Mickey Mantle -vs- Willie Mays

[golfballs]

Originally Posted by Vercingetorix

Mantle was not only better in his prime, he was far better than Mays. Mays not only had the more productive total career, his was far better.

I'll take Mantle. I'd rather be Jimi Hendrix than Eric Clapton.

Good analogy, but F that. I'd rather be Clapton any day of the week

[_vol]

Originally Posted by zjcvols

Career slash line

Mantle: .298/.412/.557

Mays: .302/.384/.557

Their ten years prime slash lines:

Mantle: .312/.440/.605

Mays: .318/.409/.605

So basically the same player, although the Mick was better at getting on base (though .384 career is nothing to sneeze at). Mays was a better defender, while Mantle was a great switch hitter. I think you have to give it to Mays because Mantle might have been a tad better in his prime, Mays led the league in OBP at age 40, while Mickey was basically done at 34.

I side with Mays as well. If Mantle had some better luck with injuries early in his career and taken better care of himself later in his career, who knows. But it is what it is.

Also, I think it's worth mentioning that while Mantle was great he also played in a hitter's ballpark with a lot of protection in the line-up around him while Mays had neither luxury for most of his career.

Mays was hands down a better defender and base runner than Mantle considering that Mantle was crippled by leg injuries early in his career.

[Scotty's Flat Top]

Originally Posted by Billy Costigan

Who do you think was better and why?

Thats a clown question, bro.

Willie Mays

[005]

Beautiful

[terrypedigo]

Originally Posted by Vercingetorix

Mantle was faster before the injuries destroyed his legs.

Willie could run circles around Mantle in there primes.

[Vercingetorix]

Originally Posted by terrypedigo

Willie could run circles around Mantle in there primes.

I didn't witness it any more than you did. All I know is that everything I've ever read that's based on primary sources written at the time, as well as every old guy I've ever talked to who watched them both in the early 50s, says Mantle was faster and more athletic in basically every way than Mays was at his peak. But Mays kept it a long, long time. Mantle crumbled.

Also, this letter is obligatory in every thread about Mickey Mantle. (Not safe for anyone easily offended.)

Letters of Note: Mickey Mantle's outstanding experience at Yankee Stadium

[bentenn]

Originally Posted by Vercingetorix

I didn't witness it any more than you did. All I know is that everything I've ever read that's based on primary sources written at the time, as well as every old guy I've ever talked to who watched them both in the early 50s, says Mantle was faster and more athletic in basically every way than Mays was at his peak. But Mays kept it a long, long time. Mantle crumbled.

Also, this letter is obligatory in every thread about Mickey Mantle. (Not safe for anyone easily offended.)

Letters of Note: Mickey Mantle's outstanding experience at Yankee Stadium

Lol thats funny (the letter)