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REVIEWS OF "A GREAT TEAMMATE"
THE MANTLE FAMILY - MERLYN,
DAVID & DANNY
It was very important to our dad that he be
remembered as a great teammate and this book does an excellent job of explaining
why he was admired, not only by the fans but his teammates and opponents as
well. Randall went to great lengths to research the relevant details of key
events in dad's career in order to show the magnitude of dad's courage,
competitiveness, loyalty, determination, athleticism and perseverance both on
and off the field. Randall spent time with dad and his teammates at the Mickey
Mantle fantasy camps and his knowledge and love of dad really shows in this
book. Reading the book brought back many great memories and magically
transported us back in time to our childhood. The Mantle family gives this book
a big "thumbs up" and wishes to extend our heartfelt thanks to Randall for
writing this inspiring and enjoyable book that beautifully echoes our deep love
and respect for our dad. "A true teammate".
TONY KUBEK - 1957 AMERICAN
LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
“Randall
Swearingen’s book A GREAT TEAMMATE documents,
alongside poignant anecdotes, the legend of the most admired
and dynamic athlete of his era. The accounts are an in
depth, enlightening and entertaining read for Yankee fans
and sports nuts alike. It does much more than tell of his
Herculean homeruns, Mercurial speed and World Championship
rings. For the non-sports fan, the Mick’s life experiences
and determination will surely inspire. This book is filled
with previously uncovered historical nuggets. For those who
were his Yankee teammates, his legacy is surpassed only by
his humility and caring attitude toward us all. It's a
wonderfully written tribute.”
JOHNNY
BLANCHARD - FORMER MANTLE TEAMMATE AND 1961 WORLD SERIES
HERO
"The best book ever written
about Mickey. Swearingen proves that he knows more
about Mickey Mantle than just about anybody."
BOB TURLEY - 1958 CY YOUNG
AWARD WINNER AND WORLD SERIES MVP
"For a guy
like me who was with Mickey a lot of his career, it was
exciting for me to relive a lot of the great games and home
runs of Mickey.
With A Great Teammate, I think you've got a real
winner on your hands, especially to a Yankee fan.
It really
shows Mickey in his baseball life."
BOBBY RICHARDSON - 1960 WORLD SERIES MVP
"This book
is fantastic and truly inspiring. It reveals Mickey
Mantle's greatness as a Hall of Famer with the New York
Yankees. But his greatest victory was when his heart
took over in that final inning of his life."
DAVID HINCKELY
-
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
If you're looking for the dirt on Mickey
Mantle, head for another dugout, partner. This is the work of a fan, a
self-described Mantle obsessive who thinks The Mick was as good as it got.
Randall Swearingen doesn't blink at the injuries and off-the-field problems
that bothered Mantle, but mostly this is an ode to how well the man played
the game, which is why we cared in the first place.
WARREN HOLLEMAN
-
FAN
My kids grew up wanting
to BE LIKE MIKE. Like many of my generation, I always
wanted to be like Mick. THE MICK.
Mickey Mantle was, for us, the consummate baseball
player. He hit the ball hard and ran the bases fast. His
arm was strong and his glove golden.
But that's only part of why he was our hero. Randall
Swearingen's book, A Great Teammate, covers the rest.
Mickey was one of the greatest team players the game has
ever known. He found a way to win. One day he'd hit a
home run. The next he'd bunt and steal--or literally
outrun a fly ball. It added up. Between 1951 and 1964,
Mickey's Yankees made twelve trips to the World Series.
Twelve!
When his teammates batted, Mickey cheered. When they
slumped, he took them to dinner. When Roger wilted in
the Babe's mighty shadow, Mickey took him under his wing
and into his home--even as The Mick took his own shot at
THE RECORD.
Mickey played hurt nearly every game of his major league
career because, as a rookie, he deferred to a teammate
named Joe DiMaggio. Mickey never complained or made
excuses. He just came to the park early, took his
treatments, hid the pain, and played hard. As good as he
was, he could have been even better with two legs rather
than one.
When asked why he didn't take himself out of the lineup
to rest the legs, Mickey replied that some child might
come to the ball park to watch him play, and he didn't
want to let that child down. Mickey didn't know it, but
I was that child. My family drove from North Carolina to
New York City in 1961. It was the only chance I ever
had, as a kid, to watch a major league game. Mickey
didn't disappoint: he hit a line drive into the right
field bleachers for a home run. From then on, Mickey was
my hero. And, like so many southerners in those days, I
became, of all things, a Yankee.
Then came the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Sportswriters forgot
who Mickey Mantle was and why he had been our hero. They
publicized his alcoholism. His business failures. His
divorce. If only he had fallen in his prime, they
implied, like Gehrig with ALS or Ruth with cancer. But
somehow he dodged the Hodgkin's curse. And even though
alcoholism is every bit as much a disease as ALS, or
cancer, or Hodgkin's, America stopped loving Mickey the
way he had loved us. We forgot. And, I must admit, as I
almost forgot.
Then I read A Great Teammate, and the memories came
pouring back. Mickey winning games for his team. Mickey
bringing out the best in his teammates. Mickey loving
and respecting the game. Playing hard. Playing hurt.
Always humble. Ever helpful. Never making excuses. And,
in bottom of the 9th, whipping his toughest foe,
alcoholism, and helping others do the same.
No doubt, Old Timers told these stories time and again
at ball games, fantasy camps, reunions, and funerals.
But, no one ever bothered to write them down for us, the
fans. Until now. Mickey, Randall: thank you.
Order your signed copy now!
Or, for immediate shipment, pay now via PayPal!
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Signed by Danny and David Mantle
plus Randall Swearingen |
Signed by Randall Swearingen |
$24.95 + $3.00 shipping
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$16.95 + $3.00 shipping |
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