Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Damn Yankees

Page 47

1951 Regular Season

“He's just a green pea out there. But he'll be back soon, and you'll see something.” - Casey Stengel on sending Mickey Mantle to the minor leagues.

Before spring training in 1950, the Yankees had pioneered the idea of an instructional school for rookies and other young players. This was the brainchild of Stengel and Weiss. Complaints from other teams that the Yankees were violating time limits on spring training and were using their money for competitive advantage led to modifications, but the concept survived and was eventually broadly adopted. Among those invited to the 1951 early camp was 19 year old Mickey Mantle, whose power, speed and talent awed Stengel, and who had spent the

previous year in the minor leagues. Stengel moved Mantle from shortstop to the outfield, reasoning that Rizzuto, the shortstop, was likely to play several more years. Both Mantle and the Yankees started the 1951 season slowly, and on July 14th, Mantle was sent to Kansas City to regain his confidence at the plate. He was soon recalled to the Yankees. Although he hit only .267 for the season, this was four points better than DiMaggio, in his final season. Much of the burden of winning a third

consecutive pennant fell on Berra, who put together an MVP season. The White Sox and then the Indians led the league for