Mickey's buddies

[Okie_Fan]

My dad and I have been beating our heads against the wall trying to come up with Mickey Mantle's best bud who often batted just before or just after him. He also died first which almost shattered Mickey. Who was it?!?!? :crazy

[Mattingly]

My dad and I have been beating our heads against the wall trying to come up with Mickey Mantle's best bud who often batted just before or just after him. He also died first which almost shattered Mickey. Who was it?!?!? :crazy
During which seasons did this person bat right before or after Mickey? Approximately which year did he die?

[56 chmps]

well mickey's two best friends were whitey ford and billy martin they were known as the three musketeers. But obviously whitey didn't bat. so i am guessing your thinking of billy martin

[Mattingly]

well mickey's two best friends were whitey ford and billy martin they were known as the three musketeers. But obviously whitey didn't bat. so i am guessing your thinking of billy martin
Could've been Billy, who died on Chrismas Day in 1989, almost 6 years prior to Mickey's passing.

Actually, prior to 1973 (Whitey played from 1950-67), AL pitchers did bat, so just a little thing I noticed.

[LouGehrig]

Mickey Mantle batted third until Ralph Houk became manager in 1961. In the 1950s, the lineup was often Mantle third, Berra fourth, and McDougald or Martin second.

In 1959, on opening day, Siebern second, ahead of Mantle. Kubek often batted ahead of Mantle.

When Stengel managed, there was no set lineup.

When we got Roger in 1960, on opening day in Boston, Maris hit first, Hector Headley Lopez batted fourth, and Mickey hit fifth.

Later in the year, Lopez hit second, and Mantle hit third.

Once Houk took over, Roger hit third and Mickey hit fourth.

[VIBaseball]

Okie_Fan, I think you and your dad are thinking of Jackie Jensen. Jackie, who died rather young of heart trouble in 1982, played with the Yankees from 1950 through part of 1952. I think it's very likely that he was next to Mickey in the batting order. Then he was traded to the Senators, largely to make more room for Mantle.

I haven't seen any evidence that he and Mickey were really buddy-buddy. But there's something about a practical joke Billy Martin played on Jensen (1958 AL MVP) related to Jackie's fear of flying, which curtailed his major-leahue career.

There's a thread on Jensen at the Senators board.

[wamby]

You could be thinking of Roger Maris who died of cancer in 1985.