Back when I was a kid, they stated that Mantle ran down the bases, home to 1st in 3.1 seconds. This was hand timed by the way. Vida Pinson was also timed at the speed.

Mantle was one of the best, if not the best, drag bunters ever. So he was doing the same thing as Ichiro, and he was timed by hand, which also counts for a faster time. Pinson was timed the same way, drag bunting, and both their times were 3.1. If they were timed today, their time would be a little slower using the timers we have today.

Just think, Bob Hayes was the fastest human in 1964 Olympics and he won every NFL 40 yard dash except for one, when they had the fastest NFL player in indoor track meets around the country. The hand time was around 4.2.

Mantle & Pinson both had several feet short of 30 yards (90 feet) while drag bunting out of the batters box.

Here's what I found:

Sporting News, Sept. 3, 1952.

Lefty Batters Running To 1B.

Time Runner

3.1--Mickey Mantle, Yanks

3.2--Mickey Mantle, Yanks

3.3--Mickey Mantle, Yanks

3.4--Mickey Mantle, Yanks

3.4--Gil Coan, Senators

3.5--Mickey Mantle, Yanks

3.6--Gene Woodling, Yanks

3.7--Larry doby, Indians

3.7-- Dale Mitchell, Indians

3.9--Jim Rivera, White Sox

3.9--Mickey Vernon, Senators

Righty batters runing To 1B

Time Runner

3.5--Mickey Mantle, Yanks

3.6--Phil Rizzuto, Yanks

3.6--Jim Busby, Senators

3.7--Johnny Groth, Tigers

3.7--Gil McDougald, Yanks

3.8--Bobby Avila, Indians

3.8--Al Federoff, Detroit

3.9--Jackie Jansen, Senators

3.9--Hank Bauer, Yanks

4.0--Billy Martin, Yanks

4.0--Allie Reynolds, Yanks

Also, as for acceleration, here is some data from Maurice Greene's 1997 World Championships victory...

Maurice Greene could get there in 3.20 seconds. Without a starting gun, about 3.05 seconds. And with a tailwind of only 4 mph, about 3.00 seconds.

Here's another list:

All times from the left side

Mantle was clocked at 3.1 (fastest documented time in MLB)

Bo Jackson was timed at 3.2 (3.65 from the right side)

Deion Sanders was timed at 3.3

Ralph Garr was timed at 3.3 (unconfirmed 3.2)

Rick Manning was timed at 3.3 (ran a 9.8 100 yard dash in High School)

Miguel Dilone was timed at 3.3

Mickey Rivers was timed at 3.4

Willie Wilson was timed at 3.6 and 3.7

Ichiro was timed at 3.7 seconds

Reggie Jackson (in his early days) was sub 4.0 down the line. ( he stated 3.8)

Michael Bourn of the Atlanta Braves was timed in 2012 at 3.6 seconds from a normal bunt to first.

Source - MLB.com "This Week In Baseball: Player Poll - Quickest Player In Mlb"

No doubt about it, Mantle had wicked speed. The closest documented times to his were by Bo Jackson, who had one advantage...he didn't run in baggy pants like Mantle did. That WILL slow you down.