1949 Independence Yankees
 www.mickey-mantle.com

 

A star athlete in three sports for three years while attending Commerce, Okla., high school, Mickey also starred for two years with the Baxter Springs Whiz Kids baseball club. A fleet footed shortstop, Mantle is the only switch hitter on the squad. He is only 17 years old and is five feet ten and a half and weighs 175 pounds.
Harry Craft - Manager Mickey Mantle - SS
 

Mickey's Stats for 1949

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI AVG SLG
89 323 54 101 15 7 7 63 .313 .467

Another 18-year old pitcher fresh out of high school in St. Louis, Mo., Mallon starred in football, basketball and baseball in school. He has played two years of American Legion ball and is expected to develop into a top-flight pitcher. Bob is also six feet two inches tall and weighs 190 pounds. An 18-year-old rookie pitcher from Springfield, Mo. Al joined the Yankees from Joplin, Mo., where he had been used as a relief hurler. He is a six-feet two inch graduate of Concordia semi-pro ball last year and weighs in at 190 pounds. He throws right handed. The only member of the Yankees who was with the team last year, Nick was sent back to the locals from Ventura, Calif., where he started the season. A tall lanky Californian, Ananias has no peer around the initial bag in the KOM league. He hits a long hard ball and has just recently turned 21. Nick is one of a very few married men on the Yankee roster.
Bob Mallon - P Al Long - P Nick Ananias - 1B
A slightly built left hander from Whiting, Ind., Steve has demonstrated excellent control and appears headed for a successfull career in organized ball. The 19-year-old is playing his first season in professional ball. Like Bob Feller, this big fireballer hails from the Iowa corn country and would like nothing better than to emulate that major leaguer. Speck is a 20-year-old hurler who stand six feet three and weighs just short of 200. A bright future is predicted for this member of the Yank corps. A 17-year-old product of Chicago's West Side, "Skeezix" has tremendous power in his wrists and hits a long ball. Although playing his first year professionally, Skizas has shown definite indication of future stardom.
Steve Kraley - P Keith Speck - P Lou Skizas - 3B
An 18-year-old pitcher whose home is in St. Louis, Mo. He lettered on the high school baseball team and hopes some day to pitch in Yankee Stadium. He is six feet three and a half inches tall and weighs 175. A 19-year-old outer gardener from Council Bluffs, Ia., who is here on option from Grand Forks of the class C Northern league. Bill is playing his first year of pro ball and has pleased the fans with his flashing speed. Of good solid build, Bill packs 175 pounds on his five foot ten inch frame. He is still single and was signed by Joe McDermott. On of the four men on the Yankee roster at this time who have had previous experience professionally. Bello is just past his twentieth birthday and his home is the Bronx, New York. Last year he hit .291 as a member of the Wausau team in the Wisconsin State loop. Normally an outfielder, Bello has also had some experience on first base.
Bob "Lefty" Wiesler - P William Chambers - OF Jim Bello - OF
The ace reliever of the Yankee hill staff, "Fireman Joe" is one of the very few married men on the squad. He played amateur ball with his home town, Seneca, Mo., last year. When he has time, Joe likes to go coon hunting. A converted infielder who is doing a great job in the center of Yankee outer garden. Cimino is from Omaha, Neb., and is looking good in his first year of professional baseball. The oldest man on the Yankee squad at 23, other than Skipper Craft, Weber is playing his first year in baseball. He comes from Freeburg, Ill., and likes bowling for a hobby. One of the most consistent hitters on the squad, Weber roams the outfield or plays infield on the Yankee team.
Jim Crowder - P John Cimino - OF Charlie Weber - IF/OF
A veteran of professional baseball at only 19, Bob Newbill is an experienced catcher who is also a dangerous man at the plate. Newbill comes from Windsor, MO., and is single. He stands six feet two inches tall and weighs 180 pounds. A slender right-handed pitcher from St. Louis, Mo., who has just turned 20 years of age. Ken got his start like many other professional players, in American Legion-Ford baseball, and has high ambitions and plenty of talent. A rookie catcher with plenty of ability and ambition, Whitaker comes from Fayetteville, Tenn., and is 20 years of age. He attends Duke university during the winter months. Jack likes hunting for recreation and enjoys playing football too. Like most of the Yank players, Whitaker is single.
Robert Newbill - C Ken Bennett - P Jack Whitaker - C

 

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