[lex24]

I know the information about Mantle's time has been widely published and frequently cited, but it's absurd to think that he ran to first in 3.1 seconds, with the caveat that perhaps the methodology used in the 1950s is different from current methods (similar to timing a 40 yard run with a rolling start and a stopwatch vs electronic timing from a standing start.) Different methodologies may also account for the notion that Mantle would be almost a half second slower when batting right handed; Statcast times every single batter to first base and the average difference between LHB and RHB is less than a tenth of a second.

Fair enough.  What about the 0.45 disparity between Bo Jackson's time to first between his RHB and LHB efforts, taken electronically in the 1990s?

Where was that measured? as Phogge pointed out he only batted right handed in the majors. I know he would sometimes hit lefthanded in batting practice, but when was he timed running to first base from both sides of the box? I wouldn't put much stock in it if wasn't done in an actual game.

You said it was "measured electronically" so it shouldn't be hard to find a verifiable source for the information.

Bo probably could have hit left handed.  Don’t think there was much of anything he could not do athletically. HOF level talent in both baseball and football.  What a shame he had that hip problem.  I remember the first time I truly “got” how special he was.  He ran a simple sweep, hit the corner and “whoosh”.  An incredible combo of power and speed.

[lex24]

I know the information about Mantle's time has been widely published and frequently cited, but it's absurd to think that he ran to first in 3.1 seconds, with the caveat that perhaps the methodology used in the 1950s is different from current methods (similar to timing a 40 yard run with a rolling start and a stopwatch vs electronic timing from a standing start.) Different methodologies may also account for the notion that Mantle would be almost a half second slower when batting right handed; Statcast times every single batter to first base and the average difference between LHB and RHB is less than a tenth of a second.

Fair enough.  What about the 0.45 disparity between Bo Jackson's time to first between his RHB and LHB efforts, taken electronically in the 1990s?

Where was that measured? as Phogge pointed out he only batted right handed in the majors. I know he would sometimes hit lefthanded in batting practice, but when was he timed running to first base from both sides of the box? I wouldn't put much stock in it if wasn't done in an actual game.

You said it was "measured electronically" so it shouldn't be hard to find a verifiable source for the information.

Bo probably could have hit left handed.  Don’t think there was much of anything he could not do athletically. HOF level talent in both baseball and football.  What a shame he had that hip problem.  I remember the first time I truly “got” how special he was.  He ran a simple sweep, hit the corner and “whoosh”.  An incredible combo of power and speed.