The crack of wood against leather is almost palpable in this classic photo of Baseball Hall of Fame power hitter, Mickey Mantle. Mantle (1931 – 1995), an outfielder and switch-hitter for the New York Yankees for 18 years, was called “The Commerce Comet” for the town in Oklahoma where he was raised and “the fastest man to first base” because of his blazing speed. Surmounting serious childhood injuries, Mantle held the World Series records for home runs, runs batted in and runs scored, as well as some of the longest home runs in Major League history.

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