The Mickey Mantle Story

Feb 17, 2022

‘Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!’2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

Mickey Mantle is one of the true legends of American baseball history. He played 2,401 games for the New York Yankees from 1951 until 1968, hit a record 18 home runs in 12 World Series, and was honoured in baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1974. The crowd loved him. He was famous. He was rich. But he still felt empty inside, so he turned to alcohol.

In a Sports Illustrated interview, he once described his long battle with alcohol and his heartbreaking problems with his family. The interviewer then asked, ‘So how are things going with you today, Mickey?’ He replied, ‘I haven’t had a drink in eight months. I’m starting to get my life back together, but I just feel like there’s something missing.’ Do you feel that way today? Have all the things you’ve achieved or acquired failed to satisfy you?

Mickey Mantle finally discovered how to fill the hole in his soul. Near the end of his life he found what he had always been looking for—Jesus Christ. Another famous former baseball player, Bobby Richardson, led him to Christ. At Mantle’s funeral, Richardson told of helping Mantle receive the Lord Jesus as his personal Saviour. On his death bed Mickey Mantle said, ‘I am trusting in Christ’s death for me to take me to Heaven.’ Home run!

And what Jesus did for Mickey Mantle, He wants to do for you too. ‘Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!’

SoulFood: Gen 1–3, Matt 15:15–28, Ps 28, Pr 5:3–6
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2022

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