How Good Could Mickey Mantle Have Been?

Mickey Mantle is without a doubt one of the greatest baseball players of all time. But as is the case with many greats, injuries, and off-field issues kept him from being even better. In this video, we discuss the career of Mickey Mantle from his early life in Oklahoma to his World Series records to his 500th home run. We also discuss how much better he could have been without the health problems he faced
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[@FaydsterTV]

Mantle played basically his entire career with a Torn ACL. Something to think about.

[@steve3602]

I know Mickey Mantle never reached his full potential because of injuries and lifestyle. But in my book he will always be the greatest ballplayer I ever saw. In their prime, Mays may have been better defensively but nobody was as exciting as Mickey when it came to offense.

[@jaysantos11]

it was rickey henderson for me

[@steve3602]

@@jaysantos11 I guess it depends on when you were born and who you followed. Rickey was very exciting and was a potent offensive force. He was known for his base stealing and offense. His outfield arm wasn't his strong point. I think if you were around when Mantle was in his prime you'd notice a big difference. When Mantle played, base stealing wasn't a big deal in those days, It started being a big deal when Maury Wills of the Dodgers stole 104 bases in 1962, Mantle was timed at 3.1 seconds from home to first batting lefthanded. That might still be the record. Regardless , you're entitled to your opinion and it was a good choice.

[@nathankenny9278]

you dont know what you are talking about..

[@harlow743]

Mick had the skills to have been baseball greatest player..

[@MarkKrauklis]

I'm 73 years old; Mickey Mantle is, without a doubt, the best ballplayer EVER to put on the uniform. B

[@intune252]

I read Tony Castro's book on him and it was very heartbreaking. His mistress was basically his caretaker due to how much alcohol he consumed, he got completely swindled by the Yankees scout(gave him a $1500 signing bonus while offering Jim Baumer, who played 18 total MLB games, $50000), and worst of all, his sister SA'd him when he was a child. Thankfully he cleaned up many of his sins and things people inadvertently learned from him toward the end of his life. What separates Mantle from Trout, Griffey, and even Mays in my opinion is that he was _the_ guy. America needed someone after the war to obsess over and here came the humble kid from the South that just so happened to destroy baseballs. He was more of a poster child and character in many people's eyes, purely based on his power, success, and looks, compared to Willie Mays, who everybody grew to love for his charisma, energy, and friendliness on and off the field(which also became incredibly important for African American acceptance in general at the time). It really is incredible that he was able to have such a successful career with all the baggage he carried. Great video depicting his story

[@nomercyinc6783]

what happens to people as kids doesnt dicate any part of their adult lives.

[@dtice69]

@@nomercyinc6783 LOL, bullshit!

[@raymonbristol9628]

Which book did you read ??

[@intune252]

@@raymonbristol9628 Mantle: The Best There Ever Was

[@johnnyclements9757]

In my opinion still a top 10 player of all time even with the injuries

[@SPfg3388]

I remember watching Monday night baseball with Tony Kubek and Howard Cosell. The game was in Detroit . Kubeck told Cosell that if Mantle played his home games here instead of Yankee Stadium he would have hit one thousand home runs. Cosell said you have to be kidding and Kubeck replied I am dead serious.

[@syourke3]

Kubek is wrong. Mantle hit 266 at home and 277 away. About even. Yankee Stadium didn’t hurt his totals because he usually batted left handed and Yankee Stadium is friendly to power hitters who hit lefty.

[@johnsrous1616]

Mickey Mantle not only was the greatest switch hitter but I'd put him ahead of Willie Mays in terms of the greatest player ever. Mays was an overall better fielder but Mantle wasn't bad either. His speed is unequaled. Mickey's arm was better than Mays, too so, other than the power angle, yeah, Mickey Mantle was an overall better player than Willie Mays.

[@UTNatlChamps]

In my view, Mantle is a top-10 player all-time. His peak is second only to Bonds in the post-integration era. He had 110 fWAR and bWAR in fewer than 10k PAs. Three seasons he had a waaWL% above .555, which is an all-time great season, each time eclipsing 10 WAR. He’s at worst a top-10 hitter, and I have him as the sixth-best. He was so, so, so good already, and had he not torn his ACL and been more mature, I think he could have been the GOAT.

[@bigrich6075]

No doubt. He would of been the HR king by a mile.

[@chrislewis5069]

Post integration, like when blacks started playing?

[@chunkymonkey428]

@@chrislewis5069yes that’s what post integration means

[@hoppy23]

Where do you have plujos... bc here me out first 10 year stats plujos is by far and away the greatest hitter of all time

[@andrem.thomas332]

​@@hoppy23 Agreed.

[@ILoveMisty1985]

I was a massive Mickey Mantle fan growing up, even though I was born over a decade after he last played. I initially thought it was funny that a baseball player had the same name as Mickey Mouse, but the more I read about his life and his career the more I came to respect his life and appreciate his career. I also used him as a reverse role model of sorts and stayed away from alcohol because I saw the way alcohol affected his body. He always said his greatest regret in the game was swinging for the fences so much that he ended up with a career average of .298. Of course it was his luck that his last year came in the Year of the Pitcher of 1968, when his .237/.385/.398 was still good for a 143 OPS+. It helped that he had more walks than hits that year.

[@yankees29]

There was a Mantle lithograph hanging on my bedroom wall for basically most of my childhood. I was born in the mid 70’s.

[@coreywilson7530]

His 145 wRC+ in 1968 was good for the 13th best in the league (Tied with Roberto Clemente). Had more efficient evaluation concepts existed then, he could have kept playing. Instead, he unfortunately thought he wasn't good anymore.

[@waynegood9233]

I remember when he and Roger Maris were challenging each other for home run leader not only on TV but I would listen it on radio During the World Series my junior high school was played on TV in the auditorium in 1961

[@michaellopez6295]

The Mick is probably my favorite Yankee of all time. Wish I could have seen him play. Awesome video man keep up the dope work.

[@LaMostraVia]

9:30 those World Series records he has will never be broken

[@LaMostraVia]

@@breadandcircuses8127 my bad

[@stevefowler2112]

I still remember the first time I heard the Name Mickey Mantle. I was a young boy in the early 60's growing up in rocket city (Cocoa Beach, Fl.). I played sandlot football 365 days a year and had not yet become interested in baseball. I was heading out the front door to go play football and my Dad was watching a baseball game. As I walked past the TV set I watched a center fielder streak into the frame and make a sliding/diving catch. I asked my Dad, Wow who is that? My Dad answered, That's Mickey Mantle and you should have seen him run when he had two good legs! After that I was an instant #7 fan. I truly believe had he not tripped on that sprinkler head he would be viewed as and have the numbers to be called the greatest ball player ever. I would go further and postulate had he not been playing in excruciating pain for so many years that his drinking would not have become so damaging to him either. Yet he never complained or made excuses

[@SPfg3388]

Hypotheticals and what ifs make good fodder for sports talk. All of that aside, Mantle is already one of the greatest players to play baseball.

[@jimclaus1576]

Agreed. Mick’s peak was unmatched as far as all around ability on a baseball field. And it’s kind of cool because Mantle’s hardest hit ball also leaves a lot to the imagination and is one of the biggest WHAT IFs in history. That facade shot off Bill Fischer in 1963… Who knows how far that ball was going to travel had it not his that old Yankee Stadium facade.

[@johnisouth6636]

I read Jane Levy's book. I blame DiMaggio for his early knee injury. He was jelous of the kid from Oklahoma, my home state. My grandpa lives in Spavinaw where he was born. Got to see thehouse before the tore it down.

[@thomaswolf723]

DiMaggio was known to be a private person and relatively uncommunicative. He was cordial to Mantle but not close. While DiMaggio respected Mantle's playing ability, he did not respect how Mantle failed to take care of himself and squandered some of his talents.

[@chriisdangelo1886]

Mantle hit more tape measure HRs than anybody that ever played. Forget about the one he hit in Washinton griffith park, their were longer HRs than that one that he hit. Read the book explosion by Mark Gallager about all of Mantles HRs.

[@obbor4]

The Babe had the most tape measure homeruns. Mickey, along with Jimmy Foxx and Frank Howard were the next three on that list.

[@jimclaus1576]

That shot Mick hit off Bill Fischer in 1963 off the facade is like something out of The Natural. Game winner and it leaves a lot to the imagination too considering it was still going upward when it struck. I’ve heard other players say the ball almost bounced back to the infield it hit the facade so hard. Lol! Let that sink in.

[@chriisdangelo1886]

They didn't start measuring Home Runs until the 1950s. I am sure Ruth hit long ones but they basically guessed.

[@clifford7594]

Easily the best baseball player I've ever seen, but I'm only 73.

[@clifford7594]

@@breadandcircuses8127 How old are you? Who's the best baseball player you've ever seen?

[@jimclaus1576]

Well I’m 40 and have watched a decent amount of baseball over the years. Played a bit myself too. And Prime Mantle is the best talent the game has seen. Whether some admit to it or not. 3.1 seconds from home to first base and 500 plus foot home runs while not ever touching weights or SUPPLEMENTS. Imagine Mickey coming up today with a diet, strength training program, film study and hitting the tightly stitched baseballs of today with the high quality maple bats… Lol! He’d dwarf Shohei’s best shots. 😂😂

[@Rutherford12]

The Dodgers won the World Series in 1955. The Yankees won in 1956

[@64north20west]

Without the 1951 injury, he may have served time in the military, so his homerun total may not have made him the second member of the 700 club. However, it would lead to the possibility that both he and Maris would have 61 or more homeruns in 1961 (he was injured that year and still would up with 54), and he still could have reached the 650 homerun mark. It is amazing to think of what someone that great could have done if healthy for his entire career.

[@homerun8032]

His biggest problem by far was the bottle. Just look at the history of known alcoholics. Their skills are eroded between age 32 - 33 they are not productive it their late 30's. Had he not left the bottle alone, 650 homeruns were in reach for him.

[@DP-ol5uv]

Mantle, like Foxx, Joe D and Gehrig didn't play long enough to pile up the career totals like Mays, Aaron, Pujols. But when you measure how effective he was in the Plate Apperances he had he was among the top 5 of all time. This effective measure of how much a player contributed to wins and runs is a far better way to compare players. All time, Mantle took far fewer Plate Apperances (PA) in his career to generate wins, runs and total bases than either Mays or Aaron. So while injuries kepts his career short (retired at age 36) and his career totals low, he was among the top 5 players of all time in terms of his offensive effectiveness at the Plate. Meaning, it took him far fewer plate appearances than say Mays or Aaron to contribute to a teams runs, wins, or generate total bases (the basics of baseball). These are his career rankings (among retired players), fewest PA per Situational Wins (4th), fewest PA per Adjusted Batting Runs (6th), fewest PA per Bases Out Runs Added (5th), fewest PA per Runs Created (7th), fewest PA per Total Bases+Walks (7th), fewest PA to generate 1 Offensive WAR (5th), and fewest PA per Wins Probability (4). Mantle's rankings in these categories is the real measure of his greatness and how much he contributed when he cam to bat. He was one of the greatest 5-7 hitters of all time. Only Ruth, Williams, Gehrig, Bonds, Hornsby, and Foxx where his equal or better in some of these categories.

[@big8dog887]

My pet theory is that if Lou Gehrig had lived, Mantle would have broken Ruth's home run record. Reasoning: Gehrig, the original Yankee captain, was liked and respected by management and fellow players. He probably plays into the mid forties, then becomes a coach being groomed to be Joe McCarthy's successor. This makes him manager instead of Casey Stengel when Mantle comes up. Which has two major positive effects on Mantle's career. One, Gehrig is much more respected by Joe DiMaggio than Stengel was, Gehrig could have convinced Joe D that there was no shame in playing first base (after all, Gehrig was the best who ever did it). Which means the 1951 World Series injury doesn't happen. Second, much of Mantle's drinking problems stemmed from the fact that Stengel rode him hard. Gehrig is an entirely different personality, I picture his response to Mantle's partying more along the lines of "I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed." which may have been more effective. Your projection of 721 home runs in 1973 sounds about right. Hank Aaron still would have ultimately ended up with the record, and since he wouldn't have gotten there first, the experience probably would have been a lot more pleasant for him. Also, if Mantle breaks Ruth's single season record instead of Roger Maris, Maris probably ends up with a better career, the stress of 1961 took a lot out of him. This scenario does come at a price for Yankee fans, though. I'm not sure anyone but Casey Stengel sees the potential of a certain awkward-looking young catcher in the late forties.

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

A LOT of what ifs, but still interesting. I think, though, it unjustly slights eccentric Stengel's contribution.

[@big8dog887]

@@nicholasschroeder3678 Well, no, I just said that Mantle would have been better off. The Yankees as a team may not have been. One, as I said, Yogi Berra might not have gotten an opportunity. Also, Gehrig's managerial style would most likely have resembled McCarthy, which means a set lineup every night, whereas Stengel mastered the art of platooning when he had bad teams, and was better suited to the '50s Yankees personnel. The Yankees had too much talent and resources for Gehrig to not win some World Series, but would he have won seven, especially if he didn't have Berra? That's questionable at best. So if it seems like I've slighted Stengel, that wasn't the intention. Thanks for the feedback.

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

@@big8dog887 I guess it's hard to really picture Stengel, with his wizened face and warped grammar, as something of a wizard, but I think he was one as a manager. Yeah, his teams were stacked with talent, but you just don't win that many Series without a strong man at the helm. You're right around Berra, and perhaps right about his handling of Mantle. But Gehrig as manager is a total what if: he seems to have all the right qualities, but--ironically in this case--the only HOF quality player who became a great manager that I can think of is Berra. I guess John McGraw was both. Am I missing any? Joe Torre was a very solid player...One last point, and I'm sorry if it seems I'm nitpicking (you make great points and interesting arguments), Ruth would undoubtedly have exceeded 800 home runs had his first 5 years not been spent as a dead ball pitcher. And had he taken better care of himself, 900 isn't unrealistic. On the other hand, he got very lucky in really never suffering injuries. But GOAT athletes are all lucky that way, and in many other ways. Being fat and out of shape didn't hurt his eye/hand or bat speed.

[@big8dog887]

@@nicholasschroeder3678 I found three HOF players who won the World Series as bench (non-playing) managers: Red Schoendienst, Gil Hodges, and Bob Lemon. As for Ruth, the counter to the "if he hadn't been a pitcher" argument is that, as a hitter he struck out a lot by the standards of the time. Since he was a pitcher early on, this was no big deal, it was to be expected. But if he had come up as an outfielder, this would have been deemed unacceptable, the big swings would have been coached out of him. Which means fewer, not more home runs. With his God-given hand-eye coordination, though, he might have challenged Cobb's hit record.

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

@@big8dog887 You're a gentleman and a scholar. Merry Christmas⛄️

[@chasee3797]

He was an amazing player despite all the injuries he suffered throughout his career. IMHO - his ACL injury in 1951 permanently altered his career and greatly hindered his production - which makes his career after even more remarkable. He was unfairly treated by the media during his career and he never seemed to understand why he was a god to so many, as he just viewed himself as just another guy. Super heartbreaking to see him at the end of his life, telling everyone he wasn’t a role model.

[@username-zj9id]

Also his shoulder injury in 1959. He couldn't hit left handed anymore but refused to quit switch hitting

[@johnbutera5805]

I TOTALLY agree!!! 👍

[@davidroman1654]

That ACL injury was the fault of Joe D. He should have called for the ball early and Mickey would have pulled up. And Joe was a 1st class jerk as well.

[@johnbutera5805]

​@@davidroman1654 AGREE! 👍

[@9Ballr]

Mantle may not be the greatest baseball player of all time, but he may well be the most beloved baseball player of all time.

[@johnbutera5805]

He was both!!! 😮

[@modsquad3123]

Take away the knee issues and booze, we will never know but is still the best what if argument in baseball history

[@user-rr7bv3fu4b]

The thing is Mickey never was 100 percent in his prime, he blew out his knee in his rookie year, and what rookie is fully formed? He played the rest of his career probably 60-80 percent of what he could've been. Still great.

[@tbm3fan913]

I knew Mantle had issues with his knees. I didn't know it was a torn ACL which I know couldn't be repaired back then. It couldn't be repaired in 1977 either since that is when I tore my ACL and had to live with it. The vicissitudes of life and their downstream effects. I first saw him in Yankee Stadium in 1959 at the age of 5 and was so excited to see him play.

[@KittyPurrfect100]

Best switch hitter ever but the 1968 season brought down his lifetime batting average below 0.300

[@RockettServehard-li1do]

mickey mantle is the best alot of people fail to recognize this

[@hydrasin]

I think a video of the same kind about Sandy Koufax could be very interesting, if he didn't have his injuries, he could well have exceeded 400 strikeouts in a season or have more no hitters or even more than one perfect game !

[@user-hk8sh2qd3v]

If Mantle ran to first base at 3.1 seconds he's a whole second faster than the fastest MLB player today Elly De La Cruz clocked at 4.1 seconds.

[@homerun8032]

The fact that the fastest man in the game today is 4.1 should be a red flag. There is more to that story than you have been told.

[@brucerorty4014]

I watched Mickey Mantle once, at the 1967 All-Star game at Anaheim Stadium, in the twilight of his career. A year later I had a MM Little League bat, which I still have. MM had an aura as he strode to the plate at the Bog-A. That was the longest All-Star game ever, 15 innings, 2-1 NL. Factoid: There's a 5.8 rated rock climb named Mickey Mantle at Tahquitz Rock/Suicide Rock near Idyllwild, CA which has 3 mantle moves on the first pitch.

[@chance-m-holton]

In my view, he is my all time favorite player!!!!

[@kenneth7826]

Good morning ....saw the Mick play many times at the old yankee stadium....he was brilliant but he did not take care of himself and he knew it....strong unbelievably strong........where did he get the nick name "THE MICK"From??? After the 1952 world series it came from Jackie ROBINSON...Mickey was one of the greatest of the greatest....number 7 Mickey Mantle

[@jimclaus1576]

Man I wish I could go back in time and watch that shot Mick hit in 1963 off Bill Fischer off the right field facade. Had to have been one of the most majestic shots in history. Game winner too. A lot of legendary power hitters hit in that old Yankee stadium but none matched that shot. Mickey did that kind of stuff without a strength training regiment or *supplements* of any kind. The REAL life Natural. Rest In Heaven #7

[@kenneth7826]

@@jimclaus1576 saw that shot off of Bill Fischer on WPIX CHANNEL 11..THE announcer was the scooter....he said "HOLY COW!!".Peace my brorher Jim

[@tjdent7166]

In a way, mantle is as Butkus in the nfl. They rarely played without nagging or worse injuries. However, game after game they gave everything they had and that everything they had was well above everybody else for the most part.

[@MrLeoni2]

Correction: The Yankees did not win the 1955 World Series. That was the Brooklyn Dodgers, their first and only World Series that they would win while based in Brooklyn. I think you had confused 1951-1953 (Since he was involved in the 1951 World Series before his injury) with 1952-2953, 1955.

[@milojanis4901]

Very nice work on the video

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

Not to rain on the Mick parade, but Ruth very likely would have had 800+ homers had he not spent his early 20s as a pitcher in the dead ball era. That said, the guy did not take good care of himself either, but he got lucky in not having any serious injuries, and was just one of those fat guys you see from time to time with fantastic natural strength and hand/eye. Unique...The choice of Mozart's 40th is kinda bizarre.

[@flame-sky7148]

There are 5 guys who could have had 800 hrs if not for the what ifs. 1. Ruth had he not been a pitcher and just being an outfielder. 2. Pujos if he just stayed a Cardinal in St. Louis and not been a .255 hitter with the Angels 3. Griffey Jr. had he not gotten hurt with injuries and stayed in Seattle. 4. Alex Rodriguez had he not been suspended 211 games and then not being picked up. 5. Bonds if he didn't get injured in 2005 and missing time due to 94/95 strike stoppages. Mays would have been the 2nd home run king had he not miss almost two seasons due to military duty.

[@RockettServehard-li1do]

succeeding in nyc is tough but the mick did it

[@johnedwinoliver6842]

Mantle was more than good enough.

[@AnsonBeeker]

Thank you for acknowledging sports existed before 1970. Most people don't.

[@JohnSmith-zw8vp]

2:41 -- Imagine if his dad didn't go all tough love on him and Mantle did decide to quit and never look back? Never mind baseball, how much different would the baseball CARD hobby be without Mantle? I mean Mickey has always been the top dog of the hobby pretty much since the beginning, especially his iconic 1952 Topps (which contrary to popular belief is NOT his rookie card; that in fact is his 1951 Bowman)?

[@TimRobinson-kd3zn]

Cool video yeah i made the same argument about Mantle all the pains he suffered the drinking womanizing and everything he was an amazing player no doubt. I like how you averaged out how much time he missed and what his numbers would have been. And I complain about the pains I got now and what he went through to play 18 years of MLB on one leg.

[@gigeo48]

he was the G.O.A.T. no doubt. my lifetime hero

[@craiganderson4243]

I grew up watching 80s and 90s baseball and Griffey was always my favorite player and although I never got to see Mantle play he was the only player in my opinion as talented as Jr. Both careers cut short and both would have hit 800 homers easy!

[@michaell874]

Well, how many more home runs would Babe Ruth had gotten if the hot dogs he ate were juiced?

[@anthonyschmitz3053]

He was quit the drinker,had lots of injuries,but he could knock the cover off the ball! My favorite!

[@williamcurtin5692]

I've always thought he was only slightly lesser a player than Mays, not quite as good a CF. May's power was less spectacular but 660 is 660. And Mays was a little smarter. A writer for the SF Chronicle the length of his time in San Francisco said he never saw Mays make an incorrect play. Only player I definitely put ahead of Mays is Ruth, pretty much because of Ruth's pitching. It's really hard to do these ratings. Where do you rank a Williams, maybe "the Greatest hitter who ever lived" but except for playing the Monster a suck fielder? Pitchers vs. position players. Guys who missed time due to WWII. Short careers (thinking of the guy at the beginning of this clip). The only thing I know for sure is that Joe DiMaggio was never "the greatest living baseball player" (he insisted on being introduced as that).

[@flame-sky7148]

And Mays basically missed two seasons due to the Korean Conflict, and we know that Ted Williams missed around five years because of military duty. So 660 probably would have been 720ish if not for war. And yes, the guy you would compare Mantle with is Mays because they both entered the league in 1951 and they were both centerfielders. But if you cut off Mays last 4 or 5 seasons and end his career after the 1968 season which is when Mantle ended his career, Mays still has better numbers. So even if Mays's career was over after the 1968 season, Mays still has more home runs, rbi. hits, runs, sb, and average than Mantle (including missing 2 seasons due to military service). Mantle should have had at least 4 more years or playing, but the injuries really hurt his longevity. Mantle had the greatest raw talent to ever enter the league, and achieved more team success. He definitely got walked more, due to the lack of protection. I think Joe DiMaggio was was a better all around player than Williams, but Williams obviously being a better hitter. But we know DiMaggio missed three season due to military service as well. DiMaggio also was on the better team playing with Gehrig three seasons and Mantle one season. The Yankees won a world series in 1943 without DiMaggio.

[@richdouglas2311]

That 20-time All Star stuff needs context. From 1959 through 1963, the All-Star Game was a double-header. For some weird reason, baseball insists on counting them separately. Reduce his totals accordingly.

[@geofromnj7377]

Mantle was extremely popular and well known in NYC even before his Triple Crown year of 1956. In 1953, at age 21, after only two years in the majors, he was a mystery guest on What's My Line, "mystery" meaning the panel had to wear masks while attempting to guess his profession, otherwise they would easily recognize him.

[@MajorWolfgangHochstetter]

Mantle led 'both leagues' in every category when he won the triple crown.

[@sidemann8593]

The M&M boys: Mantle & Mozart.

[@randyhuke3773]

Remember, he hit the ball out of Old Yankee Stadium. Ball parks today would fit inside that outfield.

[@gigeo48]

the greatest EVER

[@jaysantos11]

mike trout always reminds me of mickey mantle

[@luishumbertovega3900]

After losing Mutt in 1953 Casey Stengel became a father figure for him but Casey could drink even more than The Mick. When Stengel published his personal All Star Team he omitted Mantle, from whom he had great expectations but ended up being his biggest disappointment.

[@MistaJG]

My dads fav player

[@flame-sky7148]

Mickey Mantle should have won that 1958 MVP, beat him in every statistical category except for rbis, due to Mantle being walked more than anybody. Oh by the way, the Yankees won the WS that year while the Red Sox finished 3rd. If he would have stayed healthy, and stayed away from the alcohol and the fast life in NYC, then you're looking at a 700 hr/ 500 sb guy with those 7 rings, so yea, GOAT easily. I would compare Mantle with Mays because they both entered the league in 1951 and they were both centerfielders. But if you cut off Mays last 4 or 5 seasons and end his career after the 1968 season which is when Mantle ended his career, Mays still has better numbers. So even if Mays's career was over after the 1968 season, Mays still has more home runs, rbi. hits, runs, sb, and average than Mantle (including missing 2 seasons due to military service). Mantle should have had at least 4 more years or playing, but the injuries really hurt his longevity. Mantle had the greatest raw talent to ever enter the league, (faster and stronger than anyone) and achieved more team success. He definitely got walked more, due to the lack of protection. On a side note, doesn't Christian McCaffrey look a little like a young Mantle. While growing up on the farm when he was a kid, Mantle's father threw right handed to him while he hit left handed, and Mantle's uncle threw to him left handed while he hit right handed.

[@stevenarbolino308]

He retired at 36 years old, losing at least 4 or 5 seasons at the end of his career. The injuries and his drinking cost his lifetime totals dearly. Would he have hit 700 homeruns and challenged Ruth's mark? Probably not but we will never know.

[@homerun8032]

Had he left the bottle alone , 650 homerun 's was well with in reach, inspired of the injury. Had he stayed healthy, he could have lost two years to the draft. The history of alcoholic is that they don't age well, 32 -33 they are usually done, or just hanging on because of their name.

[@tommcconville677]

Could have been? He was still one of the top ten players all time in the major leagues, and the greatest switchitter as well. He overcame numerous serious injuries and a bone disease of the legs, a severe hip absess to hit 536 home runs, a Triple Crown in 1956, and a .297 lifetime BA. You can have been any better than what Mickey was, he didn't need to improve on anything.

[@jamesgilmore69]

20x all star in 18 years? Amazing! Haha I get that baseball reference says 20x all star but it’s clearly a misprint. He was a 16x allstar

[@big8dog887]

There was a stretch in the late 50s-early 60s where they played two All-Star Games in a season, so they probably (incorrectly in my view) counted those years twice.

[@DP-ol5uv]

There were two all star games played in 1959, 1960, and 1961. I don't recall why. But Mantle was named to each one.

[@CapAnson12345]

He's the greatest all around athlete to ever play the game. Basically Bo Jackson but with a lot more baseball skills. In the 50s. I really don't think you need a what if scenario to appreciate him. It's just too bad he couldn't see that himself and kept battling all those demons.

[@horton12545]

Now that you bring him up, how great could Bo have been if he wasn't injured?

[@Hank13665]

Mickey was the most exciting power hitter of his era. Even in his declining years, he was still capable of slugging a monster shot, and that anticipation was always present every time he stepped up to the plate. How good might he have been? As it was, in my book, he was good enough.

[@ronherrera8327]

Mickey Mantle with the Yankees won seven world championships, 17 All-Star appearances, he also played in 12 World Series championships, what more do you want?

[@jeanmenard3060]

It is extremely difficult to compare players from different eras. Mickey Mantle was the best hitter of his era. But he was 5 f 11 inches tall, wich would be considered small for a major leaguer today. In his days pitchers were throwing between 85 to 90 miles per hour, except for a few pitchers, like Koufax. Nowadays pitchers are almost all throwing over 95 miles per hour. A lot of pitchers are throwing at 100 miles per hour !!! So, in today's baseball Mickey Mantle would barely be an ordinary player. He was great in his days, but that's all.

[@drpreposterous1]

Nonsense. The comparison is specious. Men today on average are all taller and heavier and better conditioned. Todays's players benefit hugely from better nutrition, physical therapy, sports medicine (including better surgical techniques for ACL repair), weightlifting and conditioning and (often) PEDs. Try to find among thiese bigger, better conditioned athletes anyone who often hits the ball over 500 feet or ran as fast as the Mick did. Had Mantle played in the modern era, he, too, would likely have been taller and stronger. He also would have benefitted from al the other modern things I mentioned. He would have been superb in any era.

[@drbonesshow1]

Exactly. How good could have been? He could have been the greatest on a team with less boozers.

[@MrOctober44]

How was he a 20 time all star when he only played 18 seasons?

[@monumentofwonders]

I love Mantle, and when I was a kid, I was one of my heroes, even though I hated the Yankees. But to speculate on what might have been is pointless. What might Mays have accomplished or Ted Williams had they not lost their prime years through military service? Also, I think it's pretty clear that Mays was a better defensive player than either Mantle or Williams. Still, Mantle was, in spite of his injuries and lifestyle, one of the greatest players of all time, but maybe not the greatest.

[@TheBandit025Nova]

Mickey Mantle does take over for Joe DiMaggio

[@briankistner4331]

If Mickey hadn't been convinced he'd die young, took better care of himself and hadn't drank so much, he might have topped Babe Ruth in home runs.

[@shaneshelby9348]

He was good the way he was don't matter

[@michaelhuffman6429]

Had Mickey not of had the injuries, took better care of himself, and stopped whorin around, he could of easily hit 100 more home runs

[@craiganderson3919]

More like 200

[@mohammedzulk8485]

I heard Mantle had hit a baseball out the Yankee stadium during practice.

[@det6912]

In todays game he’s the best baseball athlete to ever play the game

[@richdouglas2311]

Mickey was great. HIs injuries and drinking were awful. But Willie Mays remains the most talented baseball player ever. Babe Ruth was the most dominant. Ted Williams was the best hitter. Tony Gwynn was the other best hitter. Mickey was a very old 36 when he retired. If he'd kept healthy and had a post-35 run like Aaron, he would be on baseball's Mount Rushmore.

[@user-oo2su6hg1t]

Mantle wll always be the greatest what if? If he hadneverbeen injured if he had not wound up in new york where his manager never saw a bar stool he didnt like if he had landed in say st louis where he would have had a normal ball park to hit in and of course the main if had he realized what talent he had and taken care of himself like the superstars of his era did mays aaron kaline musial

[@rentslave]

What could he have done playing in Wrigley Field for his career? Of course,playing only day games may have ended his career even earlier than it did given his penchant for carousing.

[@Mr1gladiatore]

I still think Babe Ruth is the greatest ever and probably will always be the G.O.A.T. but strong cases can be made for Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle. Throw in the " What If " factor and all these guys are even better.

[@user-tc9ft8fs3e]

Gee and all these generations I thought Brooklyn won in 55

[@Edward-pu1wt]

Mickey was definitely one of my favorites. Here you can see Willie Mays vs Mickey Mantle in Home Run Derby in 1959. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpLbo62NaMaGqMU

[@cejannuzi]

His alcoholism negated a lot of that. But he could have benefited from better knee surgery nowadays too.

[@Pockettrain]

Top 3... Ruth, Mantle and Shoeless Joe Jackson. Ruth is the Greatest, Mickey without injury could of maybe been the Greatest, Joe Jackson if allowed to continue playing may have been the greatest? Even though, they still remain the top 3 to me in baseball history

[@chriswarmack1786]

If Mantle had played during this era with advanced, less invasive knee surgery, he might have ended up with 700 home runs

[@charleschapman3994]

The Natural

[@marzix427]

My favorite player is still Griffey because I saw him play and would have loved to see him actually healthy his whole career or Randy Johnson if he had figured it out 2 or 3 or 4 years earlier. It's difficult to judge some of these older players because for each that was a hitter that went out drinking to all hours, played hung over, and did whatever recreational drugs you can think of... the pitchers were too. The Greatest what if though: What if Michael Jordan got a good amount of sleep, didn't drink so much and smoke cigars all the time, didn't retire for 2 years in the mid 90s and played until 2000 for the Bulls (somehow)

[@danieladkins5242]

Griffey was awesome

[@charlesbadrock]

Greatest switch hitter ever not the GOAT that goes to Willie Mays but I got the Mick 2nd

[@bobwhite2]

He was as good as he ever was.

[@michaelsheehan9623]

The Dodgers won the World Series in 1955

[@johnmiller5679]

He brought his wife and mistress. Over 500 HR’s 3.1 seconds to first base. And on top if that he could bring his wife and mistress fir a bug day and not be killed. Guy was a boss.

[@mja91352]

Considering that Mickey Mantle was one of the greatest players ever, this is a mind-numbingly stupid question.

[@username-zj9id]

5:07 The Yankees did not win the World Series in 1955

[@mpaulm]

I actually think he’s still underrated. He’s the Yankee version of Mike Trout.

[@eazypeazy33]

Imagine if he some surgeries and a lil juice… He has crazy numbers without.

[@andrewphillips8790]

He had that knee injury early and he was a drunk, he spent way too much time partying with Billy Martin, another drunk, just think if the Mick would have taken better care of his body!

[@JoelHassen]

In july 17 th 1961 against baltmore maris and mantle both hit homers after the 5fh inning it rained that plus mantle hit the foul pool now that is called the fair pool.in short maris should be crited with 62 homers and mantle with 56 homers maris and mantles july stats should be corrected.

[@whisperingthunder9832]

Alcohol ruins more than it helps

[@TFABMN]

They lost the World series in 1955 vs the Brooklyn Dodgers.

[@seanhat4784]

I take mick over mays.. wayyyy better best seasons

[@DP-ol5uv]

At his peak Mantle was a better player than Mays. Over an entire career Mays was better. But Mantle could hit for a higher average, hit for more power, his stolen base percentage was higher than Mays, his all time fielding percentage was better than Mays, and he was more effective in creating runs than Mays. So at their best, Mantle was still the better ball player.

[@flame-sky7148]

It's subjective, but I would say this, if you are Willie Mays as a hitter, you have to go up against Bob Gibson, Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, Warren Spahn, (we'll omit Marichal, because that's his teammate), Robin Roberts. Then in the late 1960's he had to face Tom Seaver, Fergie Jenkins and Steve Carlton who were winning 20 games by then and Mays was in his late 30's. That's a much tougher row than what Mantle had to face, all of these are NL hall of fame pitchers. What Mays and Aaron did in the NL, especially Aaron hitting over 40 homers in the early 1970's is insane. The best AL pitcher in Mantle's area was on his team Whitey Ford.

[@georgesouthwick7000]

If he had 2 good knees and taken better care of himself, it is important to imagine how good he could have been.

[@kylestephens4133]

I love Willie, but Mantle was a better hitter. Had he not had his leg problems he would have stolen a lot of bases.

[@rentslave]

If Richie Ashburn had Mantle's power,he would have been better than Roy Hobbs.