One of my best friends was an ass't pro at Preston Trails in Dallas where Mantle played and he has a signed note saying he owed him $20 but it was not for a bj
He had great potential, but between injuries and the liquor, it stopped what could have been a very great career. He was still pretty impressive even with those issues.
Different time different era, America, post WWII was anything but health conscience. The GI's came home and the party was on. A golden age in this country, but why not? Look at what they had been through in Europe and the Pacific. The greatest generation!