His 536 home runs, though a considerable number, are only eighth best in history. His 10 years of batting above .300 are impressive, but not cause for sainthood. His 2,415 hits have been bettered ...

When he got cancer, a whole generation felt the fear of death," said author Roger Kahn about Mickey Mantle ... home-run titles and in 1956 and 1957 he was voted MVP. (He would win a third in 1962 ...