Who gave the eulogy at Mickey Mantle's funeral?

Bob Costas Remembers a Legend: The Eulogy for Mickey Mantle

On a quiet summer day in 1995, the baseball world gathered not in a stadium, but in a church in Oklahoma, to say goodbye to one of its most iconic figures. Mickey Mantle, the thunderous switch-hitter, the proud son of Oklahoma, and the enduring symbol of Yankee greatness, had passed after a long battle with illness. At the request of the Mantle family, it was Bob Costas—not a teammate or a coach, but a lifelong admirer and gifted storyteller—who stepped forward to deliver the eulogy.

Costas, a broadcaster known as much for his eloquence as his love of the game, didn’t just recount statistics or career highlights. He spoke of something deeper: the myth and the man entwined. “A fragile hero to whom we had an emotional attachment so strong and lasting that it defied logic,” he said—a line that captured Mantle’s essence better than any box score ever could. He didn’t ignore the flaws—Mantle’s struggles with alcohol, his regrets, the missed opportunities—but he framed them with compassion, showing how even in imperfection, there was greatness.

For decades, Costas had narrated baseball’s biggest moments, but this was different. This was personal. In a voice that trembled only slightly, he reminded a grieving nation not just of what Mantle did on the field, but of what he meant to those who watched him. To fans who grew up idolizing number 7, Mantle wasn’t just a player; he was a memory, a feeling, a link to their own youth.

That day, Costas didn’t just give a eulogy. He gave closure. And in doing so, he honored not only the man, but the magic he left behind.