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mchenrycards
Featured Contributor, Vintage Corner, Senior Membe
Today's photo of the day features a 19 year old Mickey Mantle attempting to make a spectacular catch of a ball hit by The White Sox 1st baseman, Eddie Robinson. Despite Robinson's 28th round tripper of the year the Yankees went on to beat the Pale Hose by a score a 5-4.
In this photo Mantle was a budding start who was playing right field because Yankee legend Joe DiMaggio was still in his centerfirled position. DiMaggio would retire at the end of the 1951 season which allowed Mantle to take over his center field spot until the end of his career where he would play some first base. When this photo was taken Mantle was not suffering from the ill effects of bad knees that would plague him his entire career. It was during the World Series of 1951 when Mantle would step on a sprinkler cover in the Yankee Stadium outfield and blow out his knee which would forever hobble him. The great thing about this photo is that Mantle had so much incredible potential in front of him and his youthfulness propelled him into the stands, trying to take away this home run when, just a few years later he probably would never have even been close due to his physical limitations.
As mentioned before I like to look at a photo and see the other things going on in it, besides what is the true focus of the picture. I love to see the faces of the fans and it is very interesting to me to see the mix of people in the cheap seats. Young kids, teenagers probably playing hooky from school and older men taking in the game this early fall day. There is even a Military Policeman hanging out, watching the game down the right field line. The Korean war was on at this time so it does make one wonder why the MP was at a Yankee game, dressed in full uniform.
I hope you enjoy today's photo of the day.
In this photo Mantle was a budding start who was playing right field because Yankee legend Joe DiMaggio was still in his centerfirled position. DiMaggio would retire at the end of the 1951 season which allowed Mantle to take over his center field spot until the end of his career where he would play some first base. When this photo was taken Mantle was not suffering from the ill effects of bad knees that would plague him his entire career. It was during the World Series of 1951 when Mantle would step on a sprinkler cover in the Yankee Stadium outfield and blow out his knee which would forever hobble him. The great thing about this photo is that Mantle had so much incredible potential in front of him and his youthfulness propelled him into the stands, trying to take away this home run when, just a few years later he probably would never have even been close due to his physical limitations.
As mentioned before I like to look at a photo and see the other things going on in it, besides what is the true focus of the picture. I love to see the faces of the fans and it is very interesting to me to see the mix of people in the cheap seats. Young kids, teenagers probably playing hooky from school and older men taking in the game this early fall day. There is even a Military Policeman hanging out, watching the game down the right field line. The Korean war was on at this time so it does make one wonder why the MP was at a Yankee game, dressed in full uniform.
I hope you enjoy today's photo of the day.
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