Now, lemme tell ya ‘bout Elvin Charles Mantle. Folks round here knew him as “Mutt,” n’ let me tell ya, he weren’t no ordinary fella. Born back in March 16, 1912, way up in Vosholl, Osage County, Missouri—mighty small place, y’know. Not many folks come outta there, but Mutt sure made his mark. Now, he weren’t famous like his boy, but in his own way, he was sumthin’ else. Real tough one, that Mutt.
Mutt Mantle married his sweetheart Lovell Mantle in 1929. They had themselves a nice lil’ family, n’ o’ course, the big name in that family was their boy, Mickey Mantle. Now Mickey, that boy became somethin’ special. Went on to play baseball for the Yankees—ya ever heard o’ ‘em? Big team, real famous. Mickey got his start cuz o’ Mutt, who had a lil’ semi-pro career in baseball himself. Seems like Mutt loved that game so much he passed it right on down to his boy.
Now, life weren’t always easy for ol’ Mutt. No sirree. Back in them days, work was hard to find, n’ money didn’t just grow on no trees. But he had a good heart, n’ he worked his hands to the bone to give his family the best he could. Folks say he had a real love for his kids, n’ he raised ’em real proper.
- Birth: March 16, 1912, Vosholl, Osage County, Missouri
- Marriage: Lovell Mantle, 1929
- Children: Mickey Mantle, baseball legend
Mutt moved the family outta Missouri to Oklahoma eventually. Guess he thought there’d be better chances out there, like so many folks did. They settled in Spavinaw, Oklahoma, n’ that’s where Mickey grew up. Mutt didn’t have no fancy job, but he was steady, reliable. Folks say he was a tough, hardworking man, always makin’ sure his family had what they needed. He took Mickey to his first ball games, showed him how to hold that bat n’ swing it like a pro. Some say Mickey got his strength from his pa—guess it runs in the blood.
In the end, Mutt passed away pretty young, at 40 years old in 1952. That was hard on the family. Died in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, n’ left a big ol’ hole in their lives. Mickey went on to be a big star, n’ every time folks watched him hit one outta the park, they’d remember Mutt. Cuz if it weren’t for Mutt, there wouldn’t be no Mickey Mantle, least not the one we all know. He left behind a legacy in his son, that’s for sure.
So that’s Mutt Mantle for ya. Just a regular fella with a love for family n’ baseball. Ain’t that what life’s ‘bout? Raisin’ good kids, teachin’ ‘em right from wrong, n’ givin’ ‘em a dream to chase. Ol’ Mutt may not be a household name, but his life sure meant a lot to the folks who knew him n’ the millions who cheered for his boy Mickey.
Tags：Elvin Charles Mantle, Mutt Mantle, Mickey Mantle, Osage County, Spavinaw, Oklahoma
