Mantle Opinion

[JimStinson]

You had to be there to realize how particularly tough it was in the late 60's to get Mantle to sign an autograph.

They played day baseball then and the Yankees were in last place , Mantle had been moved from the outfield to first base. A bunch of us kids would cut school and take the bus from Jersey to Yankee Stadium

We'd get there three hours before the game wait outside where the players came in ....no Mantle. Before the game during infield practice we'd be hanging close to the 1st base dugout yelling for "The Mick" to just turn around and wave at us , remember there was almost NO ONE in the stadium and he would just smirk and ignore us.

Some of the other players were great , Mel Stottlemyre would actually REMEMBER us and pull up a chair and talk , as kids we must have asked him the most stupid questions in the World but he didn't seem to mind.

After awhile before and after the games we would spread out and stake out the various entrances and exits in an effort to find out where Mantle came in and left from but we never once found out.

There was NEVER more than a handful of autograph seekers and most were kids and he still went out of his way to avoid us
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[David Atkatz]

On August 28, 1966 Mickey signed this baseball for me outside the Stadium. As we often did, my friend Howie and I walked to Yankee Stadium to get some autographs. My uncle had given me a brand new OAL (Cronin) ball, and I had it with me. We arrived at the Stadium about the sixth inning, and there was absolutely no one outside the player's entrance. Howie and I sat down on the iron pipe fencing on either side of the entrance--he on one side of the door, me on the other--with our backs to the door, facing the chain-link fence entrance to the player's parking lot directly across the street.
After fifteen minutes or so, someone left the building. As he passed me, walking directly away from the Stadium towards the parking lot, I realized that the red-polo-shirted blond with the widest neck I had ever seen was my baseball idol. I ran after him, imploring him to stop and sign: "Mickey, Mickey, please... I'll never have this chance again... Please... " I got to him just as he entered the parking lot. Without turning around he slammed the chain-link door in my face. So I ran down the block to where the cars exited and entered the lot. I was standing at the gate, clutching the ball and a pen in my fifteen-year-old hands, when Mickey stopped his car (a Chrysler Imperial with Texas plates), rolled down his window, took the pen and the ball, signed it, handed it back, and drove on. He never said a word.

[Bestdj777]

Thank you for sharing your stories. It is a shame he treated fans like that. I wonder how many young New Yorkers grew up hating him as a result. I remember waiting outside of the chain link fence after a Rangers game waiting for my idol at the time--Nolan Ryan--to appear and sign autos. If he had showed up and snubbed me I likely would have stopped collecting his cards right then.


And, Craig, thanks again for the insight both here and in PMs.

I love this board.

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

On August 28, 1966 Mickey signed this baseball for me outside the Stadium. As we often did, my friend Howie and I walked to Yankee Stadium to get some autographs. My uncle had given me a brand new OAL (Cronin) ball, and I had it with me. We arrived at the Stadium about the sixth inning, and there was absolutely no one outside the player's entrance. Howie and I sat down on the iron pipe fencing on either side of the entrance--he on one side of the door, me on the other--with our backs to the door, facing the chain-link fence entrance to the player's parking lot directly across the street.
After fifteen minutes or so, someone left the building. As he passed me, walking directly away from the Stadium towards the parking lot, I realized that the red-polo-shirted blond with the widest neck I had ever seen was my baseball idol. I ran after him, imploring him to stop and sign: "Mickey, Mickey, please... I'll never have this chance again... Please... " I got to him just as he entered the parking lot. Without turning around he slammed the chain-link door in my face. So I ran down the block to where the cars exited and entered the lot. I was standing at the gate, clutching the ball and a pen in my fifteen-year-old hands, when Mickey stopped his car (a Chrysler Imperial with Texas plates), rolled down his window, took the pen and the ball, signed it, handed it back, and drove on. He never said a word.

GREAT STORY David, thanks for sharing it!

[Runscott]

Yes, great story David. I'm just glad that as a 15-yr old, you were prepared with a good pen and ball. At the same age, I took a good ball to a game and had it signed with a bad pen by a few Giants. Then took the same ball to a Phillies game, but with a 'good' pen. I only know 'good' vs 'bad' because after several years, the bad pen ink began to blur. The Phillies autos still look brand new.

Then took a bad ball to a Reds game and all the signatures on one panel faded to absolute nothingness, but the other panel signatures look beautiful.

Good planning, David, and as a result, a great treasure. Too bad, though, hearing from you and others as to how fan-unfriendly Mantle was at the close of his career. It could just be that Happy Hour was winding down and he needed to roll for last call.

[shelly]

In the fiftys I would go to Cleveland Stadium and get autographs. I dont know why but it was fun at the time. Mickey would sign comeing or going when he was in town. I guess when you become larger than life it becomes a lot harder. He was a drunk and in pain most of the time. To people in NY he is still and always will be the Mick.

[autograf]

@David.....good day for me too......I was born that day.........cool story.....