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1950 Mickey Mantle Joplin Miners Official Scouting Report
<p>Rare one-page minor-league scouting report, dating from 1950, featuring an analysis of three Joplin Minors players, including an eighteen-year-old shortstop named Mickey Mantle. Joplin was a Class C minor-league affiliate of the New York Yankees and a member of the Western Association in 1950. The year-end typed report, which was filed by team scout and former Major League player "E. H. "Dutch" Zwilling, gives a glowing assessment of Mantle's hitting ability, but a lesser opinion of his prospects as an infielder. In the category of "Hitting ability, speed, etc.," Zwilling writes "Great hitter - very fast." In the category of "Fielding ability, arm, etc., " he adds "Fair fielder - good arm." Mantle's "Attitude and disposition" are described as "good," and his "Future possibilities (for what class) is followed by the letter "M" (denoting Majors). Zwilling recommends that that Mantle be assigned to the Yankees Class A club the following season. His final comments read "Is not now a good shortstop - good enough as hitter to enter AAA. Don't believe he is capable of playing short in AAA. If must play shortstop would recommend Class B - possibly A." </p><p>Zwilling, who spent over 60 years in professional baseball as a player, coach, manager and scout, was considered an astute judge of talent and his analysis here proved to be correct with regard to Mantle's fielding. Mantle was not a natural infielder and the following season was moved to the outfield, where he could use his speed and arm to better advantage defensively. Mantle batted .383 with 26 home runs for Joplin in 1950, with both marks team highs. Although Zwilling correctly predicted that Mantle would reach the Majors, he probably never imagined it would happen the following year. The jump from Class C to the Major League's was a large one, but Mantle's showing in spring training had all proclaiming him as the successor to Joe DiMaggio, especially following DiMaggio's announcement in March that the 1951 season would his last. Unfortunately, the pressure proved too much for Mantle and he was sent back to the minors in mid season for more seasoning. He eventually returned to the Yankees at the end of the year to help lead them to their third consecutive World Championship. The rest, as they say, is history. </p><p>The two other players listed on the report are pitcher Bob Wiesler and infielder Albert Billingsley. Interestingly, Zwilling's analysis of both players was also accurate. For Wiesler, he correctly predicted that he had Major League ability, and for Billingsley he wrote "Just about a good Class C player. Does not have the necessary requirements to go higher." Wiesler eventually played two seasons with the Yankees, in 1954 and 1955, while Billingsley was released after the 1950 season. The document (8.5x11") displays two horizontal folds, a crease and staple hole in the upper left corner, and two pieces of mounting tape on the reverse. In Very Good to Excellent condition. </p>
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