Mickey sometimes looks in awe a Bob Costas knowledge of baseball. I like seeing Bobs eyes get wide like a little kid when Mickey tells his stories about his career. Just a wonderful piece of video I've never seen before.
I'm a Sox fan but even I love the Mick. So awesome we have some interviews like this, huh? Him talking about Ted Williams cracked me up. Ted's one criticism of Mantle was that Mickey went for Homers everytime. Then Mantle just smiles and goes "he was right. I was just wailin!I" love it.
The 500 clubs in 1968 was like the 600 club now. If Mantle played in the Kingdome, Busch Stadium, Camden Yards or even present day Yankee Stadium, with the DH, he'd easily have accumulated 600 bombs.
God there are so many more on the list now.....Eddie Murray, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr, Rafael Palmero, Jim Thome, Frank Thomas, Gary Sheffield, Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera.....missing anyone? As of December 2021 Nelson Cruz is the next closest to 500.....but with like 50-60 to go at his age I have my doubts. Adrian Beltre got close. He was oh so close to the coveted 500/3000 club
Getting to 500 home runs used to mean something, because by the time you get to this point you're at the end of your. Career, and the body is worn out, so it's not supposed to be easy. That's why it meant something. The steroids, made it look to easy, it lacked the same emotional content. It was a foregone conclusion that they would do it.