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Posted By: Gilbert Maines

I certainly respect my learned colleagues, even though they are obviously Yankee fans. Clearly that malady obscures the facts from penetrating their awareness.

But to suggest that Mantle was in the same league as Mays stretches the imagination. I too was a fan throughout the fifties, in NYC. And I am sure that a careful analysis of the facts will indicate that Mantle was the third best center fielder in NY at that time.


Edited to add: after a quick fact check -

"made a lot less outs than willie did" ?? Wait! One of these guys was a lifetime .300+ hitter, and the other was not. Guess which is which.

Mantle was Mr. October - Mantle's lifetime World Series batting average is .257

And his All Star game record is worse (.233) - they didn't even let him play in four of the All Star games he was selected for.

Mays hit over .300 and appeared in every AS game - often as the leadoff hitter.



Now look at Snider - during the '50s no one hit more HRs, and there is more ...