I just started reading a fairly recent biography of Mickey Mantle and I was astonished to find this early version of the denigration of white athletes:
What I remember from my childhood about Mickey Mantle was that there was no one faster from home to first than he was; even as an adult, I always read that he was the fastest ever from home to first as he would often beat out ground balls to shortstop in the minors. Anyway, here is the quote from fellow Oklahoman Alvin Dark of the New York Giants after seeing Mantle on the base paths during game 1 of the 1951 World Series: "Fastest white guy we've ever seen to first base."
Incidentally, the Giants were known for starting an all black outfield in 1951. Today in 2017, the Giants start 2 whites and one black in the outfield with a very dark Venezuelan as a reserve.
What I remember from my childhood about Mickey Mantle was that there was no one faster from home to first than he was; even as an adult, I always read that he was the fastest ever from home to first as he would often beat out ground balls to shortstop in the minors. Anyway, here is the quote from fellow Oklahoman Alvin Dark of the New York Giants after seeing Mantle on the base paths during game 1 of the 1951 World Series: "Fastest white guy we've ever seen to first base."
Incidentally, the Giants were known for starting an all black outfield in 1951. Today in 2017, the Giants start 2 whites and one black in the outfield with a very dark Venezuelan as a reserve.