On this day in history, June 8, 1969, the New York Yankees
retired slugger Mickey Mantle’s number — No. 7 — in front
of some 61,000 Major League baseball fans at the sold-out
stadium. People cheered both their approval of the player’s
athletic accomplishments and their likely dismay that he had
chosen to step away from a remarkable career. 

Yankees Mickey Mantle during his number retirement
ceremony at Yankee Stadium.

Mickey (“the Mick”) Charles Mantle
(October 20, 1931 – August 13, 1995)