My most memorable baseball moment occurred when my late father, Nicholas, an employee of Ballantine Beer, a then proud sponsor of the New York Yankees procured several tickets to their corporate box that most memorable afternoon, August 10, 1968, at that “Big Baseball Orchad in the Bronx” as Art Rust Jr. so eloquently referred to it. I, a youngster was a lifetime fan of #7, the Mick, that’s right, the Commerce Comet, Mickey Mantle CF. This father and son event was an afternoon game vs. the Minnesota Twins. I was so elated to get to see my non-related hero. I did not know that I was about to see MM play in person for the last time. The specifics which follow are an accurate depiction as to what I observed that glorioius afternoon in ‘Baseball’s Cathedral’. Our seats were close enough to see Mickey exit the dugout to the on-deck circle. Through his pinstripe trousers I saw the tape and gauze which entwined his Herculian legs. I was in awe of him to begin with, but even more so, by Mick’s courage and determination in the waning days of an iconic career. They say the Lord works in strange and mysterious ways. No more than that summer afternoon when Mickey Mantle, #7, my American idol hit two homeruns, one from each side of the plate, the tenth and final time he accomplished that feat. What is even more rare is the fact that Mantle hit both runs to right field. To see him connect off Jim Merritt for one of those homeruns sent shivers up my spine and my blond arm hairs raised like tumbleweed from Mickey’s home state of Oklahoma. What a most memorable day for my father and I. I remember it like last August; only it was 40 years ago! It, the day with my dad and the game are forever etched in my mind.
Note: my father, Nicholas R. Brady was born on July 1 1931; Charles Mickey Mantle was born on October 20, of that year. Sad to say, they both passed on approximately 2 weeks apart, in 1995. Thank you for affording me the opportunity to share with here today, my most memorable baseball moment. A happy and healthy holiday season to all at Paul O’Neill’s and their families.
- Thomas R. Brady, NYPD Detective 2 (ret.).
For being the March winner of the 1999 World Series contest, Thomas Brady will receive this Paul O'Neill 5-time World Series Champion autographed baseball with card holder. Congratulations, Thomas!
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