#2: His Iconic Switch-Hitting Ability
Mantle’s switch-hitting ability became one of his most iconic traits. His father pitched to him right-handed, and his grandfather pitched to him left-handed until hitting from both sides of the plate became second nature. This unusual training made Mantle one of the most feared hitters in baseball history.
He remains arguably the greatest switch-hitter ever, with 536 career home runs and a staggering .977 career OPS. Opposing pitchers often struggled to find a weak side, and his ambidextrous power made him nearly unstoppable at the plate during his prime.