Posted By:
Ted ZanidakisTBOB
You apparently got my drift regarding Mantle's "STEPPING" into Joe D's shoes.
GIL
Read my post again, I did not say Mantle "filled" Joe DiMaggio's shoes. Again,
you have to realize that a 19 year old kid comes to New York from Oklahoma,
replaces a man who is considered "the greatest living BB player" at that time
and Mantle overcomes all this hype with his tremendous athletic talent. That's
what many would call character.
I am not trying to be argumentative, in my post I gave due credit to Mays; and
to Snider. I have met all three of them back in the '80s. Mantle and Snider
were just great guys to talk with. Mays, for what ever reason, was not too
friendly with his fans who paid a lot to get his autograph and perhaps have a
few words with their hero.
As far as statistics go, Mays played 4 more years than Mantle. And, the first
six years of Mays career were in that "cheap homer" park called the Polo Gnds.
The stands down the left field line were only 279 feet away; and, Mays did
pull many of his HRs down that short left field line.
Pitching in the NL back in the '50s was weaker than the AL. Robin Roberts and
Warren Spahn were the only consistent 20+ game winners. However, you are right
Gil, your Giants beat the Indians easy in '54. But, your are mistaken about
Feller and Score, because they did not pitch in '54 (W.S.).
Given identical conditions (ball parks, pitching, career years, etc.),I think
Mantle's numbers would be greater than Mays'. Mantle only had 4 - 100+ RBI
seasons, but he had many near 100; and, during the '50s Stengel was platooning
most of his players, even Mantle didn't play 154 games then.
Comparing the RBI/AB statistics, Mantle comes out slightly ahead with an RBI
per 5.4 At Bats to Mays' one RBI per 5.7 At Bats. So Gil, I would advise you
to do the math next time before you claim that Mantle was not a clutch hitter.
And, you are absolutely wrong about the fans booing Mantle during the '50s.
As I previously said, yes they did in 1951. In 1952 Mantle batted .311 (what
a coincidence....his 1952 Topps card #) and the fans started to appreciate him
and in 1956 when he won the TRIPLE CROWN, he really won over the fans.