Another Version Of “The M and M Boys”: Mikan and Mantle

This week the great player George Mikan was part of a Jeopardy question/answer and just now I saw and now post, the photo above, with George (on the right) and the one and only Mickey Mantle.

Each man was a center of sort, Mikan literally, as he dominated basketball leading the then Minneapolis Lakers to 5 titles in 6 seasons (’49,’50, and ’52-’54) while Mickey patrolled center field for the vaunted New York Yankees, an integral, great part of 7 (his #, ’51-’53, ’56, ’58, ’61 and ’62) title teams and 12 pennant winners.

Recently a non descript NIT was held (Nebraska won something called The Crown Tournament thus one was played in Las Vegas while none were in New York) and when it was more prestigious than the NCAA such, Mikan led DePaul University to the title in New York.

Also in New York and at Madison Square Garden, the marquee read ” Tonight Mikan vs Knicks.”