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Murphy Martin Commentary
July 21, 2005

"The Mick"

Working news people meet folks from all walks of life. Each with his or her own personality, with bright glistening-clean lifestyles and some, , like you and me, with some warts that could cloud the way people finally remember us.

Last week, HBO aired a new one-hour special on the life of Mickey Mantle. The program is brutally honest about this super-star's life. It is all there---warts and all.

HBO hosted a Premiere of this program a few week's ago at the Dallas Museum of Arts for several dozen Mantle friends, members of the press and for those of us who had been interviewed for the special.

As my wife and I watched that preview, I could not help recall one last magical day in Mick's life. He had many magical days, but this one came just three-days before he died at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. It was Thursday and I found Mick's brother Roy and former Yankee pitching great Whitey Ford in his room when I got there. Soon, Moose Skowron, Hank Bauer, John Blanchard and Bobby Richardson were there too.

It was a great Yankee Reunion Day. They all knew Mantle's last breath was drawing near and Danny, Mickey's son had contacted the former players and invited them down to see his Dad one last time. There were lots of stories relived during that six-hour period. Most bringing laughs and smiles.

I tried to shield the former players from the waiting press at the hospital, they just wanted to be with their old team-mate to relive some wonderful memories one last time. They really did not want to talk with the press about their visit.

It was during this day that Bobby Richardson, now a minister, prayed with Mick about his faith and they talked about God and Mickey's relationship with Him. Faith may have come late in life for Mickey Mantle....but it came!

These former Yankee greats smiled a lot while in the room with Mick that day, but when they walked out of his room, there wasn't a dry eye to be found.

Yes, as we watched the HBO special I remembered that day vividly and I also recalled what Mick said to me the day after his former team-mates were there. He said he thought the Yankees were going to win it all that year and as he said that he held in his hands a baseball signed by all of the present Yankee team. Whitey Ford had presented the ball to him the day before. I remarked to Mick if anyone deserved an autographed ball, he did.. After all, Mickey Mantle probably signed more baseballs than any other player in history.

When Mick died that Saturday night, that baseball was on the night-stand beside his bed.

It was inscribed: "Get Well Mick".

But it was not to be. Mickey Mantle's magical days on earth had ended!

Murphy Martin

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July 14 - "Forty Years and Counting"