Tuesday Nite Trivia.....Willie, Mickey, and the Duke ?
 

The decades old question.....who was a better Centerfielder ?

Willie, Mickey, or the Duke (Snider) ?

During my youth I saw all three of them play, and they were all great players in their own style.

Duke Snider was one of the most gracious ballplayers that I've ever met. And, you have to check-out the story Pete Rozelle tells about the Duke (when
they were classmates at Compton High (California) in the 1940's.

Willie, unfortunately, is not the nicest guy you want to meet nowadays. And, this is a real shame to his loyal fans who have idolized him for many years.

And, Mickey....GOD Bless his soul.

OK, here is the quiz.....what is remarkable about Mickey which sets him apart from Willie and the Duke in terms of achievement ? ?



Type 1 .................................................. .........……........... Type 2
http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan7...mmantle52t.jpghttp://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan7...tleSGC40xx.jpg


http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan7...2ToppsMays.jpg . . . . http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan7...952TSnider.jpg



TED Z

T206 Reference
.

I'll play!

I believe Mantle finished his career with more walks than strikeouts. Thats something neither Mays or Snider can say, who struck out more than they walked.

Hi Lou

Interesting bit of trivia, thanks for posting it.

But, it's not the answer to this quiz.


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

Ted, I'd imagine there could be numerous answers to this question.

Mays

Hi Mike

I'm sure there are; however, there is one remarkable factor about Mantle's successful career.

Hint.....stop thinking about statistics.

Furthermore,
I think there is only one other ballplayer who has achieved this (in the post WWII era).


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

Won MVP triple crown and WS in same year?

Trivia
 

Peter

In effect, you're thinking stats.

I hinted that you should shy away from such thinking.


TED Z
.

Well, thinking beyond the lines, he wrote a book, not sure I can think of any other books by as opposed to about players?

Then again, Ball Four and Bronx Zoo...

Mickey played his whole career with the Yankees---Willie and Duke played on other teams.

I always found it interesting that at the very tail end of their careers both Snider and Spahn played briefly for the Mets then the Giants; a year apart.

Trivia
 

Duke Snider took over the Centerfield position from Pete Reiser (or Carl Furillo) in 1948.

Willie Mays replaced Whitey Lockman (or Bobby Thomson) in Centerfield in 1951.

Mickey Mantle...."stepped into the footprints of a legend"....Joe DiMaggio.

Mickey was only a 19-year old kid in 1951....a coal-miner's son from Oklahoma. It wasn't easy in the "big city".
I recall him being booed often that year, especially when he struck-out. He almost quit baseball that year. But,
thanks to a stern lecture from his Dad, Mickey found the courage to continue.
In 1952, he had 171 Hits, 23 HR's, 94 Runs, 87 RBI's, BA = .311 (his 1952 Topps card #, quite a coincidence).
That was certainly a good start. And, as they say...."the rest is history".

OK, some of you may not think this is a big deal. However, I ask you to tell us how many ballplayers have suc-
ceeded when they have replaced legendary ballplayers such as a Joe DiMaggio ?

I can only think of one other guy who has accomplished this (in the post WWII era).

Can you name him ? ?


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

Carl Yastrzemski.

Yaz

On the other end, I think it hurt Bobby Murcer to be hyped as the next Mantle.

Not really the same thing because he played a different position, but Eddie Murray came up and very quickly became the Orioles star and went on to a HOF career right as Brooks was leaving, I think they overlapped by one year as did DiMaggio and Mantle.

In 1963 the Cardinals' left fielder was Musial. The next year it was Brock. So I would say that is another example.

Although Brock arrived in a midseason trade...

Deleted-

Huh?
 

What is wrong with you?

Wasn't trying to offend anyone. I will delete it. However, this was listed by Mickey as his most memorable moment at Yankee Stadium.

Hey Jay

You appear to be suffering from the MM derangement syndrome.

Quit the crap !

In FB a couple of major success stories, Aaron Rodgers for Favre, and Steve Young for Montana.

the Red Sox LF chain is pretty impressive, Williams, Yaz, Rice.

That was a quote from Mantle--I didn't make it up. If my memory is correct, Jane Leavy discusses it in her book. He was a great player, albeit one with a lot of warts. It's ridiculous to deify him.

Ted, interesting "trivia" question...you might want to retitle this thread, "Tuesday Night Anecdote".

:)

In a way, it was better when it was against the journalistic code to write so frankly about players' personal frailties. There's a story about a group of sportswriters taking the train with the Yankees when a drunk Babe Ruth runs down the aisle chasing a young woman. Grantland Rice turns to the others and says, it's a good thing we didn't see that or we might have to write about it.

According to this book I'm currently reading, Mays was the greatest CF.

https://images.pristineauction.com/6...uction.com.jpg

Also, Sporting News put him in 2nd place on their list:

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/lisn100.shtml

I think if Mantle didn't get injured in his RC season (and didn't drink so much) then he probably would have been better.

Again, this is all the stuff I have been reading about. I was born in the 80s and I can't argue with a guy who watched them play. :)

Willie, Mickey, and the Duke. What a great time it was to be growing up in New York!!!

Mickey played his career on one leg, Mays & Snider had 2!

The Answer and The Proof
 

Willie and Snider both have 6 letters

Mays and Duke both have 4 letters

Combined they both have 10 letters.

Mickey and Mantle both have 6 letters.

Combined he has 12 letters.

QED

Ted Zanidakis is also 12 letters. How about that.