On my train ride down to D.C. Monday night, I finished watching "Home Run Derby - Volume 1" on DVD, and I loved it. What a phenomenal time capsule, especially for those like myself who never got to see Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Harmon Killebrew, Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays play in person.
It got me thinking about which player, from before my time, I'd most want to see in a live ballgame, and it was an easy choice: Mantle. He's in four episodes of the "Home Run Derby," because he won his first three "games," and I love the way The Mick seems to carry himself. There's a relaxed confidence there, a grace. Add that he was a switch-hitting centerfielder, with both power and speed, and that's a clincher for me.
While guys like Mays, Aaron, Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio intrigue me _ not to mention pitchers like Bob Feller, Satchel Paige and, well, Babe Ruth _ Mantle is my favorite ghost.
Some of the regulars here, like RMT, Steve from South Amboy and Poppy, got to see Mickey, Willie, Hank and that generation, so you guys would have to go earlier. And perhaps others aren't old enough to have personal memories of Reggie Jackson, or Tom Seaver, or Rod Carew.
Who is your favorite ghost?
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Comments (12)
Hey Ken.
My all-time favorite player is Tom Seaver and I had the opportunity to see him in his prime ('73 to retirement.) However, I would have loved to see him in the early days ('68-72). I guess though, an interesting 'ghost' would be Cy Young. 511 Victories?! How could you not want to see him pitch.
~Howard
As a "young" old-time Dodger fan, I was lucky enough to watch two of my all-time favorites...Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella. As for a "ghost"...Lou Gehrig would be my choice, a classy and courageous player.
Babe Ruth in his prime at Yankee Stadium. I would love to see in person his awesome power, quick hands, better than average speed and good fielding. I would enjoy seeing him as a teammate and how fans reacted to him. It would be fun to see him on a July 4 game day when the Stadium was packed.
Cy Young.
ROY HOBBS.
Hi Ken-
There are many "ghosts" that would be wonderful to see play. However, I think Gil Hodges is my favorite. Quiet, confident and unbelievably talented as a fielding first baseman. I met him once and when we shook hands I couldn't believe it! His had was as big as a first baseman's mitt!
Count Gil in for my vote!
Being born a year after the Mets were allowed me to experience Tom Terrific in all his glory as I was growing up. I get a kick out of "kids" who think Tom is a ghost and the '86 Mets are the be-all and end-all.
My favorite ghost is Stan Musial. Checking out his line (http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/musiast01.shtml) makes me think he was Albert Pujols before Albert was Albert.
I think that your perception of Mickey Mantle is pretty accurate. He was very much like Robert Redford in the Natural. He had a tremendous amount of natural ablility and made everything look easy. Willie was more flamboyant and my personal favorite.
Joe Dimaggio played just before my time and he would be my ghost. He was very frugal in his personal life, but a great, great player on the field.
How can you choose just one? I've chosen three: everyday player - Babe Ruth, pitcher - Sandy Koufax in the 60s, and Pete Gray. I saw Jim Abbott pitch which was awesome to see but how did Gray hit .218 with one arm?
Ken...If you want to see rare game footage of Mantle go here to see the entire at bat from his only hit during the 1961 World Series:
http://www.reelsportsfan.com/default.aspx?vidId=ivLOdYIcFAkNCysIJl%2buZQ%3d%3d&vidCat=0Z9%2bzZtaNehPL40lIXyWKw%3d%3d
Willie Mays
Pretty sweet, Brad. Thanks for the link.
Allie Reynolds.
Only the Yankees have a history in which such a fantastic pitcher, an honorable man in public and in private, and a full-blood Native American, could get lost.
As another blogger remarked not too long ago on another Newsday blog, on any other team Allie Reynolds (or his ghost) would be a god.
And I never got to see him.