BYB READERS HAVE SPOKEN & "THE MICK" WINS!

Remember a few days ago I asked you guys to vote on who was better, Derek Jeter or Mickey Mantle? Well the results are in, and Mick won this one, 33 to 26. Readers had a ton of things to say, on here, and on social media. For the most part, they seemed torn, and gave both men the credit they deserve for being Yankee legends.

The feel for Jeter from most fans was the same. Jeter is the ultimate gentlemen of baseball. He is the complete representative of the team, and because of him we have such high expectations of everyone who wears pinstripes.

Jeter has given 110% to the Yankees. This season has been rough for him, without a doubt, but it is never to be said that he didn't battle it out, and try to do what he had to for the Yankees. Very few players have the heart, and dedication to the game that Jeter has always shown. The perfect example that hard work breeds success.

Mickey had a natural talent. An excellent power hitter, and pure all around player. His injuries were a hinderance. But if not for the injuries, he may have undoubtedly been the greatest Yankee to have played the game. Statistically speaking, of course. Aside from that, Mickey was probably one of the most adored Yankees. In Mickey's eulogy by Bob Costa, he said

"We knew there was something poignant about Mickey Mantle before we knew what poignant meant. We didn't just root for him, we felt for him. Long before many of us ever cracked a serious book, we knew something about mythology as we watched Mickey Mantle run out a home run through the lengthening shadows of the late Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. There was a greatness about him, but a vulnerability too. He was our guy."

I don't think that I could have ever found the words to state it better than that. Mickey had his demons. Alcoholism is a hell of a battle to fight against. But he wasn't the first, nor the last great athlete to get caught up in the whirlwind of wealth, and fame. Sometimes these guys just forget social responsibility. But they are human. Mickey was human. He fought his battles, and still remained a hero, despite having said that he was the perfect example of what not to be.

Mickey is like something out of a folktale. He took the field and everyone took notice. He was dedicated to his team. There is no one that will speak of Mickey without a far away gleam in there eye, and a bit of hero worship. It was more than baseball with Mickey. His story, while extremely sad, made him more real to people. So Yankees fans rooted for him. They felt for him. And ultimately, they adored him.

 
 
--Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer
Twitter: @e_morales1804



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