On March 2, 1960, Mickey Mantle became a hold out. The Yankees wanted to cut Mantle’s salary from $72,000 to $60,000 following Mickey’s disappointing 1959 season, in which he hit .285 with 31 home runs and 75 RBIs. “I thought they might have traded me last year for Herb Score and Rocky Colavito and a little bit of money to the Indians. At the time it made me feel a little bit bad. But I don’t even know if I’d mind getting traded now or not, the way everything’s been going, ” Mickey told a television audience.
Mickey Mantle Had Few Choices
In 1960, the baseball owners held all the cards. If Mickey Mantle didn’t want to play for the salary the Yankees offered, he had few choices. Players didn’t have agents and the reserve clause tied them to one team. Mickey had to rely on the magnanimity of the Yankees, accept their offer, or hold out, which meant he would not get paid.
George Weiss Considered Mickey Mantle to be Unrealistic
General manager George Weiss, not one of Mickey’s favorite people, considered Mickey to be unrealistic in his demands. This is the year Mantle must learn the facts of life. He must learn he can’t bulldoze us into meeting his terms. He must come in and talk over everything reasonably.”
Mickey Mantle went wild. He said that he didn’t understand what Weiss meant by “bulldozing,” and that he wasn’t bluffing. Mickey told reporters that there was no reason to go to St. Petersburg, where the Yankees held spring training. “I wrote a nice letter when they sent me that contract back in January and I told them what I’d sign for. I haven’t heard from them for a month.” But Mickey realized the situation. “I’m waiting to see what happens. They’re the bosses.”
On March 10, in a move that surprised everyone, Mickey reported to the Yankees, stating that he wanted to settle things as quickly as possible. In his absence, manager Casey Stengel had youngsters Ken Hunt and Jack Reed penciled in as competitors for center field, which was ridiculous.
The Yankees Could Afford Not to Win More Than Mickey Mantle Could Afford Not to Play
In 1959, the Yankees finished third, 15 games behind the pennant winning White Sox. George Weiss acquired Roger Maris from his friends in Kansas City in an attempt to bring the Yankees back to where they were used to finishing, but without Mantle, there was no way that the Yankees could win. The Yankees could afford not to win the pennant more than Mickey could afford not to play baseball.
Phil Rizzuto, who was a Yankees’ broadcaster, laced into Mickey, telling the radio audience that without baseball, Mickey would be a has-been rather than a right-now. “Mantle’s pride in his ability to hit the ball a mile is his prerogative, but when he’s had a poor year, it seems the fellow can bury his pride and meet his bosses halfway,” Whitey Ford, who like Mantle suffered a sub-par season in 1959, disagreed. He said that Little Phil always did right by himself when he was playing and that the Yankees paid him well his last two seasons, which he spent primarily on the bench or in the bullpen.
George Weiss Wanted to Changed Mickey Mantle’s Attitude
The day after reporting, Mickey Mantle signed with the Yankees for $65,000, accepting a $7,000 salary cut. The Yankees’ players greeted Mickey with great enthusiasm, who revealed that he had heeded advice from friends, including Hardlo Youngman, who was Mickey’s bowling alley partner in Dallas. George Weiss claimed that the dispute was NOT about money. “To me, it was a question of attitude. I wanted him here to tell him why he had to take a cut.”
References:
Mantle Waits for a Call. (1960, March 3). New York Times (1857-Current file),p. 35. Retrieved March 11, 2009, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 – 2005) database. (Document ID: 105420648).
Mantle Is Adamant. (1960, March 6). New York Times (1857-Current file),p. S2. Retrieved March 11, 2009, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 – 2005) database. (Document ID: 99728059).
By WILLIAM J. BRIORDY. (1960, March 8). PAY CUT TOO MUCH, OUTFIELDER SAYS :Mantle Has ‘No Idea’ How Long He’ll Stay Away During Impasse. New York Times (1857-Current file),p. 39. Retrieved March 11, 2009, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 – 2005) database. (Document ID: 99852343).
By JOHN DREBINGERSpecial to The New York Times.. (1960, March 11). HOLDOUT CHANGES STAND IN DISPUTE :Mantle Reports to Yankees Although His Demands Have Not Been Met. New York Times (1857-Current file),p. 29. Retrieved March 11, 2009, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 – 2005) database. (Document ID: 105184917)
By JOHN DREBINGERSpecial to The New York Times.. (1960, March 12). SLUGGER ACCEPTS $7,OOO PAY SLASH :Mantle Reports to Yanks in Fine Trim but Will Miss Cardinal Game Today . New York Times (1857-Current file),16. Retrieved March 11, 2009, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 – 2005) database. (Document ID: 99482996).
