Randall Swearingen: 'Mickey Mantle Interview by Bob Costas

Source:Randall Swearingen- New York Yankees Hall of Fame outfielder Mickey Mantle, being interviewed by NBC Sports anchor Bob Costas.

"Books can't come close to matching the depth of this touching and revealing interview of Mickey Mantle by Bob Costas.  Mickey discusses why he drank, when it became a problem and why he checked himself into the Betty Ford Clinic and so much more about his inner self.  This is a "must see" for any fan of "The Mick"!" 

From  Randall Swearingen 

I don't put Mickey Mantle in the same what if category as Darryl Strawberry and Jose Canceco and argue the same way about Mantle, as I do with Strawberry and Canceco and say: "How good could've Darryl Strawberry and Jose Canceco been, had they just been responsible with their lives and taken care of themselves, while they were playing." 

I don't put Darryl Strawberry and Jose Canceco in the same class as Mickey Mantle for the simple fact that Mickey Mantle is already in the Hall of Fame and Strawberry and Canceco will never be. Even playing on one leg and very little if not sleep, probably hangovers, Mickey Mantle still had one of the best careers of any MLB outfielder ever. With Strawberry and Canceco you're talking about 5-6 years for both of them where you can say they were one of the best players in the game today at their position. 

If Mickey Mantle played 15-16 years playing most of his career healthy, without all the drinking and wild parties, I don't think there's any question that he's the best all around center fielder in the history of baseball and perhaps the best player ever. 

Mantle was that good when you are talking about a man 6'0, strong as a horse, could run like a horse, was a great outfielder, great power hitter who hit for average. I think he's ever better than the great Willie Mays, at least when he was healthy. But with anyone's career it's only as good as anyone allows for their own career to be. We all make our own choices and have to live with them.