That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary – Page 22

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Highest Paid Player talks about Sutter Health Park

Published on May 11, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s pitcher Luis Severino pitching against the Milwaukee Brewers line up on Sat Apr 19, 2025 at American Family Park in Milwaukee. Severino pitched against the New York Yankees on Sun May 11, 2025 at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento (AP News file photo)

A’s Highest Paid Player talks about Sutter Health Park.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Unless the Athletics, now playing in Sacramento, shock the baseball world and have one of their best seasons in history, the top story for the Athletics in Sacramento remains Sutter Health Park, in West Sacramento, their temporary home for three years.

Luis Severino was signed to the team’s history’s most expensive A’s contract this past winter. Three years for $67 million with a $10 million signing bonus. For some fans, it is hard to believe that a franchise that has Hall of Fame players like Reginaldo “Martínez Jackson (Reggie), Rickey Henderson, Jim “Catfish, “Hunter, Rollie Fingers, and Dennis Eckersley, all played during the Oakland A’s years at the Oakland Coliseum. (1968-2024) We must remember that contracts like the one for Rickey Henderson of $3.5 million multi-years, today are like $60 million (at least) for just three seasons.

The New York Yankees won two out of three games this weekend at Sutter Health Park. Their #1 pitcher, Luis Severino (who pitched with the Yankees last year), told the YES Network how he felt about pitching at this park in Sacramento: “This is not a major league park,” which is true.

The Dominican pitcher is having a rough start to the season, with a record of 1-4 and a 4.70 ERA in nine starts. If the ATH wants to improve from their 69-93 last season’s record, Luis must pitch better; ultimately, the veteran should lead this pitching staff, as he is their ace #1 starter.

The ATH just embarked on a six-game road trip, three at Los Angeles against the World Champion Dodgers and three in San Francisco against the Giants. They returned home on the 19th for a seven-game homestand against the Angels and the Phillies. They leave Sacramento with a 21-20 record and in third place.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Latino Major League Players’ Diet

Published on May 8, 2025May 9, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former New York Mets pitcher Livan Hernandez (61) seen here pitching in 2009 (San Diego Union file photo)

Latino Major League Players’ Diet

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Although things have changed in the major leagues regarding nutrition for the long baseball season, Latino Players also get used to that same special diet for the long season. It takes them time to adjust to life in the United States because moving from a Latin American country to the US is usually a significant cultural change.

Lifestyles are different, especially in the major leagues, the top professional baseball league in the world. And let’s face it, we all have to eat. Liván Hernandez comes to mind when he arrived from Miami after he pitched for his first three seasons.

He came and pitched for the San Francisco Giants. I first met him, he was always asking me about restaurants and especially Cuban food, which is easy to find today in some big cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and other places like the San Francisco-San José-Oakland Bay Area.

Still, in some trips to Kansas City, Cincinnati, and many other places, you do not see much variety of ethic foods. Liván always laughs when I told him that Armando, my grandfather in Cuba, used to say to me, when I was a kid, “Uno come para vivir, no vive para comer” Translation: “We eat to live, not live to eat”.

Liván is retired, and he loved, I mean loved to eat. Liván played in the major leagues for 17 seasons; his last season was 2012. He pitched for 10 different teams, and he once confessed to me that he had a weight problem, which is not unusual for Latino players.

Fernando Valenzuela was another player who had a long fight with his weight; however, because it is a long season, he needs to be there for the whole enchilada. Born in México, Fernando told me he did not mind his weight. However, I usually converse well with Liván, who comes from Cuba.

He always told me that the first thing that impressed him (aside from the salaries and nice and big stadiums) in the major leagues and in the United States was that he could eat anything he wanted at any given time.

Luis Tiant, also Cuban, told me he didn’t mind to be a little overweight because it is a long season, and he needed the strength to go the distance. Major League Baseball players nowadays require a diet of carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats to fuel their very long, demanding season.

Drink lots of liquid during hot summer days. They also need to prioritize hydration and electrolyte balance. A typical baseball player’s diet includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and fish., however, rice and beans and other Latin food is also popular during the season for Latino players.

The three players were pitchers in the major leagues, but I have also spoken with other Latino players throughout the years, not pitchers, and they always love to talk about food. Some even like to cook at home or at least be their wives ‘sous chef “.

Luis Tiant and Ferrnando Valenzuela passed in 2024. Liván Hernández is retired from pitching, but runs a Baseball Academy in Miami(Hialeah), Florida.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Days of Hope, Fremont was in the A’s plans

Published on May 4, 2025May 4, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former Oakland A’s pitcher Yusmeiro Petit signs autographs for fans at the A’s 2018 Fan Fest at Jack London Square in Oakland (photo by the author Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

Days of Hope, Fremont was in A’s Plans

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

2018 at Jack London Square, where the Oakland Athletics still hoped to build a brand new ballpark, was another year where hope was in the air, hoping the team would remain in The Town.. The A’s Fanfest was popular, with fans gearing up for the season. Little did these fans know that in just a few years, the team would not be playing at Oakland, where they won six American League pennants and four World Series.

The A’s Fanfest at Oakland was always well attended by fans and visitors from all over the Bay Area and the country, baseball people, collectors, tourists, dreamers, and most of all, baseball aficionados seeking autographs from their favorite Oakland A’s players.

The Oakland Athletics had high hopes for staying in Oakland within a new stadium during the years the Oakland Coliseum was deemed outdated and needed replacement. This desire extended across several ownership groups and multiple Bay Area cities, including Oakland, as they struggled to secure funding and land for a new ballpark.

Specifically, the A’s explored options in Fremont, San José, and ultimately, a waterfront site in Oakland. However, the decision to relocate to Las Vegas in 2023 marked the end of these attempts to find a new home in the Bay Area. Currently temporarily playing in Sacramento.

During the A’s Fanfest, the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame were busy, as many A’s players would sign autographs and meet with the fans. Next to our location was another non-profit founded by ex-A ‘s Manager and Hall of Famer, Tony LaRussa.

Tony has long advocated for animal welfare and is passionate about helping animals find a home. Tony was not happy about the possibility of the A’s relocating out of the city, which made him a winning manager and a Hall of Fame manager. “I think we should have figured a way; If it wasn’t going to be Oakland, it should have been somewhere in the Bay Area.” -his quote.

Fremont, the city, my home for a longtime was talked about to be the next home of the A’s, not a bad idea, only 20 minutes south of Oakland and even closer to San José, a perfecrt location for the team to stay in the Bay Area.

A meeting to discuss bringing the A’s to Fremont was held at the Saddle Rack in Fremont on February 25, 2009. This meeting was part of a larger effort by the Fremont Chamber of Commerce and local fans to support the team’s relocation to Fremont.

I was there, with the group that supported the idea to have Fremont as the new home of the A’s. But there was also opposition, and they won. Lew Wolff was the team owner at that time and told the citty in a letter that the team stopped all plans to build a state-of-the art stadium in Fremont Wolff, who owned the team told city officials in a letter that the team has stopped all plans to build a state-of-the-art stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area suburb, of Fremont south of its current home at the Oakland Coliseum.

He cited expected delays to the project as a reason for his decision. “Delays that are both real and threatened have made it impossible for me to assure my organization of an implementation date consistent with our needs and the requirements of Major League Baseball,” Wolff wrote in the letter.

He noted that the team had already committed more than $80 million to the project, $24 million of which is not recoverable. Fremont Mayor Bob Wasserman was disappointed by the decision. Wasserman was the Mayor who developed Fremont into one of the Bay Area’s most prosperous and populated cities.

Fremont is the fourth-largest city in the Bay Area, after #1 San José, #2 San Francisco, and #3 Oakland. Fremont is also the home of the #1 Tesla manufacturing plant in the United States, “Silicon Valley East.” Fremont, CA with 230,000 population.

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That’s Amaury News and Commentary: ATH and LAD to meet in the 2025 World Series

Published on May 3, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Pennants from the 1988 World Series that featured the Oakland A’s and Los Angeles Dodgers that were on bid. Can the A’s and Dodgers meet again in another World Series sometime in the future? (photo from eBay)

ATH and LAD meet in the 2025 World Series

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Athletics of Sacramento overachieved this season, winning the American League West Division, beating the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series, and heading to the World Series in Los Angeles after the Dodgers won 120 games for a new MLB season record.

The most games won in an MLB regular season is 116, a record shared by the 1906 Chicago Cubs and the 2001 Seattle Mariners. The first game of the World Series begins on Friday, October 25, at the remodeled (Looking like new) Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

With the help of AI, the first pitch is thrown by the one and only Frank Sinatra, who was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan since his childhood in New York. For the young kids, who have no idea who this Sinatra guy is, he is probably the greatest singer in American pop history: a Grammy and Oscar winner. Born and raised in Hoboken, New Jersey, there is a statue of the iconic singer, actor, producer, and entrepreneur on the streets of Hoboken.

AT Dodgers Stadium, all 56,000 fans, plus some 5,000 extra standing room only, look at the scoreboard to see the legendary Sinatra throw the first pitch. For the record, Frank Sinatra was good friends with iconic Brooklyn Dodger Manager, Leo Durocher, and later with his Italiano Compagno, Tommy LaSorda. Frequently, after an afternoon game at Dodger Stadium, Frank and Tommy will drop by ‘La Dolce Vita’ in Beverly Hills, the place for celebrities.

I interviewed LaSorda many times, and inside his office were photos with Sinatra and a “Who’s Who in Showbiz. Tommy spoke conversational Español, The aerial Gondola connecting Union Station to the Dodger Stadium property is now completed (a project that took years), the same project which was imitated by then A’s President Dave Kaval during his proposal for the new A’s park at Jack London Square.

That was a failure due to the lack of leadership by the City of Oakland and the Oakland A’s organization; it was ‘the perfect storm’. These Gondolas going up from Union Station to Elysian Park at Dodger Stadium are packed with fans, not to mention the large parking lot.

Over 30 million cars are registered in the State of California, more than half in the LA area, but that parking lot is not that big. Those who cannot attend in person can watch on television, but watching all the games will be complicated.

The games will air on ESPN, FOX, Apple TV+ (for exclusive streaming games), the Roku Channel, and a wide range of games on RSN(Regional Sports Networks). Good luck finding your favorite. \ IMPORTANT: The home games for the ATH for this World Series, will have to be played at another stadium, not Sutter Health Park, because playing a World Series at a minor league park is not acceptable to standards of Major League Baseball.

So, although the Dodgers were not scheduled to play the A’s this year during the regular season in Sacramento, in this imaginary World Series the A’s would have to find a Major League park to play their “home”games.

The Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Dodgers last met in the World Series in 1988. The Dodgers won the series in five games, defeating the Athletics. I broadcast that series in Spanish. Unfortunately, I will not be in the 2025 World Series. “Set your dreams high, and don’t stop till you get there.” – Bo Jackson

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That’s Amaury News and Commentary-Athletics of the Lost Arc

Published on April 30, 2025April 30, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Aerial view of Sutter Health Park in Sacramento interim home of the Sacramento A’s. The A’s have not sold out one home game yet this season. The closest they came was for their home opener back on Mar 31, 2025 when they drew 12,119 in their 14,014 seat ballpark. (photo by ABC 10 Sacramento)

Athletics of the Lost Arc

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

At the current pace, the ATH playing at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento will draw around 700,000 people for the 2025 season. All the hype that preceded the season about “sold out” tickets before was like the hype failure of Ford’s Edsel.

In business, projecting success is crucial for attracting investment and building confidence. However, projecting success without a solid foundation can lead to problems and ultimately, failure. A strong business needs more than just a positive outlook; it requires a clear strategy, efficient operations, and a team capable of executing it.

Did the A’s “choose well” when they decided to play for three years in Sacramento? Only time will tell. I am not questioning the people or the City of Sacramento; they are just the consumers of the final product.

Common sense tells us that a Major League team playing for the first time in a city they have never played before will have at least a honeymoon of maybe a couple of dozen sellouts, but that has not happened. While the honeymoon has not turned into a divorce yet, it is not progressing as expected.

The Oakland Coliseum’s capacity for baseball was 45,000, compared to Sutter Park Sacramento’s capacity of 14,014 According to my research and all estimates, Sacramento is a dry-weather city for most of the summer.

During baseball season (April to September), they are lucky to get eight inches of rain. For those Oakland A’s fans who remember how rare rain-outs were at the Coliseum, Sacramento is in a different league regarding dry weather.

It is hard to comprehend that it has been 36 years since the first game of the 1989 World Series at the Oakland Coliseum vs. the San Francisco Giants. I worked on that historic event, which was temporarily delayed by the Loma Prieta earthquake.

The Haas family had a long record of success on the field, working with the community, and bringing championship teams to the people of Oakland and the Bay Area. It remains to be seen whether the current regime could duplicate such success.

Of all the promotions a team can have during their season schedule, the most seductive promotion is winning; that is the best thing a team can give to their fans, a winning season. As April concludes, we must wait and see if the 2025 A’s have “chosen wisely.”

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That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Red Sox Duran held back from going after fan; Yanks Williams replaced by closer Luke Weaver; plus more MLB news

Published on April 28, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Boston Red Sox Jarren Duran is excited after stealing home plate against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland in the top of the third inning on Sat Apr 26, 2025 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Boston Red Sox Jarren Duran whose Netflix documentary was the subject of his attempted suicide three years ago. Duran has had plenty of support from his Red Sox teammates, fans, and players from opposing teams. A fan in the front row seat by the Sox dugout was yelling “something inappropriate” to Duran and Duran had to be held back by a base coach. The fan realized he was in hot water started to run up the stairway but was stopped by Cleveland Guardians security and thrown out of Progressive Field.

#2 On Saturday Duran hit a triple. Then on the next pitch he stole home plate. It was the Red Sox first steal of home plate in 16 years. Duran said he was going when Cleveland pitcher Doug Nikhazy went into his stretch. The Sox ended up winning the second game of the doubleheader in Cleveland 7-3.

#3 New York Yankees pitcher Devin Williams was removed from the closing role. In his last outing Williams had another blown save after blowing a save in his previous game. Williams 30 is a right hander and has an 11.25 ERA. The Yankees are going with Luke Weaver as the closer.

#4 Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman threw 53 pitches in the third inning against the New York Yankees. It was the most pitches by a pitcher in three years. Gausman was frustrated with plate umpire Chris Conroy and said after being relieved that he was let Conroy know he was going to watch his bad umpiring.

#5 The Sacramento A’s who had struggled in their first two homestands with a record of 2-7 have improved on that record are now 6-9. The A’s in their last home stand took two out of three from the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox and have moved out of last place in the AL West.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The Bambino in Cuba in 1920 – Meeting Professor González-Echevarría

Published on April 27, 2025April 27, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

(Adolfo Luque Cuban Pioneer 1920’s Cincinnati Reds photo from the author Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

The Bambino in Cuba in 1920 – Meeting Professor González-Echevarría —

That’s Amaury News and Commentary-

Amaury Pi-González

Babe Ruth visited and played baseball in Havana, Cuba, in October 1920. He played a series of games with the New York Giants against Cuban teams Habana and Almendares, earning $20,000 (equivalent to $260,280 in 2020) for the appearance.

His first game was on October 30, 1920, where he played center field. They played two games in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba’s second largest city, at the Cuban Park. Ruth loves to gamble and visited El Hipódromo Oriental Park, also Jai Alai, staying at the Hotel Plaza in room #216. According to reports from the Cuban media, he spent almost all the money he made playing in Cuba and lost it in the casinos.

At the end of the series, he ended with a .345 average, two home runs, a triple, and a double. As Babe Ruth is part of the great history of baseball, his trip to Cuba during the 1920s brought to my mind a friend and professor who was also born in Cuba, as we met in New York.

During the 1998 baseball season, as I was working as a play-by-play announcer in Spanish for the San Francisco Giants, I had the pleasure of meeting. Professor Roberto González-Echevarría, a Cuban-born critic of Latin American literature and culture and Sterling Professor of Hispanic and Comparative Literature at Yale University.

A man whom I had always admired. In the typical tradition of Cuban baseball writers, he is a remarkable man, a teacher at Yale University. We share many memories of Cuba from past years; speaking with him is always a pleasure and to me he is a treasure.

Professor Roberto González Echevarría and I met in the Press Box at the Shea Stadium, home of the New York Mets. He asked me if I could introduce him to Giants manager Dusty Baker. We went to the Giants’ dressing room and Dusty’s manager’s office, where I introduced the professor to Dusty.

It was an enlightening conversation among the three of us, with González-Echevarría doing most of the questioning for a project the author was working on. I always enjoyed my friendship with the professor, and my favorite of his books, “The Pride of Havana,” A History of Cuban Baseball.

In that book, he documented the great Adolfo Luque’s career, who pitched in the 1920s in the Major Leagues and had a sensational season in 1923 with the Cincinnati Reds when he finished with a record of 27-8 and a 1.93 ERA, started 41 games, and completed 37 games. Towards the end of his baseball career, I remember attending the games in Cuba with my father when Luque managed the Leones del Habana of the old Cuban Professional League..

González-Echevarría’s books, from Cuba’s José Martí to Cervantes’ Don Quixote to books about baseball in the United States and Cuba, are great reads for everybody. My favorite is”The Pride of Havana: A History of Cuban Baseball,” where he highlights Adolfo Luque, a historical Cuban pitcher.

As published in 1999 and winning the Dave Moore Award in 2000. It is an excellent contribution to Cuban baseball history and culture. Cuban players (not black) were some of the first Latino pioneers to make it to the Big Leagues, Like Adolfo Luque, who pitched for 20 years (1913-1935)

A Piece of History: Bullfights and Baseball are deeply rooted in Cuban history. Cuba’s independence from Spain came in 1902. The Spanish colonizers of the island wanted Cubans to master Bullfighting, but after Cuba gained its independence, the Americans taught Cubans the game of baseball. Cubans were enamored with the great baseball game (“la pelota,” as we call it in Cuba) and forgot about bullfighting. Cuba was a pioneer of baseball in Latin America.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary-Biological men playing in Women’s Sports

Published on April 25, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former San Jose Spartans Volleyball player Blaire Fleming warms up for the first set of an NCAA college volleyball match against Colorado State on Oct. 3, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo /David Zalubowski)

Biological Men playing in Women’s Sports

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Nearly 80 percent of Americans don’t want men playing in women’s sports. So, why is this controversy about biological men playing against women in women’s sports happening?

The NCAA revised its policy to restrict student-athletes assigned male at birth from competing in women’s sports while allowing them to practice and receive benefits. The policy also restricts student-athletes assigned female at birth who have begun hormone therapy from competing on women’s teams.

In a recent USA Fencing tournament, fencer Stephanie Turner took a knee in protest and was disqualified after refusing to face a transgender opponent, Redmond Sullivan, sparking controversy. Perhaps the most famous is that Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas lost a legal battle and was not allowed to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.

After winning many times against biological women. A San Jose State University women’s volleyball player who is transgender was at the center of controversy and legal challenges regarding her eligibility to play in the Mountain West Conference tournament, with a judge rejecting a request to sideline her. Below is what the qualified people say about this topic. In “street language,” are men stronger than women?

1-Testosterone plays a crucial role in muscle growth and strength development. Biologically, men typically have higher testosterone levels, leading to greater muscle mass and strength than women.

2-Men generally have denser bones and a higher proportion of muscle mass than women, contributing to their overall strength.

3-Men also have larger hearts and greater lung capacity, which can enhance endurance and power output. These biological differences contribute to men’s typically superior athletic performance in sports that rely on strength, power, and endurance. These are facts, not political or angry statements. In the United States, about 1.6 million people ages 13 and older identify as transgender, representing about 0.6% of that population. This includes roughly 1.3 million adults and 300,000 youth aged 13 to 17. Sadly enough, this has become more of a political issue on all sides, and it is almost impossible to know how many trans athletes are currently competing in the US. From a common-sense point of view, with all that I have learned about this, it presents a disadvantage for female athletes. At the level of these athletes, college, Olympics, and such, there is no ” participation trophy”, which makes much sense for little kids to recognize their effort and participation. But when it comes to the big guys, they are playing to win, and in my book, a biological man who transitioned to women should not be allowed to play against biological women. It is not fair to women. As simple as that. 0.6% of the United States population identifies as transgender.

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That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Padres Arraez placed on 7 day concussion IL; Braves Strider hurt again out on 15 day IL; plus more MLB news

Published on April 22, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Diego Padres Luis Arraez is laid out after colliding with Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubon (left) as Padres first base coach David Macias (46) and the Houston Astros trainer checks on Arraez in the top of the first inning at Daikin Park in Houston on Mon Apr 21, 2025 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The San Diego Padres have placed Luis Arraez on the seven day concussion injured list on Monday. Arraez got into a scary collision with Houston Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubon at first base. Arraez was laid out and had to be carted off the field and taken to the hospital but came back to the ballpark after the Padres 3-2 win. Talk about taking one for the team.

#2 If it’s one thing it’s another for the Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider. Strider was who returned from elbow surgery and had not been in a game since April 5, 2024. Strider in his last game pitched five innings in a 3-1 loss giving up two runs on April 16th. Strider on Monday strained his right hamstring while playing catch on Monday and is now on the 15 day injured list.

#3 Cleveland Guardians pitcher Triston McKenzie has been designated for assignment on Monday. McKenzie had been suffering from arm injuries had made 30 starts in 2022 when he went 11-11 with a 2.96 ERA. McKenzie had a 11.12 ERA in four appearances this season. McKenzie a right hander since April 16 when allowed four runs against the Baltimore Orioles.

#4 After playing in 32 minor league games the Sacramento Athletics have called up first baseman Nick Kurtz. Kurtz the A’s No. 4 overall pick in last season’s draft will be activated on Wednesday. The A’s will face the Texas Rangers left hander Patrick Corbin on Tuesday and would like to see Kurtz get some at at bats to see if he add some punch to the line up.

#5 San Francisco Giants infielder Casey Schmitt is on the 30 day IL suffering from a grade 2 left oblique strain. Schmitt who underwent an MRI Monday was diagnosed by Dr. Ken Akizuki and the Giants orthopedist has scheduled Schmitt for evaluation for this weekend. Schmitt was hitting in the batting cage last weekend in Anaheim when he got injured putting him on the ten day IL.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Mickey Mantle Rookie Card – The One that Got Away

Published on April 20, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

photo of 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle mint condition card that sold for $12.6 million (photo by Heritage Auction HA.com)

Mickey Mantle Rookie Card – The One that Got Away

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Mickey Mantle is as iconic an American sports figure as ever. Mantle played in 20 All-Star Games, retired in March of 1969 with 536 home runs, and won seven World Series with his Yankee team. His #7 uniform was the most famous number 7 in history.

The #7 is indeed the luckiest number for him. During a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium in 1969 (the year he retired), the Yankees retired his famous #7 uniform. I lived in New York after being discharged from the US Army and attended that game alone. I never forgot that in the middle of that doubleheader, they drove Mantle in a golf cart around the outfield as he waved at fans in a sold-out stadium. I remember it as a sunny, very hot, and humid day in the middle of summer in the Bronx.

Number 7, already retired, wearing a suit, spoke, and got a long ovation from the fans. To me (always an American League fan), at a time when each league just played inside its league and only met against National League teams in insignificant Spring Training games or during the World Series in October, Mickey Mantle was the best player I ever saw.

His power as a switch-hitter is legendary to this day. Mantle could hit a ball from the right side of the plate 450 feet and later during the same game, hit one from the left side of the plate 455 feet. Both home runs. For me, he was the man.

I probably bought thousands of baseball cards. In those days, they all came with a bubble gum inside; the company was Topps. I was not old enough to ever get hold of the Mickey Mantle Rookie card. I never witnessed him playing in the 50s.

But I know and remember that everybody in the 1960s wanted to get their hands on that rookie card, his first season, 1952. In 2022, a mint-condition 1952 Mickey Mantle Topps card sold for $12.6 million at an Auction in Dallas, Texas.

I always dreamed of getting my hands on that card, for me, that was the card the One that Got Away, but I’d collected and traded many cards when I was more focused on baseball as a fan, and in New York, I thought everybody was collecting them in the late 1960s. Even though the Mets were born in New York, people have been looking for that Mantle rookie card.

Although I watched Mantle play, I was never lucky to find that famous rookie card; I kept the program from that hot, humid day at Yankee Stadium when they retired his number 7 in the middle of a doubleheader. It is not worth millions like the rookie card, but for me, it is worth a lot because I was there, and I will take that memory of that day to my grave.

2025 seems like a different world and planet, with the internet and people watching a game on their cell phones. It has been generations since baseball cards were “the hobby” for many kids and adults nationwide. As my Mamá used to tell me, these adults were “the guys that never grew up.”

Mickey Mantle was an absolute superstar, idolized by men and women alike. He was the biggest playboy in New York, much bigger than Joe Namath. I had the privilege of meeting him in person, not when he was playing but years later when he and Joe DiMaggio were broadcasting Yankee games for the Yes Network, New York, and during a Yankee series against the A’s at the Oakland Coliseum to play the Oakland Athletics, sometime in the early 1980s.

Early in 1995, doctors discovered that Mantle’s liver had been severely damaged by alcohol-induced cirrhosis and hepatitis C, and he had an inoperable liver cancer.

Quote: “If I knew I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself” -Mickey Mantle.

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