My dad and I were invited by a friend to the Equitable Old Timer's Game in Arlington in 1988. Our friend was an Equitable rep at the time. We got to meet the old timers prior to the game at the Arlington Sheraton Hotel, where we got to chat, shake hands, and get autographs, then we attended the game and got to go on the field during pre-game batting practice and take photos, then after the game, back to the Sheraton to meet players, etc.
All the players that we met were very gracious and some spent a considerable amount of time talking and reminiscing with my dad, such as Johnny Mize, Bob Feller, Ralph Branca, Al Oliver, Bob Gibson, Warren Spahn, Leo Durocher, etc., but the ONLY no-show to the pre-game and post game festivities was, you guessed it, Willie Mays. Our friend said that because of Mays attitude, he would see that he was never invited back to an Equitable Old Timers game.
On a side note, Bob Feller and his wife were wonderful, as was Bob Gibson and Al Oliver. All were incredibly nice signers, too. It was nice to see my dad meet and speak and length with his boyhood idol, Bob Feller.
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