European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 31, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sports scene looks Back by Dick Couch a staff writer new York Yankees could t keep Mickey Mantle Down on the farm 18 years ago. And Home cooking is still a cold weather luxury for the grown up kid from Oklahoma. Mantle the Yankees slugging senior , begins his 18th major league season next month. He signed his sixth $100,000 contract at the club s Spring Camp and recalled How it All began on a train trip to Washington. We were going Down there to open the season after playing three exhibitions against Brooklyn Mickey said. T still did t know where i was going to wind up. I hoped it d be beaumont.tex., because it was close to Home and Harry Craft was managing  the year was 1051, third year of Casey Stengel s reign As manager of baseball s dominant Force. Dan Topping was the Boss and George Weiss t h e general manager As the y a n k e e s launched their drive for Nant. Mantle then 10, had torn apart class c pitching the previous year batting .i5m with 25 homers and 136 runs batted in for Craft s Joplin mo., club. But he d been in professional base Ball for just two years and lie expected to be shipped out before the Start of the season. Then on the train Casey came Over and said they were Mickey i went another pc season. I got sent Down to Kansas City in the Middle of the year but i came Back up and collected the $7,500." Mikk Ruckh. The current club president was movie making in Italy when Mantle ambled aboard the Yankee express a shy country boy with the wrists and shoulders of a Dock Galloper and blazing Speed to Burn. H a i p h honk now the Field Pilot was Stengel s third string Catcher and Lee Macl Hail the present general manager was head of the yanks farm system. After Burke honk and Macl Hail rolled out the red carpet in february for their 36-year-old superstar s o i e survivor of a fallen Yankee dynasty the in confessed he had Mantle tick eted for another season in the minors in 1051. I was a Little irritated when they kept him up said Macl Hail Tongue deep in Cheek this Winter i just golfer and fished much of anything else Mantle we opened a c h a i n of aim Back Home called the mickey1 e country kitchens for on places m a n t to me keep me to later with or to remembered. A it into the dining car Topping and or. Weiss signed the contract. I got $7,500. The minimum $5.000, but Casey talked them into ing me a Little More. There was a Retro Active clause where i d get the full $7,500 if 1 stayed with the Yankees All Dollar you get your Choice of Ham Hocks and Beans Chicken and dumplings Irish Stew or pot Luck. 11iflantm.- also is in the real estate business in Texas. We have a develop ment called Mantle Manors at Cedar Lake about an hour s ride outside Dallas he said. We started with 5011lots, but there s o n 1 y about 150 left. You d better hurry it you want  despite his Back Home business Ven Tures it appears Likely that Mantle will remain in baseball possibly Asa Yankee radio television commentator when his play ii. Lays Are Over. That time could be fast approaching but Mickey is not looking Forward to it. I d like to keep when i do quit it hard thing to  of immediate concern to Cular switch Hitler is helping Sain awful the mils the Yankees climb Back into Contention f r o in their ninth place finish last fall i said. The think we can move up lie main thing is the Amenai so close. We be got Good pitching a big thing. Vve pc got to runs. 1 think we lost l i year Hen the other team i. League r t Hull cd i i. I i i. Bul i in the s1aran stripes Hilti i i i i it a \ i of �i,7 Mantle s Skull from the Oul Lelii to first base proved successful  or the Yankees. Hut t h e season ended in disappointment for Mickey despite to  Healths sum Mei alter Sim i i Ulm s slim Telic campaigns. I i 1 . Flip i i i  the club bal h i i Only i ill. I Ai i i in-,1, v. Lull Lull of i Iii. A i i i i i i 1 i i ill Iii ill u of e if n t i v. I Afi to a Fitt a i � f i in 1 a i i  i n. Like Muli m ii i. I i \ i 11 i he Ham i " ,1 my ii. I 111 ii nil of ,. 11 i i u in h i Uvea i i ii a Alt it i Iii. ,.ihf knt i Kiln i. .llliil.i. I a. I i ii im., i be should pass  i this season. Mantle will Settle i m i about ill homers in l admits however  it or to reach the  in cavernous Yankee  ii they might have to i. A i Oss Center  lit1 thin a i of the season. 1 hit on " r last month. I Felt 1 a Hood. But i jail co Isikli i the or. The pitchers seem 1" " t t ill tile Iuie Ali " i " but it seems  u a m around  u Ell a " another Lin she n i a slump i could ii. Now 1  l  Alia. Me of a i if.  i in a Hii v1, ,.is  Alii 1 in him \ i 1 n Little to cot Iid at buil to Dot   on Taisir club a. I be . Tin \  l an huh a that s pm a.  i of them in i nil in i i a 1 n n i i e b. 111 in in the  Els i \  to Llie  an i i be   ii i a. He ,. " \ Olf i e i. Ilif be   lain.-, to -. In  rll.,1 Les Maul a in Villa til by. 1 tin Lisa. L i in i i i pal ii suit buy Tii i b