In Honor Of Independence Day -- Mickey Mantle, All American Boy (Awesome Letter)

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I’ve had to revisit my opinion of life, having just discovered this last week. Is it possible The Mick was one of America’s greatest 20th Century humorists? The answer is “almost definitely”. Maybe you’ve seen this, maybe it’s juvenile, maybe it belongs in the Game Room – but I wanted to share . . .

http://photos1.blogger.com/photoInclude/blogger/972/2986/1600/mick1.jpg
http://photos1.blogger.com/photoInclude/blogger/972/2986/1600/mick2.jpg

2

Absolutely awesome. Though at first I completely misunderstood what “by the bullpen” meant.

3

:smiley:

4

I’m REALLY hoping that’s genuine. Priceless.

5

Snopes lists it as undetermined but notes that it sure looks like his signature. You can see an example of his signature, and also of attitude not inconsistent with the 50th anniversary submission, here:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://media.cnbc.com/i/CNBC/Sections/News_And_Analysis/__Story_Inserts/graphics/__PEOPLE/M/MantleFUball.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.cnbc.com/id/29350396/Mickey_Mantle_s_F_Bomb_Ball_For_Sale&usg=__4KRYQ6dU3wsBm_gSgg1juRO5e70=&h=298&w=300&sz=35&hl=en&start=8&itbs=1&tbnid=D6J_G6zu138KKM:&tbnh=115&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmickey%2Bmantle%2Bsignature%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DX%26tbs%3Disch:1%26prmd%3Dsio

Finally, I have it on good third-party authority that it is the real deal, which as a cite would not be well-received in GD, but then this isn’t GD, and we all want to believe it anyhow. I’m confident this is real (and great).

6

I’m lying in bed sick as a dog and now laughing and coughing my ass off. That was brilliant - I too hope it’s the real deal.

7

Like most good comedic narratives, there’s a definite arc and timing to the story – and he finishes strong, like the greats.

I also like the taking-the-piss-out-of the tendency to get either all mawkish or all Frank Deford serious about “America’s Pastime” and especially the Yankees (Mickey had to have known there’d be no shortage of overly-sentimental or faux profound reminiscences). As a friend remarked, pro sports are ultimately just a game, played by overgrown rambunctious boys, and Mickey couldn’t have picked a better story or tone with which to make this point.

8

oh my.

9

Have just passed this along to a friend with much laughter and a big “OH DEAR”.

10

To me, a part of it was the evident “Who you calling Old-Timer, boy?” thing going on. The first letter was like such a pat on the head . . .

11

I also liked how he took them up on the earnest exhortation to “give as much detail as you can.”

Did he ever.