The Crackin' Backs Podcast

Reliving Baseball's Golden Era, David Mantle (son of Mickey Mantle) on the Glory Days of Baseball

• Dr. Terry Weyman and Dr. Spencer Baron

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Baseball has been called America’s pastime. It’s a game that epitomizes summertime in the United States. People in every major city flock to the baseball diamond, eat hot dogs and caramel corn and cheer for their home team.

Most of us today take baseball for granted without thinking about how it all started. If you’re a true baseball fan, or sports history fan, well this week’s episode of Crackin Backs is for you.

The golden age of baseball, or baseball’s Golden Era, is the period from about 1920 to 1960. It is the historical period that immediately follows the dead-ball era (before World War I) but before the modern era. It’s in this time frame our guest, David Mantel, grew up. The son of the late, great, MICKEY MANTLE, David grew up surrounded by the likes, of Willy Mays, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio and Whitey Ford.

Today, we let David take us on a journey into the past, a walk down memory lane to bring this golden era back to life as only a person who lived it can. 

We are two sports chiropractors, seeking knowledge from some of the best resources in the world of health. From our perspective, health is more than just “Crackin Backs” but a deep dive into physical, mental, and nutritional well-being philosophies.

Join us as we talk to some of the greatest minds and discover some of the most incredible gems you can use to maintain a higher level of health. Crackin Backs Podcast

Dr. Spencer Baron:

Welcome listeners to another fun episode of The cracking backs podcast. on the Hot Seat today we have a man who carries a piece of baseball's Golden Age in his DNA. David Mantle son of legendary Mickey Mantle. Imagine growing up with names like Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, Roger Maris, and Joe DiMaggio as your dad's closest pals. Today, David is here to peel back the curtain sharing untold tales of life off the field. The man behind the mantel myth and even a love and connection to the powerhouse Rock Band littered skittered, it's a glimpse into baseball history. You won't want to miss. Stay tuned.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

All righty already already. Welcome to the show, Mr. David Mantle, you know, a lot of people probably know the last name Mantle. So we're gonna, we're gonna dive in. And one of the reasons I wanted you on the show, David, after meeting you and talking to you come from an era that I don't ever, ever want to be lost is, it's considered a great era. Your father and the people you hung out with were great. And I think our generation needs to hear stories that are from the recent past. And those stories never need to be forgotten, and you're a hell of a storyteller. So we want that. Well, your dad, for all those listening is the great Mickey Mantle, one of the greatest baseball players of all time, and you grew up with a band that I consider when the greatest Southern rock bands of all time, Leonard Skinner, I mean, if people don't know the song Freebird and know about Mickey Mantle's homerun King. Well, we're gonna learn about that in the show today. So welcome to the show, Mr. mantel ad, it's pleasure to have you on the show. Thank you. I'm glad I'm here. Your dad was born in 1931, which is kind of cool because my mom was born in 1931. And they're only a month apart actually, which is kind of which is kind of cool. He played Sara field and first base for the New York Yankees by what I want to hear this, give it start with the life of who your father is, you know, kind of let's start there. So who is a great Mickey Mantle from his son's perspective?

David Mantle:

Well, luckily, well, he's from Oklahoma, him and mom are and they were proud. They were Okies. I can remember just a quick story here is that I was over at mom and dad's house, and I answered the phone for him. And it was a Texas Hall of Fame. And they go man, we wanted to see if your dad would be interested in you know, let us put him in here. And he goes, Man, tell them thank you, but I'm gonna know why he didn't. He didn't do that. I think they got a little discouraged. He was proud from being from Oklahoma. But you know, he was raised to be a baseball player. And it turned out he was one of the best.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

Is it true that he got recruited out of high school?

David Mantle:

Oh, yes. He was up. Godly. He was. I remember the contract he signed with the Yankees. His father had to sign because he wasn't old enough. Yeah. So that's what's weird. His father signed for him.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

That's crazy. I mean, especially when you consider nowadays.

David Mantle:

Yes. And another thing back then his signature was totally different. It was just the regular ends. And it's about like, if you, of course, I was lucky enough. You could see in the contracts, like starting about 5859. He was starting to try to do those hymns, and he was perfecting them. And you know, like by 60, he had the new signature, but the first contracts was the old hymns. Yeah. When he was old. Start out

Dr. Spencer Baron:

with baseball. He played football and basketball, didn't he?

David Mantle:

Oh, yes. He. In fact, he had a I think a scholarship was offered to him for him. Oh, you. But he just he stuck with football. I mean, baseball

Dr. Spencer Baron:

sustained in it. Wow. That kept him from

David Mantle:

Oh, what happened is he's got that osteomyelitis and he was kicked in the shins. And I didn't know it was that kind of a serious of a disease. But they were talking about maybe having to amputate his leg and that there would have been no Mickey Mantle or you know, not football, baseball anything but thank God for his mother. He's she said no, you're not doing that. And he turned Dad All right, but that was just that was the beginning of his injuries. And it just seemed like he was just destined to be great. You don't want bad leg, you have another

Dr. Spencer Baron:

injury to the other leg during baseball.

David Mantle:

Oh, yeah. That's why I say that was the knee up in there. So I mean, it was weird in the mornings. You could hear him walking down the hall. It was just like crack, crack, crack, crack. I mean, that's how we knew he was coming. It was like to one of our rooms or what, who did something wrong?

Dr. Terry Weyman:

So where do you before we go into all the injuries? Where do you think he got his strong bat from? Because we talked a little bit about that. So where do you think he was drawn back from or why he was considered when the greatest homerun hitters of all time. And he's still considered to this day, the greatest switch hitter of all time. So where did he get his strong back from

David Mantle:

where his dad was? God just he saw into the future, and he knew platooning would be it. And so his dad, I think, was right handed and his grandfather was left handed. So that's how they started. One would pitch to him right? One would pitch to him left. And it just, that's how they started it.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

But didn't he work in like a courtyard? They were both you know, right

David Mantle:

and left.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

Did he work in like a quarry or something that was too Oh, yeah.

David Mantle:

For the muscles though got he was he worked down in the lead and zinc mines there in Oklahoma, you know, right around Myanma? You know, this is after they moved to like commerce and stuff, but that he worked in those mines and swing, swinging that sledgehammer, man, that's how he got those back that forearms. And I was just looking at a picture the other day of dad, and I just go God, those forearms. It just, you know, when you see, I mean, even the muscles in his neck. I mean, he probably even use the eye muscles. But you could see when he took a swing, he used every muscle in his body, and just why y'all had to get a close up of him, where he's got that, you know,

Dr. Terry Weyman:

just let you know, Spence, he looked a lot like my forearms, you know, yeah.

David Mantle:

They were, they were just huge. But, you know, he also got that big back from there, too. And, you know, back then, they didn't really have white, you know, no one really worked out like they do now. And, but so, you know, doing that that's, I think that was another thing that blessed him. God just said, you know, we'll let you swing a sledgehammer for a while.

Dr. Spencer Baron:

He, he's known for being one of the third highest in the career in his career for adjusted bass. You know, hitting, like, behind Barry Bonds and Mike Trout, which I didn't even realize that i i read up on that I actually, you know, Barry Bonds obviously has a little bit of a tainted record, but I mean, yeah, I actually, yeah, him for about eight years, every time he would come play the Marlins, but use a year he was a big guy, but it was it didn't start out that way.

David Mantle:

Now, that's if you look at some of the early pictures and stuff it was, you know, a lot different. But you know, Dad didn't look that big either when he started so but, you know, just as you get older, I think, you know, he was only God, I wish, you know, he wasn't even like we talked about wasn't even old enough to sign his first contract or promise to play for the Yankees. His father had to do it for him. So, you know, he was he was, you know, still in high school.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

You know, I got a question. Hold on. I got a question. Why do you think so many names back then are still prevalent today? You know, you go back 10 years, and I bet people can't remember half the names that you hear yet. Back then. Roger Maris, your dad? You know, Babe Ruth, I mean, there are some big names that are still really strong today. What makes do you think is because they started the sport, or do you think what makes him so great that people still remember their names?

David Mantle:

I don't know. It's, I'm glad it is, though. But you know, the 50s in the 60s, and I think what really helped is TV. I mean, back then, you know, he, he was the St. Louis Cardinals fan. And, you know, he always liked Stan mutual, but, uh, you know, back then all they had was radios. So I mean, you sit around and listen to the radio, you weren't able to like, you know, if you didn't go the game to sit and watch TV and see your favorite players. The only time you really saw him was if you're at The game. So you know, after the invention of TV, and, you know, games were being televised, you know that just your popularity goes up?

Dr. Spencer Baron:

You do you? Did you go to the games? Or were you able to watch it on TV? Or did you remember one particular episode or event?

David Mantle:

I, it's, it's kind of hard to remember them all. But we were very blessed. And what else was fun? You know, during spring trainings, we would pack up, or David already be there. And of course, you know, mom didn't really like to fly. So we would take the trains. And shoot, that was kind of fun. But I don't know how mom did it with four kids running around the train. But you know, we would it take us three days to get to Florida. But God, we had a blast, just get in there. And of course, then, after spring training was over, you know, we were down there for six weeks. And what was fun is that the other ballplayers were brain nerd kids. So I mean, that's why I've always talked about it. We were a family. I mean, the players hung out, the wives hung out, and then us kids hung out. And nobody was jealous. We are, we were all there rooting for the Yankees. And you know, we had fun in our own ways. While we were getting in trouble. Why the mom and dad were trying to keep us out of it.

Dr. Spencer Baron:

Do you ever see the likes of guys like Yogi Berra or Joe DiMaggio? Or?

David Mantle:

Oh, yes. Because, you know, like, at Spring Training, and you know, Phil, towards the end, you know, had retired, so, but Phil Rizzuto would be there with his daughters. And he had one son named scooter. So I mean, we'd hang around now. But man, it's just, we just, we grew up with him. I mean, because we had six weeks of spring training. And then while we were younger, when the season got gone, they'd pack us back up again. And we would take the train up to New York, and we lived right over the bridge in New Jersey. And so we were there for like two summers. So I mean, we we'd go to the ballpark. And you know, of course, you know, we didn't really take advantage of it. But you know, we hung around the kids that we got to know in the neighborhood and, you know, played baseball and stuff with them was

Dr. Spencer Baron:

let's see there. Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson, Hank, Aaron, all those guys were were pretty active during that time. Did you?

David Mantle:

Oh, yeah. Yeah, they were it was a I, you know, course what was great about New York at that time, they had three baseball teams. Yeah. You know, the Dodgers were there. And then of course, the Yankees and

Dr. Terry Weyman:

met. Oh, no. Judge giants. Right. Yeah.

David Mantle:

So, I mean, they had New York, you know, good thing. It was populated like it was because, I mean, you had shoot your pick of three great teams.

Dr. Spencer Baron:

I forgot about that. Goodness.

David Mantle:

Yeah, it's just, I mean, that's, that was just a unique time. You know, like, Excuse me, like, you know, I said, besides the invention of TV, baseball, I mean, but TV really did help. But, you know, just be in there. And just all the great players that dad had, you know, the honor of, you know, playing with, I mean, him and his teammates. One reason he played injured all the time. He told his boys was that he goes, Man, the guy sitting next to me on that bench could take my job. So he goes, that's one reason I played injured. I mean, that's how good yeah, players back then. I mean, they're still great today, too. But back then. Anybody could have taken your job that

Dr. Spencer Baron:

do you ever keep in touch with any of the kids from the those? Those Those that era?

David Mantle:

Oh, yeah. We you know, it's sad though. But we spoke to Ed for you know, we are always real close with them. And I talked to Ed, you know, just about a month or so ago, but his older sister Sally and she had just passed away. And Tommy, the youngest son of why he was up, he got bit by a tick or something was in the hospital, I guess got Lyme disease or something. But he got up out of bed to do some and had a heart attack. So he died, you know, way back before even my brother Billy or Mickey Jr. Passed. Wow, Tommy was really young too. But we I'd go up after the You know, baseball was done. We were still so close when dad had the restaurant in New York, which, you know, was there forever. We would go up to New York, us kids and, you know, we'd hang out with, they'd come in town. And we'd sit there and run around New York and eat at that restaurant and all that. I remember going speaking to Leonard Skinner, me and Tommy what to a Leonard Skinner thing that they had when they had like those VH one things in the little studio audience and stuff. So we were had great seats. We're right up front. So I mean, we would do stuff. I mean, with the forge, we were always together.

Dr. Spencer Baron:

The I want to jump into that Leonard skittered conversation, but I first want to ask, I want to ask, I think 1956 and Mickey Mantle was your dad was challenging Babe Ruth's homerun record. And I understand that the press WRITE really nasty about it, because you know, all the diehard Babe Ruth fans wanted to, you know, keep the legend alive and not some guy named Mickey Mantle to take that. Do you remember? how that went? You know, the, you know, the the press was? Not very nice.

David Mantle:

Well, you know, that was in 61. Of course, you know, Roger was one of Dad's great teammates, and him and Roger and dad, were like in that baseball, I mean, homerun duel, you know, each other hitting home runs the whole season. So the Yankees that that season, they just you probably got a lot of new fans but they weren't always look in the paper. You yo to see who you know, the fans want to see who's in front and all that stuff. And then dad and Roger had fun with it. You know, the press played it off. That dad and Roger hated each other. They live together that season. With Bob serve. You know if anybody ever saw the movie 61 You'll show him you. They would show each other the paper look, we're fighting again. But they call them and they live together. The m&m boys or something like that? Yeah. That's right.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

Yeah, I was just good. That was a question I was gonna ask you about that movie that came out. And they kind of built them out these big rivals, but isn't that they still do that spreads to this day in sports. So they'll take people and they'll pit them against each other for ratings in reality? Yes, they're all buddies, you know?

David Mantle:

Oh, yeah. But back then, I mean, I can remember like, you know, even after dad retired, you know, and he started doing like, the baseball card shows and stuff, you know, he'd be there with other people he played against, but man, you'd see them before or after the, you know, their time assigning whatever, you know, they would be at dinner with their families and the other players, but dad and that, man, it's just like, they just picked up conversation, like it was still in the 50s and 60s, I don't think back then, I'm sure there was rivalries. And, you know, they were always trying to beat the other one, but I don't think it there was really like, no animosity and stuff. Everybody really loved each other. But, you know, just, you know, for ratings, like you said, the papers would, you know, put them against each other.

Dr. Spencer Baron:

Was there a rivalry?

David Mantle:

Joe was Joe was nothing against him or anything, but he was really kind of quiet, but you know, he didn't really up from what I understand, you know, you know, like, Dad, he would always try to, you know, rookie come in, and if they man, they would take him out. And, you know, show him the town and stuff like that. But, you know, that kind of nurtured them and stuff. And back then maybe it was just because it was the 50s it was just well, you know, Dad and Joe didn't hang out. Of course, you know, Dad got into, you know, the drinkin, which we'll probably talk more about later. But, you know, that was, you know, Jody was pretty straight laced, I think.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

Isn't there an episode? Episode as the wrong word. Isn't there an incident that your dad and Joe were in the outfield and grind for the ball? Joe call that your dad slid and caught a sprinkler head or something like that. And then

David Mantle:

he didn't slide though. It was a Jodi's last season. And Joe had like a bad I think right foot or ankle and stuff like that. So Casey toe Dad before the game excuse me, you know, to, you know, help God out there and you know, take more balls and he should. And there's one hit that was up. I forgot who hit it might have been Willie, I'm not sure. And dad took off for it. And some people have said that Joe D waited too long to call Dad off. And he went to stop and his cleats caught in a sprinkler. And just all that wait and running. That's and Yogi said one time he goes, Man, you could have you heard the pop in the dugout, it was that bad. And it just, you know, and dad just crumbled over. And what else was bad about that? His dad happened to be at the game. And so when it this is funny, though, so how dad got to the hospital after the game, they had to take a taxi So his dad got out, and dad was getting out. And he would dad would put his arm on him. And I guess he put a lot of weight on his dad and his dad crumbled. And that just freaked him out. Because like he goes, you know, his dad was, you know, strong stuff. But that's when they found out that the mountain curse had hit his dad, you know? It was that Hodgkin's disease like cancer and stuff that runs in the family. And so that's when they found out that his dad had it. And, you know, Mickey Jr. None of us even got to meet dad's dad. So but that was, that's how they found out he was keeping it from everybody that he was sick. And so after that, that's when I think he went to Colorado to I guess that's where you went to try to get help.

Unknown:

I just didn't Did he?

Dr. Spencer Baron:

Based on what you just said? I gotta Yeah, I have to find it very entertaining that the David reels off first names of some of the greatest players on earth. And he just got like, Casey does that. You mean Casey Stengel or who? Like that? Yogi like Yogi Berra, like, he's talking about, like their neighbors down the block. Really? And then you say, like Willie Mays, you know, I have to laugh because you're just drawing out these names like they're, you know, kind of the backyard guys, you know? Players, right.

David Mantle:

You know, that's what it was a family back then. I mean, hey, you know, Bauer, Bobby Richardson, Tony kubek, Tom trash, you know. And then of course, you know, like at Spring Training, I'm serious. We all stayed at the golf ocean mile and the players hung out, the y's hung out, and those kids hung out. I mean, we just be just like, it was family. Then in the summers, we'd be over at Joey's house cooking out or Then why'd he's doing this? Like we were all just one big family. I think that's what I think that's another reason they won. They were very close. Nobody wanted to be traded back down.

Dr. Spencer Baron:

And you mentioned what?

David Mantle:

And that happened that reminded me of a story. John Blanchard was a catcher for the Yankees. And you know, of course, when Elson came up to but uh, so I forgot where they traded it, but John was really just bummed out about it. Dad was trying to give him a pep talk, you know, say, hey, you know, you're still playing and you know, we're sorry, you know, take that see you go but you know, they just, you know, back back then if you're trading you wouldn't find out to that day. Yeah. Yeah, you'd be like you you kind of maybe come in that morning or you might even finish playing the game and then they tell you Oh, wow. But it was just that's how it was back then. You didn't know about it much.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

Well, well, Spencer is still reeling of these name drops that you know, will drop names, but we'll never touch this this episode talking about

David Mantle:

daughters. There is one story I gotta tell you. Go ahead. Tommy Ford, and my older brother Mickey, Jr. They were in Cindy and Penny's bedroom, and they were hiding in the closet. Phil and Cora came in and they heard him say, Cora said to Phil, we got to keep these Malin Ford boys. away from our daughter's and Mickey and Tommy were hiding in the closet. I mean, nothing happened but you know, just being in the room was bad enough. Yeah, but I mean it. I mean, but we were like I said a family I mean, we were very close and when you know us kids we took up for each other to

Dr. Terry Weyman:

wow Yep, I got something. So if there's a guy that said that and I might be missing my facts up and I thought it was from the incident against I'll say Joey D when he hit the sprinkler head that he or she after he heard like he went he still batted Is that true?

David Mantle:

I don't think he did after that. Okay. Because I mean, he went down they had to carry him off on a stretcher if I remember

Dr. Terry Weyman:

all right, isn't there an incident that he showed us another I mean, I'm sorry to interrupt but that isn't there isn't that he showed up to the bounding box and he's got his whole leg as all bloody and and all that and he's still is playing even though he's bleeding and all blue is

David Mantle:

bleeding through his uniform. And he had like something this was in his hip and it Ancef mom said it was about that big just open and blade she said you can see the bone and all that stuff. But you know he but you know back then it's like he said you know you didn't want to miss a game because that player next to you can take your

Dr. Terry Weyman:

key. Can you imagine that now can you imagine that now guys showing up to the plate bloody now.

David Mantle:

I mean, I'm you know, someone hurts herself playing golf, they're out. But it's you know, it's different times but you know, back then to like dad mentioned one time when I played the players were stupid and the owners were smart. Now it's the players are smart and the owners are stupid. You know, these contracts they get I mean, besides the good amount of salaries and stuff, you know, there's a lot of other stuff in there the union's a lot more powerful than it was back then. I think you know, back then you just and you know that was that that era too though. It's like how dad was raised and you know, then seeing his dad get sick still working in those mines you know, cracking those rocks and all that stuff. And he's got cancer

Dr. Spencer Baron:

that's unbelievable. on a happy note, the your your dad really in 12 World Series game were you at yes those Wow

David Mantle:

God Yeah, we were but I don't remember. I I used to kind of remember some of that one thing but you know, like I said, God, we'd be at the ballpark. We'd be out terrorizing people and stuff. And you know that one find out what we did till after the game. But it was it was just got it. Like I said a big family man. Hey, hey, spring trainings. Oh, God. I lived for him too. And dad loved him. He couldn't wait to get back. See his teammates. And of course mom loved it too. She got see Joni and the other wives that was Joanie was widely his wife and you know, so it was cool. When you know Phil, you know had three daughters and then scooter resumo his boy was I think, Billy my little brother's age. But man we run around and get in trouble at the you know, hotels and everything. I remember one thing but a hotel but the pull guy always what had the best town and tan, tan and town. He just be walking around in his bathing suit. But you know, you'd have the palm trees. Hey, we're just like jump up. Just scale up that tree, cut down some limbs. And he made those little palm tree hats. I mean, he just go right up, get some leaves off come down. And you've seen by the pool making his ads. I was

Dr. Spencer Baron:

in Florida. No.

David Mantle:

No, got we. We started out it was in St. Petersburg. And then I think in 60 they moved to Fort Lauderdale. But I'm glad we did Fort Lauderdale. God that's another thing. As we got older, we didn't go as much you know after baseball you know dad retired. He would still kind of help out but you know, we were down there during college spring break. So being on the beach. You had a lot to look at.

Dr. Spencer Baron:

David, down here I live in Florida.

David Mantle:

We would put Do you have We will put two cabanas together and we call it fork cabana. And we would try to get girls to join our group. Well, we had to pick out cabanas together with just enough room to squeeze in between them. Now you didn't

Dr. Terry Weyman:

use your famous father that to attract girls did you know

David Mantle:

ever catch you, you know, like using that or, you know, being like, you know, we never acted better because that goes, this is he always told us this. You know if we had done wrong, he goes fibertech You can't you act and better than anybody. I'm gonna knock you on here. So we just, we knew better than we were just like anybody else. We never acted better.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

Now your dad had a kind of an iron fist when they came to take making sure his boys were in line and respected his mother, didn't they?

David Mantle:

Oh, yeah. And, you know, but that's how dad was raised. And I think that's another way but like, but we saw dad take pain. So that's why I've got one tattoo. It says take the pain. And, you know, we we take the pain too. I mean, it's just like, hey, if you had a problem he goes, you know, you don't whine about understand

Dr. Spencer Baron:

you have a lot of tattoos. You got a favorite one?

David Mantle:

Yes. Ah, probably I've got dad's signature was seven. But then mom goes, where's the one of me? And I said, Mom, it's bad luck. I can't do that yet. And so you know what she did? So now I've got her initials, you know, bigger one on my chest. And then I've got my little girls, my daughter's additional above it. I said, you know, you'll get one but not yet.

Dr. Spencer Baron:

Speaking of daughter. Sorry. I was gonna say we kind of overlooked the fact that that we will have you on a on a YouTube our YouTube channel. And for those viewers. I think we need to explain what's in what's in David's background. The pitcher pitcher stuffed animal. Yeah, and all the stuff. Favorite stuff there. They are. Not joking. I'm joking.

David Mantle:

No, not really. It's just these are all you know, she's a little bit older now. But she still collect stuff. But you know, when she was younger, it was the Beanie Babies thing. So, you know, grandma's and then of course her mom and dad. You know, she collected them to her. So she's still a big collector. But you know, it's that anime stuff now. So kids don't you know, back then when we were growing up too and course especially when dad grew up sports and stuff that that was where your heroes there wasn't this animation. Yeah. I mean, so. You know, you love real life. Is

Dr. Spencer Baron:

that you up in the up in the far corner up there and the red is that? Is that? Is that a stuffed animal that you relate to? Oh

David Mantle:

I don't know. Maybe Marilyn thought when I would. You know, she's lucky. She was a daughter. You know, she she got some slack and stuff. I always told her I said, Man, you know, I think I only whipped her once or twice. I couldn't even do that. She had its you know, she had me tied around her fingers and everything. But uh, you know, my, her mother, you know, always knew it too. And her mother was a better disciplinarian than I was.

Dr. Spencer Baron:

told me a story you told him speaking of disciplinarian, Terry about the when when when their dad would come home when Mickey Mantle would come home from being away.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

So go ahead with David tell us about when when your dad would come home and line up the boys and look at your mother.

David Mantle:

Yep. And but I still this is one I can still remember this like it was yesterday. It's like I wasn't you know there to greet him and everything but I think Cameron mom walked in from you know her picking him up at the airport and I guess on the way home that's when they're plotting their you know who's gonna get what but I can remember him. It's like, I don't know if he called out to Alright, everybody come in here and line up. But I just remember I was there right as he was coming in the front door. He dropped his bag and he goes go get it. And we'd go get his little whipping tool and he goes line up. I mean, you think after the you know, the season he wouldn't remember but I get As mom just refreshed and I'm always going I remember one time asking mom I said man can you just fly or fly me doings and get it over with you know I'd lose 10 pounds worrying about it let me just get it over with

Dr. Spencer Baron:

a year right in that era where they would say you know go out they would tell the dad would tell the kid to go out and get a switch you know a which was like a branch off a tree and just the fact that you had to get your own you know, torture device was you know, just crazy. Crazy time.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

It also switch

David Mantle:

now speaking of that, his mother I think that's where he learned how to whip. She was good at it.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

That brings down that new that new media. Wait till your father gets home.

Dr. Spencer Baron:

Grandma's here. I mean, I just I just had this horrible thought that your dad was not only a homerun slugger, but I can't imagine him with a with a belt in his hand hit me on the butt like that. I mean, that's some power right there. would not want to.

David Mantle:

Yes, but like also, if you look at the swings least I know when I swing, you get that wrist action and he could pop it just Oh, and he say if you move you're gonna get an extra one. If you cry, you're gonna get a lot more. And he goes you better not Flint. No way.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

I haven't. I haven't found there's some blisters going oh my gosh. We're just not Yeah.

David Mantle:

And you just, you're quiet. And when you when your turn was done, you just walked off. The next one would go man.

Dr. Spencer Baron:

I can't say I missed those days. But there was definitely some disciplinarian. You know, some real legitimate disciplinarian approaches nowadays. The kid would call you know 911 And call the Odin out on abuse. You know, I'm like, Oh, my God.

David Mantle:

What? You hear stories of that or so? You know, you're just whipping them. I mean, you know beatings different but you know, you get a weapon. That's just like you said, it's just fine, man. You just you know, Dad taught us respect everybody. There's

Dr. Spencer Baron:

a comedian that talks about how whatever happened a big momma Big Mama was, you know, the disciplinarian and if you acted a Big Mom would smack you in the face wherever you were. But now Big Mom was like 16 years old and she don't know anybody says hit the kid. And there's a there's such a huge difference. Because you know, from what I understand your dad was a super debt. Love. You guys took you guys around all the time. You know? Oh, yeah, I was a disciplinarian.

David Mantle:

Oh, right. We felt loved and everything. But he would take you guys

Dr. Spencer Baron:

like when when baseball season was over. And then from what I understand he would he would take you guys on trips, or, you know, camping or something. With all the boys and really connected with you guys.

David Mantle:

We would? Yes, in the offseason, we would go up what we did a lot. And it's like a little brother Danny even mentioned, you know, it's just me and Danny now. But we were talking to somebody or it might have been an interview that we've made Danny we're doing together. But you know, back then, it's like, everybody knew dad, the kids did. I mean, we would get the kids. And we'd get in the backyard. It wasn't that big. But it was big enough to where, you know, it might have been about an acre. But dad would be the quarterback for both teams. And we divide up all the kids from the neighborhood. And we had games. And we did that almost every day in the offseason. So dad would he was quarterback and all kids would come down and we'd play football all day. So that's how we were good at both.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

Yeah, that I think a lot of the kids now they hear the expression baseball when the America's game or the one of the greatest games on Earth. And we hear that, but I think a lot of the generation now doesn't know where that came from. And they came from your dad's era. Oh, yeah. And I think I hope people are saying why what would your definition be of why it was considered the greatest game of all time and why your dad and all that made it great. What was what was special about that as a fact that they didn't trade from every year they were in a different team and it was like a family or what do you think made it so great.

David Mantle:

Well, I think Warren get kitty here's one of our cats. Go sorry. But you know, of course, like I said, the invention of TV helped. But it was still just the Miss baseball. It just had that Mystique you know, and maybe because, you know, there were a lot of games. It was the summertime, everybody's off. No school, no nothing. And so everybody, you could go to games with your kids. And you know, of course, then, you know, football was always winter. But summertime, it was, you know, Cracker Jacks and, you know, a pop in, or what we did a lot was a course Yogi tried to tuck that into going with him and I watched Deadwood and listen to Yogi yogi was a great businessman, but a yogi, you know, got that. You who chocolate drink? Gosh, that's right. So I remember us when there was one that we will he says Mickey Mantle says you who is the chocolate drink a champion.

Dr. Spencer Baron:

Oh my god.

David Mantle:

So we, we, you know, wore T shirts for you. But argument we'd go the ballpark we'd grab a yoo hoo. We'd get a hot dog. And then we got like a couple of packs of cards. And we would chew the gum, and we would save the card. And before the baseball card craze really, you know, took over Bobby Cheney wants to make the juniors a really good friends. He was with mom he remembers he's wanting told it says he goes I remember helping your mom carry boxes of, you know, shoe boxes of baseball cards. And we film in the trash. Yeah. I can remember this. It was like it was probably like one of the last one cards. We used to put them in our Yes, bicycle spokes. You don't get that. But I can remember I go here Yogi and I put Yogi Berra in my front spoke. I'm going to tell him what that card be worth. Today.

Dr. Spencer Baron:

I take a clothespin clip the I can't I haven't thought about

Dr. Terry Weyman:

that too.

David Mantle:

And I remember folding Yogi up but I go here you go Yogi like I'm what man be proud. I'm choosing you today.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

Wow. All the collectors all the collectors right now we're just going boom. Yeah.

David Mantle:

Well, I just wonder how many of dad we did that ways.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

Oh, sure. Punch.

David Mantle:

We've never owned one rookie card.

Dr. Spencer Baron:

Unbeliev. Can you imagine what that?

Dr. Terry Weyman:

Did your dad like, say graphs. Later on. I heard there's a couple of times that people try and swim them. Give them a bottle, like a bottle of Jack or bottle or something like that to try and get them all drunk to sign more cards. And then he would be smart enough to know what they're doing and sign the card with a unique symbol or something like that would flip them off or tell him to make that card worthless? Did he do stuff like that?

David Mantle:

Not that I really know. But I just what he would do. I remember you know, his son's you know, as we would take turns traveling with dad, as we got older. And you know, the baseball craze was really going, you know, really, you know, when you'd have appearances at the card shows. And so we would take turns with dad. I can remember one time I was with dad. It's still beside him busy talking. But he could still see everything going on. And when the kid walked up and I think he had like six balls and dad, he went ahead and signed them for him. And then dad kind of like shuffled off after that. I'm going where is he going? He walked over to this guy. He goes if I ever see you have a kid do a man or you know do your dirty work? He goes, Yeah. So he got I got God had you seen that? That's you know, but he he would know he knew everything. That's like when he'd come home. I said he knew.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

Wow, thank you know another thing before we go on to Larry scared. He was a highest paid athlete or the highest paid baseball player in 1961. Do you mind ask him what was the highest paid athlete paid in 1861?

David Mantle:

Well, he got 100,000 And that was a lot. Wow. But you know, I heard Babe Ruth got like 120 or so your dad? No Babe Ruth. Did I think I know. I don't think he ever met him. But I remember there's we've got a picture somewhere. It's probably just in one of the photo books, but Babe Ruth's wife and stuff. And Dad's like on the field, and they got a picture of Oh, Mike, you know, talking together. Wow, that's cool. Oh, it was cool. But you know, Dad never got to meet him.

Dr. Spencer Baron:

Alright, I'm dying to talk about Leonard Skinner down. Tell. Let's go i gotta hear I love Leonard Skinner go.

David Mantle:

Well, I don't know just what some questions because I don't, you know, tell too much. But, you know, of course, one thing it was, you know, like, you know, we all up with took turns going to Betty Ford's but got when we were cut remembers I was living in Florida time with my second wife and a little brother Danny he's the one that really kind of got the ball rolling was scattered. So, you know, he got us tickets and we had backstage and all that. But this is right the beginning of the reunion tour when they all got back together. And Ronnie or Johnny Ronnie's brother, the youngest one started, you know, singing for scattered. And so they all just got back together and they were having kind of like, I guess I get together because it was in Florida. And we, they had the backstage closed off and we didn't get to go. But you know, we still had good seats. But it was just that was the beginning for me. And it just we've, you know, just stayed in contact. And course it's sad, you know, Gary rossington. He passed away a couple of months ago. So but you know, Leon, he was a real good friend of mine. He was just down to earth. He was the bass player for scattered. So we had always talked when they'd come into town and stuff. But it's just we've just got Norman, we've always liked music, I can remember a friend of mine. We were at school. And he pulls up this way and I pull up that way. He goes, Man, listen to this, and on the Radio Free Bird was. And that's the first time I'd heard it. So you know, we're like juniors or something. I just got my license. And so we're listening to scanner and on the radio. But, uh, man, it's just it's been a trip, we've gotten to know him and got to I would go up to New York. Like I said, I took Tom before, at one of those little VH one performances. And but you know, we'd be down. Of course, you know, back then, they were still drinking into there. They don't party anymore. You know, we've all just kind of outlive that, I guess, thank God, we live through it. And because, you know, there's a couple of people that just didn't make it. And, you know, like my little brother, Billy, he, you know, got cancer and stuff, but he kind of gets through that, but it messed him up. They had to put him on that Dilaudid and stuff. And he got hooked to drugs. That was really, I guess, the beginning. And he just never kicked, he always thought he was gonna die. He was 19. And then he just he had bad luck, he just get pulled over and stuff. And you know, so, you know, he was in prison. And they said he was walking to lunch. And that's when Supposedly he had a heart attack and passed away. So we weren't even willing. That's what I don't know how mom did it, you know, losing two sons or husband and everything else. But, but scattered was, you know, it was just kind of like, you know, something for us to look up to like, you know, like people had baseball we had Skinner

Dr. Spencer Baron:

inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They're like, top 100 rock bands.

David Mantle:

Yeah, God, I wish I could remember what year my memory. I've had a lot of head injuries. I wish I had a picture of it right now in front of me, but I had a I'm a big Harley guy, and Dad hated it. You know that I had motorcycles. And of course, also if he was still alive, I wouldn't have these tattoos. Because I remember one time I grew a mustache, and I thought he was gonna pull it out. He had me almost on the ground saying you're gonna shave. You know, when I was still young. So I said, okay, okay, it was a just man, we had the short hair, no facial hair. And it was just that's how he was raised, I guess. But I can remember. You know, that's how we weren't. You know, when we'd be at Spring training. It's just he was he was a good disciplinarian. You know, but he wasn't cruel or anything like that. It's just his father. You know that. That's probably why we you know, aren't smart Alex.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

So you became a rebel after your dad passed? Because when I met you, you had facial hair. You had a beard and the mustache? Yeah. So you know you got beard the mustache you ride a Harley and you get tattooed. You know you didn't you held it until later on in life and then you'd lose let loose right?

David Mantle:

Because, uh, you know, you know, mom, she goes, God if your dad was still likes, I remember. It's like, you know, companies and then you know, that's when I really started riding mo motorcycles more and all that kind of stuff too. Because he, he didn't really you know, like that either too much. Good stuff.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

That's crazy. What? Looking back, you know, to for our stories before we end pretty soon but looking back, what are some things about your dad that maybe you know he has like Spencer said he has a reputation of being a hard ass or whatever or he has the reputation of being one of the toughest SOPs in baseball just doing over. But what some things that that you know, as a an athlete, even though he was, you know, a highly paid back in the day, but he still had this work ethic there was unbelievable and but what some things that did keep your dad's name alive, what some things that people that is not in the, in the on the internet about your dad that you want people to know about him?

David Mantle:

Well, one thing you know, because of his name, he was honored to help out with a lot of charities I can remember towards the end, you know, we had the golf tournaments to, you know, that bunch of celebrities and everything came to but you know, he would do make a wish and, you know, cancer stuff, because cancer ran in the family. And, you know, he just he did a lot of charity stuff. So, you know, a lot of people got to meet him that way. And then, like we said, you know, of course he worked for reserve life insurance company for a while too. And, you know, through that, you know, they would, you know, have get togethers and dad would, you know, travel around, that's kind of how he made his living after baseball, like, you know, God to he had a name and everybody wanted it that, you know, companies and of course, you know, commercials and stuff. You know, that's, you know, he would it kept his name after, and people got to meet him and I you know, he was just that down to earth Oklahoma boy and he just, you know, he had that just personality that you know, everybody loves interesting.

Dr. Spencer Baron:

We have a hospital out here. That's the Joe DiMaggio children's pediatric hospital. I was while you were talking I'm wondering, it could have been the Mickey Mantle Children's Hospital you know, I'm sure there's there's others out there that probably have his name still printed on Yelp. And you know, it's great.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

Do you think the baseball because I remember talking when when Dodgers first came to LA and they talked about how when you sign with a team you stay with the team till you retired almost because it came a family and and birthdays everybody showed up for the kids for the for weddings Army showed up and all that kind of stuff. And I remember hearing, I think it was Jay Johnstone talking about how it was such a families back then. And then now we have this feature, this trade thing where you can be with the team for a year and then it's almost like a bunch of individuals and the guy next to you can be making three times what you're making. We're back, you know, in your dad's here is pretty much they were they're all paid. They're all work together, they'll travel together. And so do you think that some of the free trade ruin the sport or I mean, it's just it is what it is? But what do you think about that? Yes.

David Mantle:

You know, course back then to traveling by trains, you know, they got real close. And it's funny. He said the reason you don't hear a lot about what we did on the trains, it's because the sport riders traveled with us and they were doing it to a really good day too much when they're doing it also. But it just, you know, it was just that time again, I don't know.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

Yeah. You know, baseball is also known for practical jokes. You know, a lot of those guys are proud to wear some of the best practical jokes. You remember hearing about what your father would do.

David Mantle:

We Joe Pepitone, he was like the first you know, one that brought a hairdryer to the locker room. And so dad put like, the talcum powder or whatever and at one time, and Joe went to turn it on, it just went. He just got out of the shower and stuff. But dad, he loved playing jokes and April Fool's Day, he would start calling us at six in the morning. And you know, he all day long people got a joke played on. I remember he had my pregnant wife. He called her up early in the morning and said, told her we lost the house and we're going to have to get out by the end of the week and stuff. And she started crying. I'm going God What are you just tell her and stuff and I go, what's going you know She hands me the phone. He's just laughing as he's hanging up. I go, what's going on here? We have to move which I've gone. It was a joke. It's April Fool's Day. Then she stopped. But God, she was so mad. He loved I mess with people. But you know, in the locker room, he would be the first one to play a joke on somebody. He just was that he was, you know, playing baseball. And so he was just that big kid. He did that

Dr. Spencer Baron:

powder, talcum powder in the hairdryer to my ex wife. That's probably what she divorced me. But I

David Mantle:

Yeah. Got Joe by surprise. And of course, you know, hell, it's sad. You know, we still you know, we still talk to the players that are still here. But you know, Joe passed away a couple of months ago, too. So, you know, we used to talk to him every now and then. And it's just, you know, we we've got the kids, kids, but like, you know, Edie Ford's the only one in that family that we get to talk to, of course, Roger, they had a big family. And they've been blessed. And everybody's still here. So what really great I forgot to tell you is Billy Martin went up Jr. When Billy his father came to manage the Texas Rangers. They live over in Arlington, which is close to Dallas here. And got we say Billy all the time and got we hang out and travel together and do stuff too. He you know, I do stuff for veterans and everything, too. And Billy will join me when he can. But Billy, still I can agent and all that kind of neat stuff. So he's still really involved with baseball and everything. But he's, I think Billy said that, you know, they've even got some entertainers now.

Dr. Spencer Baron:

All right, I got I got one last question for you. I understand that baseball players can be very superstitious. I've seen some hilarious things like you can't, you have to walk over the white line, you can't touch the white line. And then knowing that you'll see guys jump over it and all that because it's bad luck. If you touch the white line with did your dad have any superstitions?

David Mantle:

You know, out. I wish I remember. I just remember him playing jokes, but I don't know. I'm pretty sure he probably is, you know, it's like, sorry, I can't remember like I used to but, you know, I've had those head injuries. And maybe just because I'm getting old that I just don't remember. But I've been asked that before. And I've always wondered what it was, but I'm sure he had something like, you know, you know, when he come up to the plate, or going to the outfield, you know, don't step on the baseline and all that kind of stuff.

Dr. Spencer Baron:

That's probably one of the biggest ones that I hear about. I mean, I treated a guy who was a catcher for the Mets. And there was some laughter going on in the training room off to the side. And I asked what was what was up and he they one of the other players said that? Well, he had a he was with this girl the night that he had a career high game. And I go alright, that's cool. I want you got weather again. He goes, No, actually he stole her underwear. And he's wearing it right now. I go. What? Yeah, for good luck. He took her on. He's, so I asked him. He came up to me. He was a funny guy. And he goes, Oh, yeah, I'm thinking what, like what, and he pulls down his uniform. And he's got this, this leopard print lace Thung over the top of his underwear, but underneath his uniform. Oh my God. God, that had to have been the most. I mean, crazy experience with superstition.

David Mantle:

Yeah, give me good luck today. I can remember one day that, you know, he didn't really call home runs or whatever. But it was a Mother's Day. And I think that's when he hit his 500 That's Home Run Ball. And got if I thought about I've got it in the safe downstairs. I should have brought it up. So we could have shown it when I told that story. But you know, he he goes, Marlon, I'm gonna hit a home run for you today. You know, she was at the game and stuff with dad's mom. And it was Mother's Day and he hit a home run. Cool. So I mean, but I think you know, if you look back at dad's career, there was some good I don't know how many games in a row or whatever, or just how many games that he hit to home Um, runs and stuff and all that kind of stuff. But you know, that's happening today too. But back then the balls are a little bit different now. And the way that I think they were hand wound back then or whatever now, you know, it's all machine. So they're a little bit tighter, but also to you know, the guys are bigger and stronger.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

You know, I'm just gonna rattle off a couple stats for the people he played to have 2401 games, he hit 2415 hits. I mean, that's, that's unbelievable. That's that's way over a hit per game of 2400 games. And he had 536 home runs back then. I mean, that's with with not the modern bats of today, not the modern balls of today. And, and not the speed of the the pitching of today. I mean, that's yes, that is unbelievable.

David Mantle:

Yeah, I'm glad you mentioned that. Yeah, you know, the pitching is a little bit, you know, they still had people like throw a fastball and stuff back then. But it was just back then it was just dead, raw power and stuff that and just, it's like I mentioned, he used every muscle in his body, because I remember him telling me that once. You know, he just, like I said, when y'all look at some of the pictures, I mean, the veins in his neck are just like, popped out is like this and everything. So you know, it was just you know that time and of course, it didn't hurt that he was a switch hitter.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

No, no. And I'm going to oftheir I'm going to ask you, and for everybody listening, if they want, they want to see it, I'm gonna ask you to take a picture of you. And that $500 or 500, that 500 homerun ball, and I'm gonna put it we're gonna put it into the video so people can see. Cool, can you can see that? Because I think that would be really cool to have that. How that ball, you know, on our show and have people see it, you know, hey, I got no, I got that. I mean, that was fantastic. David, and I'm so honored that our friend Garrett, who's been on the show introduced us. He got so mad when he sat us next to each other and and we hadn't connected. He's like, Don't you know who this guy is? Yeah. And well, you were incognito. Because yeah, your beard on. But I was so blessed that we've connected and now you're part of our crackenback family. And I am glad to. And I hope everybody realizes that that was an era that we should never, ever be forgotten. They played hard. They were tough. But they also treat each other with respect as a family. And they cheered on their rivals, they didn't put them down. It was just such a great era. And to hear the stories of how great their family was, that was that's an honor to hear. And I hope we all learn a lesson from that.

David Mantle:

So that made me think of another story real quick, you know, back then to the house that dad grew up in, you know, he had three brothers and one sister. And they used to always, like when it's time for bed, they would like try to get there first because at least if you're in the middle, they all had to share a bed. And if you're in the middle, you stayed warm. But if you're on the end, you didn't have many covers and stuff. But but, you know, it was just it was a different time then, and just the way he was raised, I think by his father and all that and then like, you know, one pitch into him right handed. And then grandfather pitching to him left handed. It was just, you know, this is all God's plan. I look at it. It just you know, that's what dad or God and plan for dad on

Dr. Spencer Baron:

much for the Distel logic moment. I really that was a lot of fun. Anytime that I completely forgot about and was really fun to talk about. I'm sure there were there's more.

David Mantle:

I wish I could tell you when we're not on film, I'll tell you there yeah, we can do locker room talk.

Dr. Terry Weyman:

All right, well, how about you have a blessed day, David, and thank you for taking some time out to walk down memory lane with us.

David Mantle:

Well, man, bless y'all too. And I really do appreciate y'all having me anytime. Okay, you got it.

Dr. Spencer Baron:

Thank you for listening to today's episode of The cracking backs podcast. We hope you enjoyed it. Make sure you follow us on Instagram at cracking backs podcast. catch new episodes every Monday. See you next time.