Larry Curnutt

Willie, Mickey and the Duke

You can probably still start a fight among baseball fans of my generation over who was the best center fielder: Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays or Duke Snider. Songs have been written about the debate, and blood has been shed defending one or another's honor. Statistics of various sorts can be quoted to justify support of any one of the three. But the answer always depends on whether you were a Yankee fan, a Giant fan or a Dodger fan. As a boy, I bled (emphasis on the past tense) New-York-Yankee-pinstripe (they won a lot), and the Brooklyn Dodgers were our mortal enemies.

• Willie Mays making "The Catch"

• Mickey Mantle watching another one fly away into the right field bleachers

• Duke Snider just posing