ENGAGED

Willie, Mickey and the Duke were interviewed together
by Warner Wolf in 1981. All four Hall of Famers were in
their mental prime that day, so watching and mostly listening
to the three great men and center fielders who represented
the “Gints” of Coogan’s Bluff, Bronx Bombers off 161st. Street
and da Bums of Flatbush was pure fun for one who was
eye-witness to the Metro trifecta of the 1950’s. They contrasted
career years and individual accomplishments as well as struggles
to get wage increases in the times preceding current free agency.
There were good-natured ribbing, smiles and “kibbitzing,” — and
through the TV studio wafted the aroma of mutual respect.
When Mantle related that, after winning the AL Triple Crown in ’56,
he was given a $30,000 raise but when he had a fine 1957 —.365 BA
(second in the AL), 1.177 OPS, 34 homers, and second in the league
in runs scored and walks plus the MVP award — but with no Triple Crown
sequel — he was offered a cut in salary (to which Willie and the Duke
showed sincere empathy; they got it, from similar experiences).
I loved the undiluted camaraderie among the pros.
I loved the way I felt as my memories from seven plus decades ago
surrounded me with the joyous atmosphere of my baseball youth.
I was a Yankee fan but, even more poignantly, I was a New York fan
and these three guests sharing seasons past added tasty seasonings
to the appetizer of remembrances that I was viewing.
If there really is a field of dreams in baseball heaven
(or, at least, in Iowa), I just know this Metro threesome
are teammates there (based on merit and loyalty) and
an outfield fly won’t have a prayer of landing on the grass,
not in an outfield patrolled by prime-time talent known
in the song and in person as Willie, Mickey and the Duke.
We are, after all, as they were during the engaging interview
With Wolf, talkin’ baseball (which we all know is
America’s favorite subject).
——————— by Herbert Munshine