Who was better, who would you take, Mickey Mantle or Willie Mays?

[CW]

Nice cards, Sean! You've inspired me, too.

[ullmandds]

I agree with much that has been said...mickey was more dominant when healthy...and did have how many world series rings? 7 or 8?...but Mays had a longer...more fruitful career numberswise!

[Delray Vintage]

Both great players, but Mays did it much longer, Mantle was and is more of a legend based on yankee status. Had I had to choose one in their prime I would take Mantle. Of course Mays stayed great into his late 30's, Mantle lost his skills at 34 or so.

[Theo_450]

I don't really have a dog in this hunt, but I recently learned of Mantle's medical condition that was discovered in high school. He was playing football when he got kicked in the shin. If it weren't for the newly available antibiotic penicillin, his leg would have been amputated. Osteomyelitis is a bone disease that he struggled with his entire career. In those days, he self medicated with booze (it was that, or morphine). Not trying to glorify him over Mays (and definitely not his drinking), but they were both truly great. I feel this is important information about the Mick that I have not seen anyone else bring up.

I hit a triple once. I felt pretty good about that.

[Theo_450]

Originally Posted by Theo_450

I don't really have a dog in this hunt, but I recently learned of Mantle's medical condition that was discovered in high school. He was playing football when he got kicked in the shin. If it weren't for the newly available antibiotic penicillin, his leg would have been amputated. Osteomyelitis is a bone disease that he struggled with his entire career. In those days, he self medicated with booze (it was that, or morphine). Not trying to glorify him over Mays (and definitely not his drinking), but they were both truly great. I feel this is important information about the Mick that I have not seen anyone else bring up.

I hit a triple once. I felt pretty good about that.

Tried to edit and add this. Couldn't do it, so I had to quote myself.

[GoldenAge50s]

Sports are full of the "what if" arguments, but because of WHAT Mickey accomplished w/ the bad health he had from Day One to the end of his career, it just doesn't apply here.

It's a "given" that he would have overshadowed Mays in just about every category had he had the health that Aaron, Mays, Musial, Banks, Kaline, et al. were blessed with because of what he DID do for 18 yrs.

(Another example where the "what if" doesn't apply is the career of Ted Williams and the 5 yrs lost while in service. Because of what he DID do from beginning to end, you can safely add figures for those 5 yrs and know it would have happened.)

Mickey over Mays and maybe the most electrifying player ever!

[Exhibitman]

Another way to parse the issue is to ask who you would sign to a long-term contract as a free agent.

And WTF:

[Paul S]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Another way to parse the issue is to ask who you would sign to a long-term contract as a free agent.

Depends upon which part of their respective career and how long the contract. I think Bonilla got the best of both of them!