the greatest switch hitter ever and a great fielder

It's a shame that Mickey Mantle squandered what amounted to the greatest raw talent ever by carousing and drinking excessively during his otherwise-Hall of Fame career. But it says something about his abilities as he was able to do what no one else could. No one could deny the great highlights he brought to baseball, including three American League MVP titles, a Triple Crown, and seven World Series titles during his eighteen year Major League Baseball career. The greatest ever switch-hitter, the Mick was a baseball prodigy with electrifying power (once hitting a 565 foot shot off Charlie Stobbs at Griffith Stadium), who could hit into the high averages, retiring with an impressive .298 career batting average. Just imagine what more the Mick could have accomplished had he not lapsed into alcoholism throughout his career!

Terrific player in the 50's and first half of the 60's, injuries slowed him down during the last handful of years. One of the most talented players ever, but apathy, fun, boozing, and injuries cut a little bit into his legacy. At his peak, an incredible player, one of the true legends of the game.

The best ever! Speed power bats both sides of the plate........plays through pain.

The million dollar airport with the two dollar control tower. Brilliant skills in the field, and a tremendous bat from both sides of the plate, and no more sense than a catfish. Of course, if his career is what staying up late, drinking whiskey and chasin women gets you, maybe more should try it.

great, could have pressured ruth and cobb for the best ever, but the boos got to him

Even with the bad legs and the injuries Micky was the best. In his day he personified speed and power. He loved the game and the game loved him. Mays and Mantle were the best at the Center Field position.

Ralphieboy knows less about sports than he does about politics which I thought was impossible. Mantle had over 530 career homers, batted nearly 300 had 1500 RBIs and 1700 walks... the guy was a God!

The Mick. Not many guys could take over for DiMaggio in center in New York, but this guy was the complete package: power, average, speed, base stealing, bunting and incredible speed. He also is among the career leaders in home runs when, as a switch-hitter, left center was 454 feet from home plate. All those World Championships and a Triple Crown.

Combining his power, average, walks, very good defense, and superb percentage baserunning, Mantle probably had the greatest peak value of any center fielder in major league history. Other CFs had better full careers than he did, but not many. His willingness to play in such great pain shouldn't be ignored, either. It made it that much harder for his teammates to let up when they saw what Mantle had to go through to play the game. Clete Boyer said that Mantle was the only player in baseball who was an even bigger hero to his teammates than to his fans.