The Quality of Courage

Mickey Mantle

U of Nebraska Press, Jan 1, 1999 - Sports & Recreation - 185 pages

As a man who played baseball brilliantly despite near-constant pain from a succession of injuries, Mickey Mantle knew something about courage. In The Quality of Courage we find Mickey?s opinion on some of his widely-recognized associates including Jackie Robinson, Roger Maris, Casey Stengel, Joe DiMaggio, and Ted Williams. Here also are Mantle?s opinions on some lesser known but equally meritorious candidates: war hero and pitcher Lou Brissie and umpire Bill Grieve. And then there is his opinion of those with whom he probably felt the strongest bond: players such as Roy Campanella, Don Zimmer, and Jimmy Piersall whose principal asset of physical excellence was suddenly taken from them. ø Much is made of the need for role models in our society, but it is perhaps as instructive to learn which qualities the role models themselves find worthy of respect and emulation. Mickey gives us his list in his characteristic straightforward style, leavened with humor and a wealth of good stories.

Contents

• Introduction: 11
• The Bravest Man: 15
• My Friend Mr Ford: 22
• Machine Guns and Oil Lamps: 28
• Let the Critics Laugh: 36
• The Spark Called Courage: 46
• The Man Who Wouldnt Fight Back: 50
• Instant Courage: 56
• The Quiet Man: 64
• ThreeFoot Package of Bravery: 71
• Pressure All the Way: 75
• Nothing But Guts: 84
• The G I Mustache: 90
• They Shot His Leg to Bits: 95
• Little Man with a Big Heart: 102
• Biggest Comeback Ever: 112
• Fat Freddies Fight: 122
• Campy: 128
• Joe D and Ted W: 134
• You Think Its Easy to Umpire?: 143
• Brave and Honest Hutch: 151
• The Iron Major: 168

About the author

Mickey Mantle played for the New York Yankees, leading the team to twelve World Series between 1951 and 1968. Robert W. Creamer is the author of a shelf of fine baseball books including Babe: The Legend Comes to Life and the following Bison Books: Stengel: His Life and Times, Jocko (with Jocko Conlan), and Rhubarb in the Catbird Seat (with Red Barber).

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Quality of Courage
• Author: Mickey Mantle
• Contributor: Robert W. Creamer
• Edition: reprint
• Publisher: U of Nebraska Press, 1999
• ISBN: 0803282591, 9780803282599
• Length: 185 pages
• Subjects: Sports & Recreation / Baseball / General; Sports & Recreation / Baseball / History