[GoldenAge50s]

Well, for one thing there was nothing in the least bit pretentious about him--he was as personable & down-to-earth as your best friend would be. He was very easy to talk to and really warmed up when I told him my very 1st World Series thrill was Game 1 of the 1949 WS when he hit a lead0ff HR in the bottom of the 9th off Don Newcombe for a walk-off 1-0 Yankee victory!

He was very impressed I remembered all the details and from there he just kept right on going for the next close to 2 hrs! I asked him about seeing Mantle for the 1st time and he just shook his head in amazement as he said he had never seen a player w/ the speed & raw power---knew right off the "kid" was "gonna' be a good one"!

I just sat there mesmerized, bought him a beer or 2 and had the experience of my life w/ a true Yankee Star.