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 ...

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 ...