My dad took me to a White Sox game in the late '50's. The game was against the Yankees at Comiskey Park. I was a Cubs fan as a kid, but I wouldn't turn down a trip to a ball park for any reason. My dad, along with most other men in the crowd, bought a beer and lit a cigar. I was too young to do either. My dad wasn't a Sox fan either but who in their right mind would root for the Yanks? They won every damn game. On this sunny Sunday the Sox lost in the 9th when Mickey Mantle hit one about 450 feet to dead center. It wasn't fair. The Sox had no answer.
Several thousand games later in 1985 I got a call from the P.R. lady at Joske's in the Galleria. She asked me if I could take some time to sit with a ballplayer who had a book coming out. I said sure. Who? She said a guy who no longer played, Mickey Mantle. I froze. Really? You want me to sit with Mick while he signs the book? She said, yes, and we will pay you. That is still the best deal I have ever had. We sat in a little room while Mick signed his book and in between signings we talked baseball. I, ever the opportunist, had him sign some baseballs for my kids. IN ONE LONG PAUSE, I asked about that game I saw long ago in Chicago.
Recommended Videos
He said, "YEA, I REMEMBER. I HIT IT OFF BILLY PIERCE". "I got all of it". I said something memorable like, "Yep". I have had many memorable meetings with jocks, but my 3 hours at Joske's with THE MICK is one of the highlights. Just thought you should know.