Chipper Jones and the Ghost of Mickey Mantle

Chipper Jones of the Braves won the National League batting title with an average of .364 but he failed to surpass Mickey Mantle's record for switch hitters. The Yankee great hit .365 in 1957. While Mantle hit for high average in the early part of his career, including winning the Triple Crown in 1956, he is best known for his power. Mantle, Eddie Murray and Jones stand apart among switch hitters with power with the latter expected to joint the first two with 500 plus career homers. Murray accomplished this with longevity and consistency. But Mickey remains the gold standard for sheer, unadulterated power. Many of his four-baggers were the stuff of legend. In one of his most famous, in 1963, he hit the 110 foot high facade in right field on the roof of Yankee Stadium while the ball was still rising. Were it not for the facade, the ball would still be airborne.

It is hard to watch Chipper Jones and not be reminded of Mickey Mantle - the same intimidating batting stance, even a physical resemblance, along with comparable production numbers. But there is a worrisome parallel as well - injuries. Mantle's legs were almost as famous as Betty Grable's, the World War II pinup girl. Knee injuries aged him prematurely and it was painful to watch him in the twilight of his career. In his last four seasons, he batted .255, .288, .245, and .237. In Jones' last four seasons, he has suffered a variety of injuries causing him to miss about 150 games. Chipper is such a pure hitter that it seems if he can just stand up, he can put a good swing on the ball. But the nagging injuries are troubling and he is approaching an age where recovery times will only get longer.