Fan favorite Mantle and the subdued Maris waged a season - long assault on the Babe .
Both Maris and Mantle shrugged the idea off , but as the season wore on , both men found themselves ahead of Ruth 's 1927 pace .
Fan favorite Mantle and the subdued Maris waged a season - long assault on the Ruth .
Both Maris and Mantle shrugged the idea off , but as the season wore on , both men found themselves ahead of Ruth 's 1927 pace .