#9: No Stranger to Injuries

Despite his greatness, injuries plagued Mickey Mantle throughout his entire career. His most significant setback occurred during the 1951 World Series when he tripped over a sprinkler head in the outfield, tearing his knee. From that point on, he played with a permanently damaged leg.

Over time, additional injuries to his hips, back, and knees compounded the pain. Yet Mantle continued to put up Hall-of-Fame numbers. Fans admired his resilience—he played hurt but never used it as an excuse. He once said, “I hated to go into a game thinking I might hurt the team.”