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Posted By: Todd Schultz

I grew up a couple hundred miles from you, I think (Mankato), and everyone raved about Mantle. It was an American League state, pre-ESPN. Playing in the backyard league, most everyone wanted to be Mantle, Killebrew, Oliva or Carew, depending on your body build. As for me, I was Joe Pepitone, mostly to irritate my father, a lifelong Brooklyn Dodger fan and hater of all things remotely primadonna.