World Series

Yankee Legend Mickey Mantle And His Favorite Summer

Bill Thompson

It’s the Yankees and Dodgers in the World Series, for the 12th time in their history. The last time was in 1981.

The 1950s, however, were all Yankees-Dodgers. They met in seven World Series in the ‘50s

The 1956 Series was particularly notable – in Game 5 that year, the Yankees’ Don Larsen pitched a perfect game.

There was a spectacular 8th inning catch that preserved Larsen’s gem – that defensive miracle was turned in by center fielder Mickey Mantle.

Get your copy of Mickey Mantle’s book

That was a great year for Mantle. He won the Triple Crown, leading the American League in homers, RBI, and batting average.

It was such a great time that Mantle titled his 1991 memoir My Favorite Summer. I met this Hall of Fame legend that spring to talk about it.

So here now, from 1991, Mickey Mantle.

Mickey Mantle was inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1974. He died in 1995 at age 63.

Willie Mays

Bill Thompson

It’s September 29th. And on September 29th, 1954, a young baseball player made a name for himself with a defensive play that to this day remains one of the greatest ever.

It was the first game of the 1954 world series, between the New York Giants and the Cleveland Indians. Playing center field for the Giants that day at the Polo Grounds was the young Willie Mays.

In the eighth inning of a tie game, Vic Wertz of the Indians came to the plate. He lofted a Fly ball to deep center field, and maze made a heroic run for it. With his back to home plate, Mays reached up and caught the ball over his shoulder.

The play was so amazing that to this day, it is usually simply referred to as The Catch.

In the years that followed, maze quickly established himself as a superstar, not only for his ability to smash home run after home run, but his speed on the bases, he was so fast, he was actually run out from under his cap. More on that in the interview you’re about to hear…

In 1988 Willie Mays finally wrote his autobiography, and that’s when I had the chance to meet him.

First, a little context. You’ll hear a reference here to Willie Mays being banned from baseball. What? Yes, in 1980, the commissioner banned Willie Mays because he had signed a deal with and Atlantic City casino, to be a greeter and autographed signed her. He was eventually reinstated.

Also, this interview took place at a time when the Baltimore Orioles, under the managerial leadership of Frank Robinson, we’re having a horrible year.

And we did this interview just a few weeks before the historic first ever night game at Chicago’s Wrigley Field.

So here now, from 1988, Willie Mays.

Willie Mays is 90 now. He’s been in the Hall of Fame since 1979.

Bob Gibson

Bill Thompson

In the 1960s and into the early 70s, one of the most dominant pitchers in the National League was St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Bob Gibson.

During a 17-year career, Gibson racked up 251 wins, over 3000 strikeouts, won two Cy Young awards and one year was Most Valluable Player.

He was a star of the 1967 World Series in which the Cardinals beat the Boston Red Spx.

Now, like any picture with that kind of record, Gibson was an intimidating presence on the mound.

But in his case, it went beyond intimidating and he acquired a reputation for being mean.

In 1994 Gibson wrote a memoir called Stranger to the Game. And that’s when I met the man who was anything but “mean.”

So here now, from 1994, Bob Gibson.

Bob Gibson died last year at age 84.

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