Posted By:
Ted ZanidakisAndrew
In my initial Paragraph in this Thread I state....."In my opinion Willie,
Mickey & the Duke were all great players". And, any interpretation of their
Stats will reinforce this stated opinion.
However, the one fact that stands out is Mantle was "lucky" enough to have a
larger "stage" in his career (i.e., from 1951-1964 he was in 12 World Series)
It doesn't get much better than this.
How much of a force he was in leading the Yankees to this unprecendented run
of victories is debatable. When, you have a Manager the likes of Stengel, a
pitching staff with Reynolds, Raschi, Lopat, and Ford, a Johnny Sain for a
pitching Coach, a Yogi Berra and an Elston Howard behind the plate, a Rizzuto
at SS, a Maris in RF, and many, many other teammates who contributed; too
numerous, to list here. I ask....how can anyone attribute this success to a
particular ballplayer ?
But, one thing I can tell you, since I was a kid growing up in New Jersey
during those years, I lived and breathed BB and my memories are still very
clear. I did see Mantle hit several 500+ ft HRs. I especiall remember the
one that hit the upper deck facade at Yankee Stadium. I still have the New
York News front page photo of it. Mantle indeed had more power from the right
side, as I recall his typical 450 ft HRs into the Yankees Bullpen deep in RF.
Andrew....Your last point I cannot accept.
I went to school in Elizabeth, NJ and then entered College during the 1950's.
My schools were very racially mixed. Due to sports, due to better times, or
whatever, there were no color barriers between us. Satchell Paige and Jackie
Robinson, Jessie Owens, and Joe Louis were our heroes as well as Joe DiMaggio
and Duke Snider; and, all those other "white guys".
I ask you....did you grow up in those times ?
I was in the US Air Force (1960-64) and I saw very little evidence of racial
strife amongst us. When I returned to civilian life in the mid-60's, its then
when I started seeing problems, many of which were being instigated by
politicians.