Back of the Baseball Card Stat Tournament Mickey Mantle (1956) and Roberto Clemente (1966) v. Hank Aaron (1959)

Until about 1980 there were 8 basic stats on the back of baseball cards.  In 1976 I created a tournament among the TSN all-time all-stars – I picked what years I thought were the best years for Ruth(1927) Williams (1941) Cobb (1911) etc… and had them compete. I remember who won - Rogers Hornsby 1922 -I decided to recreate the tournament and expand it to see if Rogers Hornsby 1922 season will still win.

Roberto Clemente 1966 vs. Hank Aaron 1959

 

	Clemente	Aaron
AB	638	629	Clemente
RUNS	105	116	Aaron
HITS	202	223	Aaron
2B	31	46	Aaron
3B	11	7	Clemente
HR	29	39	Aaron
RBI	119	123	Aaron
BAT	317	355	Aaron
			Aaron 6-2

 

Aaron in a decisive victory vs. Clemente

Mickey Mantle 1956 vs. Hank Aaron 1959

 

	Clemente	Aaron
AB	533	629	Aaron
RUNS	132	116	Mantle
HITS	188	223	Aaron
2B	22	46	Aaron
3B	5	7	Aaron
HR	52	39	Mantle
RBI	130	123	Mantle
BAT	353	355	Aaron
			Aaron 5-3

 

Aaron edges Mantle in a close battle with the Mick (since the Mick finished better in the matchup with Aaron he is credited with beating Clemente who he tied with and moving forward in the brackets.

THE BRACKETS

 

Hornsby								Mantle
Helton	Hornsby						Mantle	Pujols
		Hornsby				Mantle
Cochrane	Bench						Clemente	Brett
Bench								Clemente
					Aaron
Cobb								Aaron
Musial	Cobb						Aaron	Banks
						Aaron
Gehrig	Gehrig						Bonds	Mays
Suzuki								Bonds
Ruth							Rose	Rose
Sosa	Ruth							Stargell
		Carew				Rose
Traynor	Carew							Jackson
Carew							Killebrew	Killebrew
Williams								Yaz
Ramirez	Ramirez						Cabrera	Cabrera
		Wagner				Cabrera
Wagner	Wagner						Snider	McCovey
Robinson								Snider