Just Mickey Mantle's name brings memories of the slugfest in the 1960s. He and Roger Maris are both famous for their performance during this time period, but Mantle has done much more than just that. It all started in his hometown of Spavinaw, Oklahoma. He was born on October 20, 1931.

Mickey started playing for the Yankees in 1951, as he was replacing the legendary Joe DiMaggio. He played center field and was an avid home run hitter with a career high of 536 home runs. Being a switch hitter with a lot of power behind his swing, he was able to perform against nearly any pitcher in the league. The man has seven World Series rings to his name, and he played his whole career with the New York Yankees. In 1961, he was the highest paid player in major league baseball, having a contract for $75,000.

Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspended Mickey Mantle in 1983 for promoting and advertising a casino in New Jersey. However, he was reinstated in 1985 by the next commissioner of Major League Baseball. Mantle wore the number 7 for most of his career; his jersey number was retired after he left the sport in the year 1969. He was quickly inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 1974. This was his first year of eligibility for the Hall of Fame. Mickey was a heavy drinker throughout his adult life, eventually choosing to enter the Betty Ford Clinic to help him with his problem. He passed away in August of 1995, but will always be remembered for his many achievements on the baseball field.