Mickey Mantle “Offer a Helping Hand”
Description
A color slide of an advertisement for the National Sports Council featuring a black-and-white photograph of Mickey Mantle from the waist up. Mantle is wearing a business suit and looking at the camera. Large print at the top left reads "Offer a Helping Hand", and a text box contains this narrative: "I didn’t make the big leagues all by myself. Sure, I had some natural ability, but all the talent in the world is useless unless someone gives you a hand. When I came to the New York Yankees – a young raw rookie—I was supposed to fill the great Joe DiMaggio’s shoes and break Babe Ruth’s record of 60 home runs all at the same time. I was scared to death until a couple of fellows named Joe Di Maggio and Ted Williams took me in hand. They encouraged me, taught me, and helped me conquer my fears and doubts. They are true Champions. The mark of a great man and true Champion is helping others. There are many ways you can help if you keep your eyes open. Look for ways to help your family. Give a classmate a hand by explaining something he doesn’t understand. Always help the boy who is “left out” or ignored – especially the younger fellow who hangs around waiting to get into a game with you and the other big guys. Never be so big that you can’t teach him, show him how to play the game. Joe Di Maggio and Ted Williams weren’t too big to help me. You can even do favors without anyone knowing about it. I once saw a boy pick up a jagged piece of glass and throw it into a trash can. I asked him why. “Well,” he said, “I figured it could give somebody a flat tire, or maybe hurt some little fellow.” The boy was helping somebody without a thought of being rewarded. We can all show that same consideration. So get in the habit of helping people. Every day, try to find at least one extra way to do a good turn. It doesn’t have to be something “big”. Sometimes just a little effort on your part can make somebody else very happy. And making other people happy is the best way I know to be really happy yourself." Information written on the physical slide reads "endorsement".
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Picture Date
1958–1958