiMaggio placed a reassuring hand on Mantle’s shoulder, but the damage was done. Mantle was carried off on a stretcher, the initial diagnosis pointing to a torn ligament. Over time, the injury would be described in varying terms, from torn cartilage to torn tendons.

DiMaggio later reflected on the incident: "I said, ‘Go ahead, Mickey. You take it.’ I called out to him as we converged... Luckily, I was close enough to make the catch." Mantle, however, never publicly blamed DiMaggio for the incident. His wife, Merlyn Mantle, once remarked, "He had his own opinion, but he never said it. He ruined his career."

This tragic accident wasn’t the fault of any one player. It was a freak occurrence that left a lasting impact on Mantle's career. Though his achievements were legendary, one can’t help but wonder how much greater they might have been had that injury never occurred.

Mickey Mantle’s 1951 injury is a stark reminder of how one moment can forever alter the course of a player’s destiny.

--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor