Dedicated To The Memory Of My Friend
Mickey Charles Mantle


"It was once said that every boy
builds a shrine to some baseball hero,
and before that shrine a candle always burns."

" A PROJECT OF THE HEART "

Unlike other websites that get the Mantle Fans to a website
for a chance to sell Illegal & Fraudulent Mickey Mantle memorabilia...
We Sell Nothing That Is Not Proved Authentic... Period!

We have just started offering our "Mickey Mantle - Hembree Collection"
A collection of pen & ink drawings of Mickey by Terry Gene Hembree, Esquire
More information under the News' section below!

We are here for the seasoned Mantle Fan and for the education of future generations that hear about the

Legendary New York Yankee Great
Mickey Charles Mantle

We are not here to make any money of any sorts and I feel the importancy of this fact to be made public
before anyone goes any further into this personal dedication to not only my friend Mickey Mantle, but also to the
Mantle family, Merlyn, Mickey Jr., Billy, David and Danny of whom I also dedicate this presentation to.

In closing please enjoy the history, brought to you in photographs, videos and text of the

Most Amazing Sports Figure
In Sporting History
Mickey Mantle, New York Yankee #7

Dedicated In Loving Memory Of Mickey Mantle

Click Box Below To Check Out The New Home For The Yankees

Merlyn Louise 'Johnson' Mantle
Wife of Mickey Mantle Passes at 77 Years of Age

John "Johnny " Edwin Blanchard
February 26, 1933 - March 25, 2009

Mickey Mantle

N-E-W-S

LINKS

New Mickey Mantle Suite At Hope Lodge
Mickey Mantle - Hembree Collection
Mickey Mantle Sightings
David Mantle Appearance At The Last Game At Yankee Stadium
Randall Swearingen’s New Book A Great Teammate
Stories & Memorabilia From A Lifetime With The Mick
David & Danny Mantle A Big Hit At Topps Fanfest Booth
Randall Swearingen Purchases Mantle History From Families Auction
Mantle Boys Present "The Mickey Mantle Award Of Excellence" To Josh Beckett
Mantle Memorabilia Exhibited At The George Bush Presidential Museum
SportsRobe Releases The Mickey Mantle Robe
Grove Man Builds Tribute To Former Baseball Great

The Only Official Mickey Mantle Web Site
Owned & Operated By The Mantle Family
Do you have memories about Mickey Mantle that you would like to share? ...

Mickey Mantle Suite at Hope Lodge

Danny and David Mantle were in New York City on September 29th with former NYC Mayor, Rudy Guilliani at the ribbon cutting of the Mickey Mantle Suite at Hope Lodge. The Hope Lodge houses families of cancer patients while the patients undergo their treatment.
Left to Right: Don Distasio (CEO ACS Eastern Division), Joe Goryeb (donor of funds for Mickey Mantle Suite), patient, Rudy Guilliani, David Mantle, Danny Mantle

ANNOUNCING
THE MICKEY MANTLE - HEMBREE COLLECTION

"I feel very blessed to have been able to spend time with Mick' sketching off
his stories and Yankee history as only he could tell in often dramatic imagery.

After visiting with baseball great Mickey Mantle how could one's creative juices not flow onto the pages of one's sketch book

Time with Mick' is some the most exciting times I have ever had and it's time to offer the renderings to the public!"

All money raised from the sale of this One Of A Kind' artwork will be spent
100% on purchasing more Mantle related items to display in
The Mickey Mantle Memorial Exhibit.

Thank you for helping keep the memories of Mickey Mantle alive for future generations, together we can make it happen!"

Terry Gene Hembree, Esquire

Click HERE for further information on the
Mickey Mantle - Hembree Collection

Mickey Mantle Sightings

Click HERE For Our Top Choices Across The Country For Mantle Memorabilia

David Mantle Appearance At The Last Game At Yankee Stadium

On September 21st, 2008, the New York Yankees played the Baltimore Orioles in the last Major League game ever to be played in Yankee Stadium.
Before the game, a moving ceremony was held on the field where Yankees, or a surviving family member, took their position out on the field.
David Mantle proudly represented his dad in centerfield and wearing #7 on his flannel pinstriped uniform.

Randall Swearingen’s New Book
"A Great Teammate"

REVIEWS

THE MANTLE FAMILY: MERLYN, DAVID & DANNY

It was very important to our dad that he be remembered as a great teammate and this book does an excellent job of explaining why he was admired, not only by the fans but his teammates and opponents as well. Randall went to great lengths to research the relevant details of key events in dad's career in order to show the magnitude of dad's courage, competitiveness, loyalty, determination, athleticism and perseverance both on and off the field. Randall spent time with dad and his teammates at the Mickey Mantle fantasy camps and his knowledge and love of dad really shows in this book. Reading the book brought back many great memories and magically transported us back in time to our childhood. The Mantle family gives this book a big "thumbs up" and wishes to extend our heartfelt thanks to Randall for writing this inspiring and enjoyable book that beautifully echoes our deep love and respect for our dad. "A true teammate".

TONY KUBEK

“Randall Swearingen’s book A GREAT TEAMMATE documents, alongside poignant anecdotes, the legend of the most admired and dynamic athlete of his era. The accounts are an in depth, enlightening and entertaining read for Yankee fans and sports nuts alike. It does much more than tell of his Herculean homeruns, Mercurial speed and World Championship rings. For the non-sports fan, the Mick’s life experiences and determination will surely inspire. This book is filled with previously uncovered historical nuggets. For those who were his Yankee teammates, his legacy is surpassed only by his humility and caring attitude toward us all. It's a wonderfully written tribute.”

JOHNNY BLANCHARD

"The best book ever written about Mickey. Swearingen proves that he knows more about Mickey Mantle than just about anybody."

BOB TURLEY

"For a guy like me who was with Mickey a lot of his career, it was exciting for me to relive a lot of the great games and home runs of Mickey. With A Great Teammate, I think you've got a real winner on your hands, especially to a Yankee fan. It really shows Mickey in his baseball life."

BOBBY RICHARDSON

"This book is fantastic and truly inspiring. It reveals Mickey Mantle's greatness as a Hall of Famer with the New York Yankees. But his greatest victory was when his heart took over in that final inning of his life."

Published by Sports Publishing LLC. 246 page soft back (with flaps) with beautiful 8 page color photo insert. Even though it is a soft back, it is very unique. The flaps on the front and back covers give it the feel of a hard back.

MICKEY MANTLE:
Stories & Memorabilia From A Lifetime With The Mick

Some say he was the greatest ever—a rare combination of power and speed who made acrobatic catches and never failed to get a hit when his team needed it most. The son of an Oklahoma miner, he was the anchor in center field for a Yankees team that won seven world championships. He was three times the league MVP, he won the Triple Crown in 1956, and in 1961 he dueled teammate Roger Maris in a thrilling race for the single-season home run record. He was so famous that to identify him people didn’t even bother to say his last name or even all of his first. He was simply "The Mick".

But his incredible stats and familiar image don't tell the whole story. His legend rests not only on all that he achieved during his career, but also on what he was to American embodiment of strength, athleticism, youth... and a reminder of our love of the game. His legacy is captured in more than his ball playing; it lives on in his family and his friends.

Covering his entire life, from his impoverished childhood to his glorious career to his poignant sunset years, Mickey Mantle features rare photos and never-before-seen memorabilia, including removable facsimiles of Mickey's contracts, membership cards, letters, and other personal items. It also includes intimate stories collected over the years by his sons and his friend, writer Mickey Herskowitz: stories that paint a portrait of the man - The Mick - adored by countless fans.

Mickey Mantle is the first-ever illustrated biography published with the support of the Mantle family. Covering his entire life from his impoverished youth to his glorious career to his poignant sunset years, it features rare photos and never-before-seen memorabilia, with 10 pull-out, removable facsimiles. It also includes intimate stories collected over the years by his sons and his friend, writer Mickey Herskowitz— stories that will be new even to the most avid Mantle enthusiasts. This book is an absolute must for Mantle fans of every stripe, Yankees fans, and baseball fans in general.

Published by Steward, Tabori & Chang. 176 page hardback with numerous color and black & white photos.

David & Danny Mantle A Big Hit At Topps Fanfest Booth

Topps invited the sons of Mickey Mantle (David and Danny) to sign autographs in their booth at the 2008 FanFest. The Mantle boys were well received as the lines were continuous for the duration of the signing sessions from Noon to 4pm Monday and Tuesday. Eager fans got their items signed and shared their memories of The Mick. All were thrilled to have met the sons of the Yankee legend and some were moved to tears as they reminisced about their hero.

Randall Swearingen Purchases Mantle History From Families Auction

Randal Swearingen of Swearingen Software in Houston purchased numerous Mantle pieces at the recent Mantle family auction

Among some of the pieces was Mick's 1955 American League Championship ring, his 1956 Player of the Year Award, his 1961 Yankee warm-up jacket and a custom Harley Davidson softtail motorcycle that was designed by Mickey's son, David, as a colorful and touching tribute to his father.

Congratulations my friend...

I'm very proud of your friendship, your want to help keeping Mick's memory alive, your continuous mission to preserve Mick's historic pieces even though I'm extremely envious over your collection, if I can't have it, I don't know who I'd rather have it as besides you, and I know your intentions and Mantle loyalty is one hundred percent!

Danny & David Mantle Present "The Mickey Mantle Award Of Excellence" To Josh Beckett

Houston, TX - January 19, 2008: Danny and David Mantle (along with their families) were present at the Recycled Baseball Items (RBI) Annual Awards Dinner here tonight. Over 750 supporters attended the event, which was held at the Westin Galleria Hotel in Houston. David and Danny are shown here presenting the "Mickey Mantle Award of Excellence" to Josh Beckett. This is the first year for this award which is to become an annual tradition at the event.

Josh Beckett (Boston Red Sox) presented the "Josh Beckett Award" to six high school baseball/softball players of the year. David Aardsma (Chicago White Sox) presented the "David Aardsma Award" to three college baseball/softball players of the year. Josh and David are both products of the Houston area. Baseball coaching legend, Charlie Maiorana, presented the "Charlie Maiorana Award" to the high school baseball and softball coaches of the year. The RBI Foundation Awards Dinner is the only one of its kind that recognizes outstanding female athletes in addition to male athletes.

The RBI Foundation is a 501c3 organization that collects used baseball/softball equipment, refurbishes it and distributes to inner city children in the Greater Houston Area to help keep them off the streets, out of gangs and off drugs. The Foundation also grants scholarships to local area students who are involved in the great sport of baseball.

Mickey Mantle Memorabilia To Be Exhibited At The George Bush Presidential Museum

Beginning March 1, 2008 and running through July 20, 2008, the George Bush Presidential Museum will showcase an exhibit titled "Born to Play Ball" which will look at some of baseball’s most famous players. This exhibit is being produced together with the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. It will open in College Station, Texas, and then travel to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Along with one-of-a-kind objects from private collectors, the National Baseball Hall of Fame is contributing numerous artifacts, photographs, and interactive programs. Beginning with a brief history of the evolution of the game and equipment, the exhibit features outstanding players representing each of the nine positions. It will also take a look at the Negro Leagues, Women's League, as well as Presidents and their special relationship to this most American game.

This exhibit will knock the ball out of the park!

The Mickey Mantle items exhibited will include his 1955 American League Championship ring, his 1956 Player of the Year Award, his 1961 Yankee warm-up jacket and a custom Harley Davidson motorcycle that was designed by Mickey's son, David, as a colorful and touching tribute to his father.

These Mickey Mantle items are from the personal collection of Randall Swearingen.

SportsRobe Releases The
Mickey Mantle Robe

1952 Mickey Mantle SportRobe

Mickey Mantle Signature on the right sleeve.

Authentic 1952 Yankees Anniversary patch on the left arm.

Both the 7 on the back and the interlocking NY made of felt material like the jersey back in 1952.

What greater way to relax around the house or watch the Yankees on TV. Go back in time to 1952 when the number 7 adorned the Yankee pinstripes between the big broad shoulders of Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle!

Wear this robe and you can't help but smell the peanuts and hear the powerful crack of the bat that regularly launched tape measure shots in the baseball cathedral known as Yankee Stadium.

SportRobe also offers:

The 1956 Mickey Mantle “Triple Crown” SportRobe

The New York Yankees Customized Authentic Team Color SportRobe

One size fits all - Made of 100% cotton

MEMORIES OF MICKEY
Grove Man Builds Tribute To Former Baseball Great
By Clint Branham, Communications Specialist

Major League Baseball great MIckey Mantle was born in Spavinaw and grew up in Commerce. So why does his memory live in Grove?

Only Terry Hembree knows for sure.

Hembree, a Grove businessman who juggles Hollywood At Home Video, The Grand Lake Visitor publication and Action Advertising Agency, has taken it upon himself to construct a rather thorough memorial to arguably the greatest baseball player to ever play the game

The exhibit is located in the front of Hembree's Hollywood At Home Video Store at 536 West Third Street in Grove. There is no charge to browse the mini-museum and it is open to the public during the store's hours of 1PM to 9PM Monday through Thursday and 1PM to 11PM Friday through Saturday.

Call ahead at 000-0000 to schedule a tour of the museum for larger groups.

"This is free, we're not charging and we're never going to charge," said Hembree, who said he didn't feel it would be right to profit from a deceased professional athlete. "There are people out there making more money from one item than waht Mickey made in one season playing baseball."

Hembree became aquainted with Mickey about 15 years ago while working on Mantle's Make A Wish Celebrity Golf Classic at Shangri-La Resort. It was then that he began accumulating items personally autographed by the Hall of Famer. Many of these items sat in Hembree's private office in the back of the store and visitors to the business would often inquire about them.

"I had things that he had given me, but I had no value on them... I didn't know what they were worth and didn't care," said Hembree. "But everyone always wanted to come in the office and check things out."

While recovering from a stroke in 1999, Hembree found the time to seek out other collectors from around the world and participate in online auctions in search for more Mantle memoarabilia. The number of items now housed in the three wall length display cases is, quite simply, staggering.

Hembree has, it seems, every commemorative plate, statue, ball, card, button and coin ever made or minted that depicts Mantle. And that's just for starters.

The display originated with a 4 foot by 8 foot glass case. But Hembree's frequent acquisitions soon resulted in expansion. Coy Mayfield of Noel, Missouri based Minuteman Machine donated the labor necessary to complete the cases as they appear today.

Hembree's creative touch is evident with the three dimensional arrangement of the display. He's also used mannequins to exhibit commemorative game jerseys. And, he's made the display interactive with audio and video presentations.

Hembree has spent thousands of dollars on merchandise that he now cumulatively estimates to be worth millions. That's the reason the display is protected by motion detectors and 24 hour surveillence equipment.

While all of the items currently on display in the exhibit belong to Hembree, he says he would be open to displaying items for others who own Mantle memorabilia.

"It may be something they've had over the years and they don't know what to do with it. They may know that it's worth something or means something to somebody," Hembree explained. "But if someone had something they wanted to put in the exhibit or sell, I would be happy to talk to them about it."

Admittedly, Mantle was not perfect. As he lived out his final years in a battle with cancer, he acknowledged a drinking problem and urged children "Don't be like me." Mantle ded in 1995, not long after the cancer was detected during a liver transplant.

Before his death, he established the Mickey Mantle Foundation to promote organ and tissue donations. It was during these final days that Hembree really began to admire Mantle.

"When he passed away, I seemed to get closer to him because of his comments," Hembree said, not taking anything away from thepure athleticism Mantle possessed.

"He played in bandages," said Hembree. "He played when he should have been in a room at the hospital. He was good at everything he did."

Mutt Mantle, Mickey's father, moved the family from pavinaw to Commerce when Mickey was four. Mutt went to work in the mines. Six months shy of his 20th birthday, Mantle signed with the Yankees, where he proceeded to hit 536 homeruns.

Mantle won the Triple Crown in 1956 and helped lead the Yankees to the World Series twelve times.

But the Mantle that Hembree admires most isn't the one that was slugging tape measure homeers over the fences of ballfields across America. Or showing off his blazing speed around the basepaths. Or flashing his trademark smile after yet another World Series victory.

The Mantle that Hembree most admired was the one that admitted his shortcomings. The one that set his pride aside and said what needed to be said.

"When he was on TV in his robe with his Texas Rangers ball cap... it was after he had his surgery and he looked terrible... and he asked the kids not to imitate his lifestyle, that took a lot of guts on his part to get in front of the nation," Hembree said. "That really made me have a lot of respect for him."

And that's the real reason the memory of Mickey Mantle lives in Grove.

REC Mickey Mantle Memorial Exhibit April Feature Story

Click HERE To See The
Mickey Mantle Memorial Exhibit

Stevie Ray Vaughan "Lenny" Stratocaster Guitar
And The Mickey Mantle Connection

Limited edition guitar available from Fender® Dec. 12th

Lenora "Lenny" Vaughan, Stevie Ray Vaughan's wife, gave this guitar to her husband on his 26th birthday (Oct 3, 1980). It is a 1965 maple-neck Fender Stratocaster with a rosewood fingerboard and the original pickups that, from the look of it, had obviously been refinished none too expertly at some point, and now it had a dark natural finish bearing an elaborately arty inlay behind the bridge. Stevie had previously seen it in an Austin, TX pawnshop, fell in love with it, but didn't have the $350 to purchase it.

Vaughan was invited to play the national anthem at the Houston Astros season opener, against the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Houston Astrodome on Wednesday, April 10, 1985. The Vaughans were hastily flown to Houston, where Stevie confessed to his wife that he didn't know how to play "The Star Spangled Banner". She hummed it to him in the limo on the way to the game.

Watching her husband play the national anthem there to a packed house in the cavernous Astrodome, Lenora turned to the guy standing next to her and said, "You know, he didn't know how that went - I had to hum it to him on the way here."

The man replied, "Yeah, it's a hard song."

When Lenora asked the man if he know her husband, he nodded and said, "No, this is the first time I've ever heard of him. My name's Mickey Mantle."

Mantle was at the game to throw the first pitch; it was pure chance that Lenora found herself standing next to one of the greatest baseball players in history. When Stevie joined her minutes later, she introduced the two men.

"I don't know how to play that song," Vaughan confided to Mantle, to which the Yankees great replied reassuringly, "Nobody can play that song."

Lenora then sheepishly asked for Mantle's autograph, upon which Mantle asked where here baseball bat was. "Oh... oh... am I supposed to have a bat?" she stammered. Mantle explained that most autograph seekers bring a bat.

Lenora remembers that "I was looking around for a piece of paper of something, and Stevie said, 'Well I've got this bat right here - her name's Lenny.' And he took it out and said, "Why don't you sign this?' And Mickey said, 'It'd be my pleasure.'"

GOVERNOR'S COMMENDATION
The Great State Of Oklahoma
Governor Frank Keating

Governor's Commendation

Is Hereby Presented ToTERRY G. HEMBREE In Recognition Of

Your Efforts To Promote And Preserve The Legacy Of

Mickey Mantle Through The

Mickey Mantle Memorial Exhibit.

Frank Keating

Governor Of Oklahoma

April 9, 2002

STATE OF OKLAHOMA CITATION

Outstanding New Attraction - Less than $25,000 budget - Mickey Mantle Memorial Exhibit - Terry Gene Hembree
The Red Bud Award was accepted by the Grand Lake Association, the Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce and the Grove Area Chamber of Commerce during the Oklahoma Governor's Tourism Conference for Hembree as he was hospitalized at the OU Medical Center in Tulsa, OK due to a severe stroke

The Prestigious

Oklahoma Governor's Red Bud Award

Presented To

Terry Gene Hembree

For The Oklahoma Tourist Attraction Of The Year

Outstanding New Oklahoma Attraction

The Mickey Mantle Memorial Exhibit

Sporting News Book Released
Roadside Baseball

Uncovering Hidden Treasures From Our National Pastime

By Chris Epting

Forward By Joe Buck

A guide to more than 300 baseball shrines across the United States

Oklahoma Is Represented By Grove's

Mickey Mantle Memorial Exhibit

By Terry Gene Hembree, Esquire

Oklahoma

Shrine to Mickey Mantle

A video store in Grove celebrates the career of Mickey Mantle, who hailed from Commerce

City: Grove

Location: Hollywood At Home Video Store

537 West Third Street, Suite 7

Terry and Valerie Hembree were close friends of "The Mick"

For over 12 years they helped coordinate his marketing and charity efforts and over the years acquired numerous artifacts from their pal.

Today, this dedicated husband and wife make it possible for everyone to enjoy their one of a kind collection of Mickey Mantle memorabilia at the video store they run in Grove.

This exhibit features thousands of items dedicated to the memory of Mantle, including memorabilia from his younger days in Commerce and his pre-professional days with the Baxter Springs Whiz Kids.

Also highlighted are details of his New York career, numerous statues and figurines, balls, bats, gloves, jerseys, collector's items, autographed items and a variety of Mantle baseball cards from every era.

TV monitors play Mantle game highlights, with interviews and stories told by Mick' himself.

And keep your eyes open when you visit... you might see an old ballplayer or two, both former teammates and opponents who have been known to drop by unexpectedly.

Some Other Mantle Related Sites In Oklahoma...

- Mickey Mantle boyhood home, 316 South Quincy Street, Commerce

- Commerce High School at 420 'D' Street in Commerce. This is where Mickey attended high school. In 2000, a ceremony was held to name the baseball field "Mickey Mantle Field"

- Mickey Mantle Boulevard. This road which passes within a few blocks of Mantle's boyhood home is re-named section of US 69

- Portrait of Mickey Mantle at the State Capital Building in Oklahoma City. Several years ago a portrait of Mantle was unveiled at the Capital on the fourth floor rotunda of the building.

STATE OF OKLAHOMA CITATION

Citation Honoring Terry Gene Hembree

Whereras, being a close friend of Mickey Mantle, after his death

TERRY GENE HEMBREE

created the Mickey Mantle Memorial Exhibit & Museum in the
Hollywood At Home Video Superstores, later, after being forced to close the video stores
and family businesses, taking a room of the Hembree household and recreating the museum
there, to be shown by private appointment; and

Whereas, TERRY GENE HEMBREE has been the recipient of the prestigious
Governor's Red Bud Award as well as many other letters and tokens of recognition
of the fact that he is a most unusual man, who feels deep compassion for those who suffer and hurt
finding ways to help them, referring to what he does as "Projects Of The Heart," and

Whereas, the Oklahoma Legislature recognizes the extraordinary talent, compassion and
motivation that is the essence of TERRY GENE HEMBREE, that through illness has weakened his
body it has been unable to quench his spirit and determination to help others and express their
admiration and appreciation for TERRY GENE HEMBREE

Now, therefor, pursuant to the motion of
Representative Dog Cox, M.D.
Speaker of The House Chris Benge
and
Senator Charles Wyrick

The Oklahoma Legislature extends to

Terry Gene Hembree, Esquire

sincere congratulations and directs that this citation be presented
Representative Dog Cox, M.D.
Speaker of The House Chris Benge
and
Senator Charles Wyrick

Joplin Globe Newspaper: Mickey Mantle Memorial Exhibit
Grove Man Showcases Mantle Memorabilia
By
Special

GROVE, Okla. — The best show at Hollywood At Home Video can’t be rented, but people are encouraged to stay as long as they want and see it for free.

Owner Terry Hembree recently completed a memorial to Mickey Mantle at the front of the video rental store. The museum’s worth of memorabilia includes the #7 locker from the old Commerce High School gymnasium, a prototype statue that was proposed, but never built in Commerce, and even Mickey Mantle western jeans, which sold for $3.95 a pair, and were manufactured in Commerce.

“Old-timers will come in and say ‘I knew Mick’ and they’ll get tears in their eyes when they talk about him. They get such a kick out of this,” says Hembree, 45.

“I’ve had people bring in ball teams and company in town. And I have regulars who come in.”

One visitor was Johnny Blanchard, former New York Yankees catcher and teammate of Mantle’s. When Blanchard heard Mantle’s voice in one of the interactive displays, he broke down, too.

“He said, ‘Boy, Mickey would be so proud of this,’ ” says Hembree.

Hembree, owner of Action Advertising Agency, became acquainted with Mantle and his family about 15 years ago while working on Mantle’s charity golf tournament.

“My dad always talked about Mickey and my mom was from Miami near where he grew up,” says Hembree.