Quote:
Originally Posted by puckpaul
Yes, it’s this. Williams was cold and widely disliked. Mantle was the all-American hero.
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Mostly a difference in how their local press handled them.
Boston sports press has always been very harsh with the players. A reflection perhaps of the fans. When Ted came to the majors, he wasn't a great fielder. And despite being an incredible hitter, got reamed in the press for his fielding.
As if he was the only one who had problems with left field at Fenway.
(He was just the beginning of a list of good players who had problems there early in their careers but eventually did alright. Yaz, Rice, Greenwell, Manny... all took the same knock from the press. )
He was also I think someone who didn't have much tolerance for nonsense like that and simply stopped being all that available to the press.
The NY press has always seemed more focused on the positive, preferring to write about hits and homers over misplayed balls that cost the game.
Mantle himself doesn't actually seem like all that swell of a guy. If I had a change to hang out with either for a few hours, I'd pick Williams.