Mickey Charles Mantle (October 20, 1931 – August 13, 1995)
Mantle was a baseball center fielder who played 18 seasons in Major
League Baseball for the New York Yankees from 1951 to 1968. He is
regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one
of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into
the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974, and elected to the MLB
All-Century Team in 1999.
I spent a week at Mickey’s “Field of Dreams” fantasy baseball camp in November 1994. It was 9 months before he died. He was gracious, funny and very approachable. I enjoyed talking with him, hearing his stories and just getting to know him. My fondest memory was when the campers played the pros in the final game. All the campers were introduced and then the pros. Mickey was the last to be introduced and he came out of the dug out and stood along side of me as we listened to the National Anthem being played and then the words “Play Ball!” To stand on a ball field with Mickey like that is a memory I will cherish forever. RIP Mick.