Mantle had achieved the highest Wins Above Replacement in the American League (9.8) as well as an On Base Plus Slugging Percentage of 1.035.

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For the moment, it's the socks used, game-worn (but washed) outer socks that come up to the knee, and Teixeira has seen his on-base plus slugging percentage rise 60 points since he put Sabathia's on.

WSJ: Teixeira Embraces the Power of Socks

All three hitters have on-base plus slugging percentages above 1.050.

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General Manager Brian Cashman says that as long as Teixeira is hitting 30 homers, 100 RBI, and putting up a mid-.800s on-base plus slugging percentage, that's more than enough.

WSJ: Teixeira Knows His Limits

Rodriguez will turn 37 in July, yet his on-base plus slugging totals have declined for five straight years, from an otherworldly 1.067 in 2007 to an above-average .823 last season.

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Leading the bunch is Minnesota's Justin Morneau, whose .342 batting average, 18 homers and 1.056 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) makes him baseball's most productive player during the first half of 2010.

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But the team holds the best record in baseball (along with the Cincinnati Reds), and it features a 19 year old (Bryce Harper) who, according to Tom Boswell of The Washington Post, was the best offensive player in baseball since August 29, leading the league in runs, extra-base hits, and on-base-plus-slugging percentage (1.106) with 10 homers.

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