TV critic DAVID BIANCULLI reviews this weekend''s HBO miniseries, "Laurel Avenue," about a l...

NPR Reviewed Jul 1, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors

In 1970, Jim Bouton’s memoir "Ball Four" was published.

1970 · memoir JIM BOUTON, former Yankees pitcher

Mickey Mantle played his entire 17-year career with one team, the New York Yankees.

17 · career Mickey Mantle, Yankees slugger

David Bianculli reviewed this weekend’s HBO miniseries, "Laurel Avenue," about a large working class African American family in St. Paul, Minnesota.

1 · family DAVID BIANCULLI, TV critic

TV critic DAVID BIANCULLI reviews this weekend''s HBO miniseries, "Laurel Avenue," about a large working class African American family in St. Paul, Minnesota.INT. 2: Baseball legend Mickey Mantle. We''ll hear a 1985 interview with the Yankees slugger, whose father had his career in pro baseball planned before he was born. Mantle played his entire 17-year career with one team, the New York Yankees.INT 3: A 1986 interview with former Yankees pitcher JIM BOUTON. In 1970, BOUTON''s memoir "Ball Four" was published. Those who wanted to maintain major league baseball''s image as the home of heroes were scandalized by the book; others thought it was about time someone revealed that baseball is full of real people and real problems. "Ball Four" made an enemy for Bouton of baseball legend Mickey Mantle by reminiscing about Mantle''s on- and off-field drunkenness.

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