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As for what Mantle lost to injuries and destructive self-indulgence, we can only guess. But it...

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As for what Mantle lost to injuries and destructive self-indulgence, we can only guess. But it wouldn't be much of a stretch to consider Ken Griffey Jr. to be the second-coming of Mantle and use the second of Junior's career as an indication of what The Mick might have done. The statistical similarity over their first eight seasons -- each compared to the other at the same age -- is stunning. Unique among the elite company represented by this squad, Mickey Mantle's actual accomplishments whet the appetite for what he might have done had he remained healthy enough long enough to reach his full potential. As we've suggested here, to estimate the heights he should have reached, keep an eye on Junior.

All Century Team, 1999 This is an excerpt from the Mickey Mantle article in the hardcover All Century Team book, which I for my birthday ten years ago almost to the day. At the time it was interesting, and a decade later I find it haunting.

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