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Article: Mantle's Homers Transcend Time, Space
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- March 13, 1989
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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It was at this point in spring training, 20 years ago, that he
stood before the microphones set up in the Yankees' hotel suite and
said: "I can't hit the ball anymore, and I can't steal second when I
need to anymore, and I can't go from first to third anymore . . . and
I think it's time to quit trying."
He also might have said, and he wouldn't be lying, that no more
would he be hitting the league's most and longest homers, or winning
any more MVP awards of which there were three, and he wouldn't be
scoring the most runs anymore, or driving in the most, and no more
would he be the best drag bunter in baseball. Things like that.
This, of course, was Mickey Mantle, saying goodbye to the game ...