Mickey Mantle

An American idolized by millions for his feats on the baseball field died Sunday at a hospital in Dallas, Texas. Mickey Mantle, who'd been suffering from cancer, was 63. Mickey Mantle was one of America's baseball greats during the fifties and sixties. He broke into the major leagues with the New York Yankees in 1951, playing right field. Mantle was included 20 times in an All-Star team selection. His record of 18 World Series home runs still stands. The former star underwent a liver transplant operation in June this year to try to reverse the problems brought on by heavy drinking. After his operation, Mantle said he regretted the years of drinking that contributed to his illness. Mickey Mantle Mantle retired from baseball in 1968 but remained a hero to both young and old in America. And in 1974 was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. After his liver transplant, he urged youngsters to emulate his skill with a bat and not make his mistakes with the bottle. "I would like to say to the kids out there, you talk about a role model, this is a role model, don't be like me. I mean God gave me a body, the ability to play baseball, and that's what I wanted to do, he gave me everything and I just..." Soon after his liver transplant, routine tests showed that cancer had spread throughout his body. "I come back to the hospital for a checkup once in a while and about two weeks ago the doctors found a couple of spots of cancer in my lungs. Now I am taking chemotherapy to get rid of the new cancer. I am hoping to get back to feeling as good as I did when I first left here." Mickey Mantle Mantle died at 1:10 AM central time today (Sunday) with members of his family at his side. He was 63.