| Where There Is No Wood, the Fire Goes Out, So, Where There Is No Talebearer, History Ceases Player Profiles by baseballhistorian.com ===================================== Mickey Mantle, New York Yankee Center-fielder, Switch-hitter, T RH - a game breaker, he probably started more game-winning rallies or lined more late inning, game winning extra base hits than any man in baseball history. His career totals include a whooping 1,677 runs scored, with 1,509 RBIs, and he walked 1,733 times while striking out 1,710 times in 8,102 at-bats. In 1956 and 1957, Mickey Mantle won his first two of three MVP Awards and he captured the Triple Crown. He played in 14 different World Series and holds the all-time record by slugging 18 Series homers. ========================================= Bill Virdon, Pittsburgh Pirates Center-fielder, LH, T RH - a superb defensive center-fielder, he debuted with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1955 and was chosen the Rookie of the Year by hitting .281 with 17 home runs. Bill Virdon was traded to the Pirates in May of 1956 and was second in the league to Hank Aaron in batting average with .319. A leadoff hitter, he lined 185 hits and scored 77 runs. He played for Pittsburgh until the end of 1965 and returned in 1968 as a coach and later managed the Pirates. ========================================= Charlie Maxwell, Detroit Tigers Outfielder, LH - a proven performer and a sparking defensive ballhawk, his .326 batting average in 1956 was fourth highest in the AL and he lined 14 doubles, 28 home runs, scored 96 runs and had 87 RBIs. In 1957 he hit 23 doubles, 25 homers and collected 95 RBIs. And, after his numbers fell off in '58, the left-handed Charlie Maxwell put together a fine 1959 when he hit career-bests in homers with 31 and in RBIs with 95. ======================================== Orestes 'Minnie' Minoso, Chicago White Sox Outfielder, RH - a hustling, all-around ball-player with a winning attitude, Minnie hit better than .300 in 8-of-his-10 major league seasons, drove in over 100 runs four times and finished with a career batting average of .298. In 1956 he hit .316, whacked 29Ds, 11Ts, 21Hr, stole 12 bases, scored 106 runs, had 88 RBIs, walked 86 times and struck out only 40 times in 151 games. A native of Cuba, he was the first black to play for the White Sox and remains one of the most popular players in baseball history. 'I owe it all to my wife and children, that's what I'm most proud of, that's who I played for,' said Minoso. ========================================= Wally Moon, St. Louis Cardinals Outfielder, Bats LH, T RH - won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1954 when he hit a solid .304, getting 193 hits in 635 at-bats, including 29Ds, 9Ts, 12Hr and scoring 106 runs, with 18 stolen bases. A lifetime .289 hitter in a career spanning from 1954 thru 1965 he was rated as one fastest base runners in this era. In 1956 Wally Moon batted .298, lined 22Ds, 11Ts, 16Hr and had a nice .390 on-base-pct. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1959 and played with that team until '65. ========================================= Switch-hitting Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees Won the Triple Crown in 1956 by hitting .353, with 52 Home Runs and 130 RBIs 1956 Batting Leaders: American League: Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees .353... Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox .345... Harvey Kuenn, Detroit Tigers .328... Charlie Maxwell, Tigers .326... Bob Nieman, Baltimore Orioles .320... Minnie Minoso, Chicago White Sox .316... Jackie Jensen, Red Sox .315... Al Kaline, Tigers .314... Gil McDougald, Yankees .311... Pete Runnels, Washington Senators .310... Vic Power, Kansas City Athletics .309... Ray Boone, Detroit Tigers .308... Bill 'Moose' Skowron .308... Nelson 'Nellie' Fox, White Sox .296 National League: Hank Aaron, Milwaukee Braves .328... Bill Virdon, Cardinals and Pirates .319... Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh Pirates .311... Stan Musial, Cardinals .310... Ken Boyer, Cardinals .306... Richie Ashburn, Philadelphia Phillies .303... Ted Kluszewski, Cincinnati Reds .302... Red Schoendienst, New York Giants .302... Jim 'Junior' Gilliam, Brooklyn Dodgers .300... Wally Moon, Cardinals .298... Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs .297 To view some originial newspaper clippings from the 1950s, type in the words - today in time - into our 'Search' located on the Home Page For loads of fun reading about baseball players, type in Yankees, Cardinals, Pirates, Red Sox, Phillies, Cubs or all other teams in our Search on the home page baseballhistorian.com - History of Baseball | 
