In the 1950’s, there were two guys that were each in their own way considered the best baseball player in the world. Both played in the Big Apple and in front of fans that were not only at times unappreciative of them, but also extremely demanding. These two players are Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays, two of the top 10 baseball players of all time. As someone who wasn’t born until 1991, most people probably would think I know jack about baseball in the 50s, and jack about one of the best rivalries in baseball history.But I assure you, it’s quite the contrary. Mickey Mantle, before Bonds became Bonds, was my favorite player of all time, and that might cause some bias in this article, but I’m taking in account just raw talent, along with stats.
Mantle was possibly the most talented player in the history of baseball, I’d put Griffey Jr. in that argument as well. Mantle was destroyed by something that was hereditary and longing in his family, alcoholism. Mays on the other hand, was hit with something that most would think is much worse, the fact that racism in his playing time was still very alive and well and I would imgaine hindered his play on some days due to the fact he probably couldn’t eat with his teammates during road trips. But there were the two young stars that took the 50’s by storm, and when I say by storm, I mean you could tell you were watching two of the greatest players of all time, at a young age, taking not only New York, but Major League Baseball by storm. We’re also only talking 50’s here, because obviously the Giants moved to San Fran in 1958, but Mantle and Mays were already well established by then.
Mays won the MVP with the New York Giants in 1954, won the Rookie of the Year in 1951, and was considered already to be one of the best defensive center fielders in recent memory. On the other side of that coin, Mantle in his second year at age 20, finished 3rd in MVP voting in 1952, and then went on to win back to back MVP”s in ’56 and ’57 at the young age of 24 and 25. The stats compare well, both were great players if we count the 50’s, up until the Giants got up-rooted to San Fransico in 1958. In my honest opinion, I think Mantle, as far as the New York years was the better
player. He also won 4 titles in that time, compared to Mays’ 1. So if we’re talking who was the King of New York, I’m going Mantle all day, but as far as better player for their careers, even if it was because of Mantle’s injuries, and own personal woes, I would
probably say May’s gets the nod. But this article is about KING of New York, and I have to say Mantle was that guy, hands down.