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NO STAT IS SAFE. NO ERA IS FORGOTTEN.
VOL. 1, NO. 18 · JUNE 29, 2026 · EVERY MONDAY
ISSUE #018 · EXPANSION
Mickey Mantle — Triple
Crown 1956, And What
Injuries Stole
On May 22, 1963, Mickey Mantle hit a ball that struck the roof facade at Yankee Stadium — estimated at
📅 THIS DATE IN
BASEBALL 565 feet.
THE STAT THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST 01
THE MOST PHYSICALLY GIFTED PLAYER IN HISTORY WAS NEVER FULLY HEALTHY A SINGLE DAY.
.298 Career Average. 536 HR. First Major Knee
Surgery At Age 20.
172 .353/52/130 536
MICKEY MANTLE OPS+ 1956 TRIPLE CROWN CAREER HR
110.2 600+ HR Age 20
CAREER WAR PROJECTED HEALTHY CAREER FIRST KNEE SURGERY
Mantle hit 536 HR and won the Triple Crown in 1956 (.353, 52 HR, 130 RBI). He had his first major knee
surgery at 20 and played 17 more seasons in near-constant pain. His career OPS+ of 172 is third all-time
behind Ruth and Williams — and he built it while hurt every year.
THE GAME YOU FORGOT 02
VS Kansas City Athletics MAY 22, 1963
565 ft
8th Bill Fischer Roof facade W
ESTIMATED DISTANCE INNING PITCHER LANDING SPOT RESULT
The Facade Shot
CLOSEST BALL EVER TO LEAVING THE OLD YANKEE STADIUM
On May 22, 1963, Mantle hit a Bill Fischer pitch that struck the copper facade at the top of the right field roof
at Yankee Stadium — the only ball ever to come that close to leaving the building. Estimated at 565 feet.
Mantle was 31 years old, had already had multiple knee surgeries, and was playing in regular pain. He hit it
565 feet anyway. Ushers who were in the stadium that day said nobody had ever seen a ball go that direction
before or since.
ERA VS ERA 03
Where Does A Fully Healthy Mantle Rank?
MANTLE — ACTUAL CAREER MANTLE — HEALTHY PROJECTION
CAREER HR PROJECTED HR
CAREER OPS+ VS PEAK SEASONS
172 — 3rd all-time 15 vs 7
PLAYING CONDITION COMP
Hurt every season Rivals Mays/Ruth
Mantle's 172 OPS+ was built while playing every season with a damaged leg. His WAR of 110 came from a
compromised version of the player. The healthy projection is the saddest what-if in baseball: a player with
Ruth-level raw ability who never had a healthy body.
Where does a healthy Mantle rank all-time?
#1 OVERALL TOP 3 WITH RUTH AND MAYS TOP 5 CAN'T PROJECT WHAT NEVER HAPPENED
THE COLDEST MOMENT 04
THE LATE CAREER — 1965-68
Playing The Last Years Of His Career Barely Able
To Walk. Hit .288 At 34 On One Leg.
By his mid-30s, Mantle's knees had deteriorated to the point where teammates would hear him
groan getting out of the dugout. He wrapped his legs heavily before every game and took
cortisone shots regularly. He hit .245 in his final season at 36, but still hit 18 home runs. He said
years later he wishes he'd taken better care of himself. The truth is he played through conditions
that would have ended most careers a decade earlier.
If I knew I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself.
— MICKEY MANTLE
THE STAT VAULT 05
CAREER OPS+ CAREER HOME RUNS
Third-highest in history behind Ruth (188) All-time record for switch-hitters.
and Williams (190). Built while hurt. Understates his actual ability.
TRIPLE CROWN SEASON AGE OF FIRST MAJOR KNEE INJURY
.353 BA, 52 HR, 130 RBI at age 24. Caught a drainage cover in the 1951 World
Yankees' only Triple Crown. Series. Never played without pain again.
7 WORLD SERIES RINGS
Played in 12 World Series. Won 7. One of the greatest dynasty players ever.
THE FORGOTTEN MAN 06
OVERLOOKED · UNDERRATED · DESERVES MORE
Elston Howard
NEW YORK YANKEES · 1955-1968
1963 AL MVP · .274 BA · 9 ALL-STAR GAMES
First Black Yankee. 1963 AL MVP. Caught For Mantle And Ford A Decade.
Rarely Mentioned.
Elston Howard became the first Black player in Yankees history in 1955 — eight years after Robinson broke
the barrier, under immense external pressure on the franchise. He won the 1963 AL MVP. Made 9 All-Star
teams. He's in the discussion for best catchers of his era. He's also rarely discussed.
THE CONNECTION:
Howard caught for Mantle's Yankees dynasty through the peak championship years. First Black
Yankee. AL MVP. World Series winner. The dynasty gets remembered through its stars. Howard was
one of them.
COMING NEXT MONDAY
Next Monday: Roger Maris hit 61 HR in 1961. His hair fell out from the stress. He never got credit.
Who's Your Forgotten Man?
Reply with a player from any era who deserves more credit. Best answer gets featured next Monday.
All Eras. All Stats. No Debate.
Every Monday. No exceptions.