I was asked by Amazon.com to write about how 7 The Mickey Mantle Novel came into being. Because I was asked to write this exclusively for their website, I cannot reproduce it in its entirety. But I will put up the first few paragraphs and you can go to Amazon.com to read the rest.
I met Mickey Mantle for the first time in 1974 when I was writing my first book, Dynasty. He had asked me to meet him at his home in Dallas, but when I arrived, I was informed he had flown to New York and I could meet him in the clubhouse of Yankee Stadium the next day. Back on the plane I went.
During an hour-long interview which I conducted in the Yankee clubhouse, Mickey talked about his career, his love of the game, and the nightmares that woke him up almost every night. During the middle of the interview New York Times reporter John Drebinger entered the clubhouse, and Mickey then told me that Drebby had a hearing aid and that Mickey would move his mouth, pretending to talk so Drebby would turn the hearing aid up, and when he got it up all the way, he’d scream at the top of his lungs. Mickey, myself, and everyone standing around listening roared with laughter.
That was Mickey, irreverent, complex, funny and sad.
2 comments:
Peter,
I was doing a little research on a driver that raced for my dad back in the 70's and came across you article Nascar Confidential. In you story you quote Susan Bonnett as saying that her insurance guy Charlie Roberts was piddling in racing. Well the Charlie is right but the Roberts is not. The last name should be Nations. My father was Neil and Susan's insurance agent for many years and he is the one that owned the car. I remember traveling to Daytona in Neil's Cougar for the race. My dad passed away in 2000 and my mother just recently gave me an old briefcase with all of the incorporation papers, pit passes, and even some old postcards. Charlie Roberts was also an owner/driver of the car before my dad bought him out. Just wanted to clarify your story. Feel free to send me an email me at be9s@cs.com if you would like any information.
Peter,
I was doing a little research on a driver that raced for my dad back in the 70's and came across you article Nascar Confidential. In you story you quote Susan Bonnett as saying that her insurance guy Charlie Roberts was piddling in racing. Well the Charlie is right but the Roberts is not. The last name should be Nations. My father was Neil and Susan's insurance agent for many years and he is the one that owned the car. I remember traveling to Daytona in Neil's Cougar for the race. My dad passed away in 2000 and my mother just recently gave me an old briefcase with all of the incorporation papers, pit passes, and even some old postcards. Charlie Roberts was also an owner/driver of the car before my dad bought him out. Just wanted to clarify your story. Feel free to send me an email me at be9s@cs.com if you would like any information.
Sincerely,
Bryan Nations
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