Question re: Yankees Team Signed Balls

[Mr. Zipper]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

I also have a HOF plak (and have seen several more) which he signed on the front and back and on the back he wrote "Become a rooter for the New York Mets" (I might be paraphrasing a bit here as I don't have that plak in front of me now).

Here is what Richard is referring to... HOF Plak from my collection.

I recently read Robert Creamer's biography of Stengel. Very interesting and recommended. The picture Creamer paints is that Stengel did not leave the Yankees on the best of terms. He felt betrayed by management and he was openly ridiculed as a "senile old man" by some of the newer Yankee players.

The Mets and the fans welcomed him and treated him as a respected elder statesman of the game. He only left the Mets when he fell and broke his hip. Even then, the Mets gave him a grand sendoff that helped him save face. Up until his death, he had very warm feelings for the Mets.