Posted By:
David AtkatzIn August 1967 my friend and I decided to walk over to the Stadium to get some autographs. We got to the player's entrance about the seventh inning, and we were the only people there. Just then Mantle came out--he had left the game in the third inning to save his legs, and had showered and changed. I followed him across the street to the player's parking lot--where the parking garage is now--begging him to sign my brand new official AL baseball. He ignored me, and closed the gate to the parking lot in my face.
Undeterred, I ran around to where the cars exited the lot, on River Avenue, and waited for his car to leave. As it left he stopped, rolled the window down, and signed my ball. Then, without a word, he drove away.
I've still got that ball, and I have no intention of ever having it "authenticated."