Mantle Better Than Mays: An Opinion from 1964

[@danielbernier6095]

New subscriber here. Sent your way by Rob Cash Cards. Interesting facts to give the edge to Mantle at that time. Longevity gives the edge to Mays now that all is known about their careers. Thanks for sharing and showing your beautiful Mays/ Mantle cards.

[@Vintage_Dave_T]

@@danielbernier6095 thanks for stopping by and subbing. Appreciate it. I totally agree about Mantle and Mayes. I’m glad I have those cards from my childhood as I would not be able to afford them today. 🤑 Cheers, mate.

[@Vintage_Dave_T]

I meant to say, if anyone wants a copy of the Mantle-Mays article, let me know. I’ll email you a copy.

[@EricVoegelin]

Mays and Mantle were both loved in New York. Mantle’s charm and innocent love of a good time grew on the public, and his injuries made him sympathetic. Mays knew he was as much an entertainer as an athlete, and he put on a show that was appreciated. Even the Giants’ move to San Francisco couldn’t lessen the city’s affection for their Say Hey kid.

[@Vintage_Dave_T]

@@EricVoegelin so well put. That’s exactly it. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@Hodges1455]

Gave a video like. It is wild that Mays missed nearly two full years after being drafted to serve in the Korean War and still put up those kinds of numbers. Fun article to look back on. Thanks for sharing, Dave.

[@Vintage_Dave_T]

@@Hodges1455I never knew he missed time almost 2 yrs. Thx for watching. Looks like the big separator between the two was the years after 1963. Mays was healthy and Mantle not so much. Thx for watching, Brian.

[@vintagecardssteve8582]

Fantastic video Dave and I always like to see the cards front and center like that. There is something about that 1960 Topps Mickey Mantle that just sings to me. Man I always enjoy hearing people thoughts on Mays vs Mantle. I have heard stories about where Mays would not sign the baseball if Mantle already signed the sweet spot on the ball. Ha! Always enjoy and thanks for sharing with us.

[@Vintage_Dave_T]

@@vintagecardssteve8582 I never knew he missed time almost 2 yrs. Looks like the big separator between the two was the years after 1963. Mays was healthy and Mantle not so much. Many people have Mays 1 or 2 all time and Mantle 11 or higher. Thx for watching, Steve.

[@PickerJimS]

Hey Dave awesome video and it’s a great conversation! These two were both obviously great players, overall I think Mantle was more popular because he played for the Yankees and had all those World Series appearances. Of course his career numbers would have been better without the knee injury. That being said I’ve always felt that Mays was the all around better player.

[@Vintage_Dave_T]

@@PickerJimS thx for watching. I think Mantle was better offensively through the 1963 season, but Mays was much better defensively. In the end I agree with you, Jim, Mays was better all-around player. Thx again.

[@OlSargeCollects]

Dave this was an awesome video. You put in a lot of work on this one. I wonder what happened to the Batting Average statistic and why it’s no longer viewed as important? Anyway, for some reason I thought I was already subscribed to your channel, but I am now! Thanks for sharing this video!

[@Vintage_Dave_T]

@@OlSargeCollects thx for subscribing. Appreciate it. I still think BA shows good bat to ball skills, but I like OBP, OPS and OPS+ as better overall offensive indicators. WAR is a good overall indicator. Like through 1963, Mays had a bit higher WAR but a bit lower offensive nos. than Mantle. Thx again.

[@OlSargeCollects]

@ so who do you feel was better; Mays or Mantle? I didn’t catch it if you mentioned it in the video.

[@Vintage_Dave_T]

@ haha. In 1964 I like Mantle offensively and Mays’ defense. Together I’d call it a push. At the end of their careers in total; Mays.

[@OlSargeCollects]

@@Vintage_Dave_T gotcha! I’ve never really dove into both their stats, but I’d say Mantle was a more popular player during his career.

[@MrJmangini]

Interesting analysis.

[@Vintage_Dave_T]

@@MrJmangini yes. I thought so. Offense over defense.

[@RobCashCards]

Dave! Good stuff! Both are great players and it’s hard to say who’s better. I’ve always believed that the numbers never tell the whole story. For example, Bonds has better numbers than Griffey Jr, but I feel Junior was the better player. I guess I’m undecided on Mays and Mantle lol. Take care, buddy!

[@Vintage_Dave_T]

@@RobCashCards yep hard choice Mantle or Mays. In 1964 Mantle was definitely better offensively and Mays was easily the better defensive player. After their careers were over most people give the nod to Mays as a better overall player.

[@CleanCheapShots]

I guess I have always thought Mays was the better of the two players. Mays was the better defensive player. Great break down Dave.

[@Vintage_Dave_T]

@@CleanCheapShots thanks, Drew. I was surprised that Mantle was better offensively through 1963 with the better defense by Mays. But Mays passed him by in the next 10 years. Thx for watching and commenting. Cheers.

[@stuke1976]

Great comparison Dave! It may have been Mantle if he had not blown out his ACL in 1951 and presumably played the rest of his career without an ACL, for that reason I lean towards Mays.

[@Vintage_Dave_T]

@@stuke1976 thanks for watching and weighing in. For me I agree with the author that Mantle was ever so slightly better at the time of the article in 1964 because of his offensive numbers, but the 10 years after, Mays easily passed Mantle. Thx again.

[@3GoodNerds]

Pretty interesting to see how they were looked at and compared in '64.

[@Vintage_Dave_T]

@@3GoodNerds yes true. Maybe a bit surprising given that Mays is normally regarded as the best of the two after their careers were over. Thx for watching and commenting.

[@3GoodNerds]

@@Vintage_Dave_T For what it's worth, Mays would get my vote.

[@Vintage_Dave_T]

@@3GoodNerds how about in 1964? Get your vote then too ?

[@3GoodNerds]

@@Vintage_Dave_T I think in '64, I'd be blinded by Yankees World Series rings.

[@Vintage_Dave_T]

Haha 😂

[@SB-mw1bg]

Both of these guys were relatively small in stature compared to today's players. But they both were heavyweights with a bat in there hands.

[@Vintage_Dave_T]

@@SB-mw1bg that’s true. Also I wonder what their careers would have been like with modern training and nutrition. Probably so much better. Thx for watching. Cheers.

[@ron88303]

Grew up in the sixties and watched both. Despite his knee (1951) and shoulder (1958) injuries (and quite possibly his lifestyle), I consider Mantle's offensive metrics slightly better than Mays. Mays was better, or at least made more of of impact, defensively. Plus Mays missed some time due to military, and also had to deal with the state of integration issues in those days. Had Mantle stayed healthy I'd likely give him slight nod over Mays, but he didn't so I give slight nod to Mays.

[@Vintage_Dave_T]

@@ron88303 yep I’m with you. I saw both though I don’t specifically remember actual plays. I remember Mantle’s HRs and his labored trot around the bases. Thx for your input.

[@the_card_closet]

Pretty even, with an edge to mantle, at that time. But mays kept going and going while mantle fizzled out. So overall, mays by a ways.

[@Vintage_Dave_T]

@@the_card_closet yep. You are right. I think most people think that. Thx for watching. Appreciate it. Happy thanksgiving!

[@MarkField-wj9fq]

This is not really a close contest, even stopping in 1964. At that point Mays had 108 WAR and Mantle had 98, despite (as you note) Mays missing 1.75 years to military service. Mantle had just 12 WAR left in his career, while Mays had nearly 48 (a total which includes his single best season in 1965). Mantle was a better hitter, but overall it's Mays by a landslide.

[@Vintage_Dave_T]

@@MarkField-wj9fq yep you are correct. The thing is in 1964 they really only had the bare basic statistics and the eye test. No WAR. No OPS+. So everyone had their own opinions and no one was wrong. We now have so many statistical evaluations and still can’t get HOF voting consistently correct. Thx for watching and commenting. Appreciate it. Cheers.