On This Date in Baseball History
On July 22nd 1954 New York Yankee Manager Casey Stengel shakes up his lineup by inserting Mickey Mantle into the shortstop position from center field at the top of the 9th inning. Just a short time later, in the bottom of the tenth, Mantle hits a walk-off home run giving New York the victory over Chicago at 4 to 3.
With such a celebrated career, its hard not to appreciate Mantle’s many achievements including this day in history. In fact, most visitors of B’s Ballpark Museum are forced to reflect on Mantle’s successful career as they view the drainage cover that he tripped over in the 1951 World Series, blowing out his knee for virtually the rest of his career. He was one of the greatest to ever play the game, and some believe that he could have been the best ever. On a day like today it’s hard not to appreciate his many feats, and also reflect upon the small tragedies that prevented him from being even greater.