However, Mantle is in a different category all his own when compared to Williams and Mays. This is because Mantle never actually served in the war as he was classified by the draft board as 4-F, otherwise known as physically unfit or unable to perform (Honig p. 72). Mantle was willing and claimed he felt it was his duty to serve, but a condition known as chronic osteomyelitis, or inflammation of the bone in his left leg, left him physically unfit in the eyes of the draft board (Honig p. 72). Regardless of diagnosis, the classification was met by the public with scorn and disbelief (Hirsch p. 144). The question of the public became how could someone who could hit, throw, and run like Mickey Mantle be physically unfit for anything, especially serving in the military? The media and public backlash was so intense, the Yankees personally asked the draft board to review Mantle’s case twice more, believing that the negative publicity they were getting from the incident would not be as bad as losing their best player for two years (Honig p. 73). However, in both reviews, Mantle was given the 4-F tag again and was unable to serve. The scrutiny and backlash continued to come at Mantle. On a daily basis Mantle began to receive hate mail and heard cries of “Coward” and “Commie” during games (Hirsch p. 144). However, before the end of the season, all seemed to be forgiven by the public as Mantle blossomed into one of the best players in the game. After leading the Yankees to a World Series championship in 1951, 1952, and 1953- while also being named an all-star in every one of those seasons- everyone seemed to forgive Mantle for not serving and it was hardly ever brought up again. Mantle went on to be named the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year, regardless of sport, in 1956, less than 5 short years
However, Mantle is in a different category all his own when compared to Williams and Mays. This is because Mantle never actually served in the war as he was classified by the draft board as 4-F, otherwise known as physically unfit or unable to perform (Honig p. 72). Mantle was willing and claimed he felt it was his duty to serve, but a condition known as chronic osteomyelitis, or inflammation of the bone in his left leg, left him physically unfit in the eyes of the draft board (Honig p. 72). Regardless of diagnosis, the classification was met by the public with scorn and disbelief (Hirsch p. 144). The question of the public became how could someone who could hit, throw, and run like Mickey Mantle be physically unfit for anything, especially serving in the military? The media and public backlash was so intense, the Yankees personally asked the draft board to review Mantle’s case twice more, believing that the negative publicity they were getting from the incident would not be as bad as losing their best player for two years (Honig p. 73). However, in both reviews, Mantle was given the 4-F tag again and was unable to serve. The scrutiny and backlash continued to come at Mantle. On a daily basis Mantle began to receive hate mail and heard cries of “Coward” and “Commie” during games (Hirsch p. 144). However, before the end of the season, all seemed to be forgiven by the public as Mantle blossomed into one of the best players in the game. After leading the Yankees to a World Series championship in 1951, 1952, and 1953- while also being named an all-star in every one of those seasons- everyone seemed to forgive Mantle for not serving and it was hardly ever brought up again. Mantle went on to be named the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year, regardless of sport, in 1956, less than 5 short years