My Favorite Summer 1956 [Paperback]

Mickey Mantle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2, 1992

Mickey Mantle, the hayseed kid from Spavinaw,  Oklahoma, was in his sixth year with the Yankees. He  was already America's homerun king. He was about  to become a national hero. 1956 would be a  record-breaking season: the golden summer fans would  remember forever. Now Mickey Mantle brings it all  back just the way it happened--spectacular playing  on field, crazy hijinks with Whitey Ford and Billy  Martin off. There never was a time like it before  in baseball. There never will be again. It was  magic.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Mantle, like Ruth and DiMaggio before him, was arguably the most beloved player of his time in New York, and in this look back at his greatest year, written with New York Daily News sportswriter Pepe, one understands why he was so popular. In 1956 the Yankee centerfielder won the Triple Crown, batting .353 to beat Ted Williams, knocking in 130 runs to beat Al Kaline and hitting 52 home runs to beat everybody. He won the Most Valuable Player award and figured importantly in the World Series, chiefly because of a catch he made to preserve Don Larsen's perfect game. Mantle writes as well of his notorious escapades with Whitey Ford and Billy Martin and of his special relationship with manager Casey Stengel, but what readers will carry away is the picture of a fierce competitor who also seems to be a warm and generous-hearted human being. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Autobiographies ( The Mick , Jove, 1987), biographies, and other books have recounted his story. Here, however, Mantle and New York Daily News sportswriter Pepe tell of his favorite campaign. His tale of another Yankee pennant, another Series win, and winning the Triple Crown for batting average, home runs, and runs batted in will attract many Yankee fans/readers. For regional sports collections. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 9/1/90.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Island Books (March 2, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440212030
• ISBN-13: 978-0440212034
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,946,271 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of my favorite Mickey Mantle books, April 6, 2008

By 

Michael R. Chernick "statman31147" (Holland PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

The year 1956 was a pivotal year for Mantle. From 1951 to 1955 he played for the Yankees as a star centerfielder, power hitter and speed merchant on the bases but 1956 was the year he finally became confident that he had made a success of himself in New York. Mantle had had bouts of confidnece over the years and the pressure that Stengel and the New York media put on him was huge. In 1956 Mantle blossomed becoming one of the rare few to win the batting triple crown (home runs, runs batted in and batting average) and he did it impressively leading with 52 home runs, 130 runs batted in and a .353 batting average. He was challenged in batting average for much of the season but pulled away in September. Down the stretch the only title in jeopardy was the RBI crown as he was challenged by Al Kaline who ended up knocking in 128 just two less than Mantle. This was the year he was ahead of Babe Ruth's record pace in 1927,when the great Banbibi hit 60. It only became clear that he would fall short that Spetember when he was unable to sustain a fast pace. September had been Ruth's most productive month for home runs.

After this Mantle was confident that he could sustain seasons with more than 40 home runs, 100 RBI's and a .300 batting average. When Jose Canseco became the first to get 40 home runs and get 40 stolen bases in the same season Mantle said if stealing had been a priority for the Yankees he could easily do it and maybe even 50 and 50.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite book 2000, January 8, 2001

By 

Benton Grismer (Des Moines, Iowa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Favorite Summer 1956 (Paperback)

This book is one of the best books I have ever read. Not necessarily the best book ever written, but the best book I have ever read. It is my favorite book because it is about my favorite subject, baseball and of course the New York Yankees. Someone who does not like baseball or the New York Yankees as much as me would probably not like the book as much as me. But for a real baseball fan, it is a must read. The `50s were a great time for baseball, and the Yankees, and this book documents one of those spectacular seasons. To keep interested in this book, you must be a baseball fan, and at least like the Yankees in order for the book to be a good read. I say this because the Yankees are so good, that a lot of people despise them because they are so outrageously good. Either way I loved the book, it informed me on a time of baseball when I was not around to witness it, and now after reading the book, I feel I lived it. I felt like I was there, I watched Mickey win the Triple Crown, I watched the Yankees win the World Series. I was there. This was a great book, and I would recommend it to anyone with a heart of baseball, such as I do.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book I ever read, and I am not even a Yankees fan!, February 11, 2003

By 

J. Grever "jeffgrever" (Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Favorite Summer 1956 (Paperback)

When I read this book I could not put it down. The detail of the 1956 season that Mickey goes into is unmatched because the words come right from the source, MICKEY! I think you must be a baseball fan to enjoy this book, but you definitely don't have to be a Yankee fan. I strongly dislike Steinbrenner's Yankees, but this is before he ruined the organization. Who doesn't have a small spot in their heart for the oldtime Yanks? This book tells you about the relationships between Mickey and Billy Martin as well as Whitey Ford, straight from Mickey's mouth!! Mickey hired the great Phil Pepe to help edit his book, and Pepe's editing always makes the reading just keep flowing. Outstanding read, and I recommend it to any baseball fan!