The King & The Mick ⚾️🏌️

Have you ever met your childhood idols? My dream of that came true on two different occasions.

Years ago, I was vacationing in Palm Springs, at the same time the annual Bob Hope Desert Classic Golf Tournament was being held. In the early days, that golf tournament had a five-round format that took place over five days, four of which included celebrity players. TV, film, and movie stars would regularly be invited to play. For the golf fans, it was a great opportunity to see some of their favourite entertainment stars as well as their favourite pro golfers.

Back in the 1960's when the tournament started, stars like Bing Crosby, Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Phil Harris, and Glen Campbell were regular guests, as well as politicians like former U.S. Presidents, Clinton, Bush, and Ford. As a matter of fact, history was made at the tournament in 1995 when the pro-am team of Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Gerald Ford teed up for the opening round with Bob Hope, and the defending champion golfer Scott Hoch. It was the first time a sitting president, Clinton, had played in a PGA tour event and perhaps the first time three U.S. presidents had ever played together.

There were no presidents playing the year I was there as I recall, and I really couldn’t tell you who the big stars were, but when I arrived at the course and looked up at the list of players only one name jumped out at me. My golfing idol Arnold Palmer, the King. Even though Arnie won the first edition of the tournament back in 1960, the chances of him winning in what was now the early 1980’s were pretty much slim to none.

Arnold Palmer was one of the greatest to ever play the game and one of the most charismatic. He was the first superstar of the sport’s television age which began in the 1950’s. It’s been said that "No one did more to popularize the sport than Palmer." He single-handedly took golf out of the country clubs and into the mainstream. Quite simply, he made golf cool.

So, there I was with his legion of fans known as Arnie’s Army. After the first day of following Arnie with his Army, I was thrilled to be given an official Arnie’s Army button that I proudly wore as we followed him around the course.

Palmer would always have time for anyone who wanted to chat or have a picture taken with him, and that was even while he was playing! As he put his arm around another fan for another photo I remember silently saying to myself, “Arnie, focus, focus, you’re in a tournament!” But that was what got him to where he was, he always had time for the fans. He had an amazing way of making you feel important, and that he was genuinely happy to meet you. I got to say hello to Mr. Palmer and shake his hand. Funny thing though, when you meet one of your idols, not many words come out! Tongue tied I think is the expression. What was there to say, but that you enjoyed the years of watching him play? To which he answered modestly, “Well thank you so much.”

Right around the same era, but in a different sport, another athlete came on the scene that captured the imagination of every young baseball player who ever put on a ball glove. It helped a great deal if you were a New York Yankees fan, and I could never understand anyone who wasn’t. Haha. Mickey Mantle, “The Mick,” “The Commerce Comet.” (He grew up in Commerce, Oklahoma.) His rookie year was 1951 and he was a standout till his retirement in 1968.

My Dad and I would never miss a Yankee game. As a kid watching the game of the week, I can remember waiting for number 7 to step up to the plate and pray for him to hit one out of the park. He did that a lot, but he also struck out a lot, so the cheers and tears were pretty evenly matched. Who’d a thought that I would not only meet Mickey Mantle, but pitch to him! (Well sort of, see photo)

Mantle’s career was plagued with injuries, but through it all, he set baseball records that stood for decades. There was always a question as to how much longer his career would have lasted if it hadn’t been for the injuries. Mantle announced his retirement at the age of 37 on March 1, 1969. When he retired, Mantle was third on the all-time home-run list with 536, and he was the Yankees' all-time leader in games played, a record that wouldn't be broken until 2011 by Derek Jeter.

It was March of 1973, Mickey Mantle would have been in his early 40’s and I would have been in my mid-20s when I met my baseball idol. I was a disc jockey at radio station CKNW at the time, and the station’s promotions director, John Plul called me one day and asked if I’d like to have Mickey Mantle on my show. Mantle was in town making a personal appearance at the Vancouver Boat and Sport Show. After my quick answer of “yes of course,” I was on the phone to my Dad to tell him to change whatever plans he had for the upcoming day because he was going to meet Mickey Mantle.

And what a day it was. I think my Dad was able to blurt out “Nice to meet you,” and that’s about it. Again, it was one of those times when you get to meet your idol and your brain goes into neutral. I had to shift my brain into some kind of gear because it was my radio show, and I had to interview the man! It was a surreal experience to talk to Mantle and hear him talk to me in his Oklahoma drawl.

As you can see by the photo, Mantle was gracious enough to go up to bat against a young left-hander on a day that for me will never be forgotten. The day I pitched to Mickey Mantle.

Till next week...
Wayne