by DOHowser1 » Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:40 am
Spring Training Game back in 57 or 58 in St Petersburg, Florida. Yankees were playing Red Sox and I got Mickey's autograph, NO not the mouse, the real Mickey. I tried like hell to get Ted Williams to sign my program, but he was in a bad mood that day. I don't remember who won the game and it really didn't matter to me, but I do remember seeing Yogi hit two home runs that day, and absolutely having so much fun with the fans. Yogi became my all time favorite catcher from that day forward.
By the way, my Mother ended up throwing Micks autograph, along with others like Gordie Howe's and Jimmy Brown's in the garbage one day when she was cleaning my room!
Much later on in life, I did attend the FIRST EVER Toronto Blue Jays game on April 7th, 1977 at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. Took my Father in law to the game, sorry younger Howser. Anyway, snow on the field, freezin temperatures, and a White Sox player came out with snow shoes on before the game. Ralph Garr was the first batter and Bill Singer was the B.J.'s starting pitcher. First pitch was a strike. Jays won the game and the fans began to shout, WE'RE NUMBER ONE! Doug Ault hit a couple of home runs for the Jays, and we all left feeling this could be the start of a historic career for Mr. Ault. I think, he may have ended up hitting two more for the rest of his career.