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Mon Nov 18, 2013 2:30 pm
The Yankees didn't win a pennant in 1954 (Cleveland played the New York Giants in the World Series that year), so after the Bronx Bombers' last game, Irv (Noren) said he planned to drive home to California. This time, though, he had company: Mantle, who was from Commerce, Okla., wanted to hitch a ride.
Along the way, Irv, at Mantle's urging, pulled off the road when they encountered a group of boys playing baseball in a sandlot. Irv retrieved a few baseballs and a bat from the trunk of his new Chevy and then told one of the kids that he could strike out his traveling companion.
After the youngsters made their way to the far reaches of the outfield, Irv began to pitch to Mantle. One of the offerings Mantle ripped high over the nearby school. That prompted a little by-play between Irv and the kid he'd talked to earlier. According to Irv, it went something like this:
Youngster: "You can't strike out that guy out.''
Irv: "You know why? That's Mickey Mantle.''
Youngster: "Then who are you? Yogi Berra?"
With that, Irv said, Mantle pulled out his driver's license to prove that he was indeed the Yankees superstar.
Irv still laughed at the memory 60 years later.
"The kid probably went home and said, 'Dad, you won't believe it. Mickey Mantle hit a ball over the schoolhouse.' And then the dad said, 'Kid, I told you never to lie to me. Go to your room.'''
Along the way, Irv, at Mantle's urging, pulled off the road when they encountered a group of boys playing baseball in a sandlot. Irv retrieved a few baseballs and a bat from the trunk of his new Chevy and then told one of the kids that he could strike out his traveling companion.
After the youngsters made their way to the far reaches of the outfield, Irv began to pitch to Mantle. One of the offerings Mantle ripped high over the nearby school. That prompted a little by-play between Irv and the kid he'd talked to earlier. According to Irv, it went something like this:
Youngster: "You can't strike out that guy out.''
Irv: "You know why? That's Mickey Mantle.''
Youngster: "Then who are you? Yogi Berra?"
With that, Irv said, Mantle pulled out his driver's license to prove that he was indeed the Yankees superstar.
Irv still laughed at the memory 60 years later.
"The kid probably went home and said, 'Dad, you won't believe it. Mickey Mantle hit a ball over the schoolhouse.' And then the dad said, 'Kid, I told you never to lie to me. Go to your room.'''
