Jan. 28, 1963 - Mickey Mantle (pictured with Johnny Carson) tonight was named the nation’s “most courageous athlete” and America’s “outstanding athlete” by the Philadelphia Sports Writers association. The New York Yankees’ outfielder was the first athlete in the 59-year history of the association to be a double winner in the 3 awards it makes annually. Mantle was hailed for his ranking as one of baseball’s greatest players in the face of a long and courageous fight against a bone disease and a series of crippling injuries and infections which frequently kept him out of the lineup.
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