The Yankees won their third straight pennant, and their seventh of the decade. They then lost in the World Series to the Milwaukee Braves in seven games. The MVP vote in the American League was a somewhat controversial one; Yankee star Mickey Mantle won his second MVP, beating out Boston's Ted Williams. The Splinter, at age 39, had another magical year, flirting with the .400 mark before finishing at .388.

         As you can see, there wasn't a big difference between the two. Williams had better averages and more power; Mantle played more games, produced more runs, was a better baserunner and defensive player, and his team won the pennant. Like the voters at the time, I would rate Mantle ahead of Williams.
        Mickey Mantle was 26 years old this year, and was in his prime. Mickey was the biggest star on the greatest team in baseball; he was both the strongest and the fastest player in the league, despite the fact that he had a degenerative knee. He was a switch-hitter with tremendous power and patience at the plate; he could also hit for average, as his .365 mark this season demonstrates. Mickey played for 18 years, hit 536 career homers, won three MVP Awards, and hit more home runs in the World Series than any other player ever.
        There have been some great centre-fielders in baseball, starting with Cobb and Speaker, then DiMaggio and Willie Mays, and recently Ken Griffey Jr. But I'm convinced that when Mantle was in his prime, he was better than any of them. In his best seasons- 1956-57, and also 1961, Mantle reached a peak of performance that only Babe Ruth has surpassed. How many players can hit .350 with 50 home runs in a season, add 130 walks, and also provide blazing speed on the basepaths?
        Injuries limited the scope of Mickey's career; but at his peak, the miner from Oklahoma was a better player than even Cobb or Mays. Mantle's 1956 Triple Crown season was the greatest post-Ruth season by any player in the 20th century. This season was almost at the same level.
        But Williams had a hell of a year, too. He was above .400 for much of the season, but slumped in September due to the nagging injuries and illnesses that plagued him after his return from the Korean War. The batting title was the sixth of his career, and he would win one more in 1958, at age 40. Williams also set a record by reaching base in 16 consecutive at bats at one point during the season. Mantle and Williams were the last players of the 20th century to record an on-base average above .500 in a season.
        Although he won the MVP two years later, this was Nellie Fox's best year. He was the best hitting infielder in the league, and likely the best fielder as well. Gil McDougald, who spent his career moving around the field, settled in at shortstop for one year only and had the best season of his career. McDougald's career lasted only ten years, but he played in eight World Series; he was a solid hitter whom Casey Stengel would use at whatever position he needed to fill.
        The top three players were Mantle, Williams, and Fox. Fourth spot goes to either Roy Sievers or McDougald; Sievers had a big year at the plate, but McDougald was a much better defensive player. And McDougald played for the Yankees, whereas Sievers' Senators lost 99 games. If McDougald had hit just a little bit better, I would give the nod to him, but instead I'll choose Sievers.