Did anyone in the crowd have a clue what they were seeing that day in 1950 in Joplin, Missouri? Eventually everyone would know. While there he hit a league-leading .383 with 26 homers and 136 runs batted in. When Stengel first saw him he reportedly commented that “He should lead the league in everything.” Official Joplin Miners scorecard has a photo of manager Harry F. Craft. Mantle is slotted in the clean-up spot and playing his then position of shortstop. Unscored. EX.