Posted By:
Ted ZanidakiscGIL
First, I will tell you that I followed your Giants very closely in the '50s.
I recall very well seeing Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard Around the World" in
1951. One of the most exciting games I went as a kid was at Ebbetts Field,
Sept. 1951, to see the Giants comeback and beat the Dodgers 2 - 1.
And, yes, I clearly recall Mays' fantastic catch off Wertz's bat in '54; and,
his throw which I believe doubled-up a Clev. baserunner. And, who can forget
Dusty Rhodes performance, a relatively unknown player.
Unlike you, though, I try not to let my emotions get in the way of the facts.
You keep putting Mantle down by bringing up Berra. Well, their statistics show
that they had the same RBI/AB ratio of approximately 5.4; and, in my lifetime
Mantle & Berra produced one of the greatest 1 - 2 punches in the game.
You talk about "pressure" experienced by certain ballplayers in the late '40s
an throughout the '50s. Well, lets go back to the '30s with Jessie Owens and
Mack Robinson (Jackie's older brother) competing in the 1936 Olympics. Let's
talk about Joe Louis fighting Max Schmelling and a field of contenders that
were mainly white.
Just like Adam W. brought to your attention in another thread, Gil you have to
check the facts before you argue a given topic. You put Mantle down for having
a .257 BA in WS play (12 seasons), yet Mays had only .239 in only 4 WS. Mantle
from 1952 to 1960 batted .300 in WS play. And, speaking about .300 BA, Mays'
lifetime BA = .302 and Mantle's = .298. Most would say there's not much of a
difference there to argue over, unless you are some kind of "nit-picking" lawyer?
And, I will close by asking you how many times you attended a game at Yankee
Stadium during the 1950's ?