MLB Playoffs: Ken Singleton and Michael Kay Disgrace Gehrig, DiMaggio and Mantle

Ken Singleton, who started his baseball career with the New York Mets and Michael Kay, the biggest New York Yankees shill this side of John Sterling, are an embarrassment to the memories of Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle.

Before the fourth game of the ALDS against the Detroit Tigers, the presumptuous Singleton predicted that Ivan Nova would beat Doug Fister in the fifth game of the series. No need to worry about winning the soon-to-be-played fourth game.

The pompous Kay then said that Singleton was so sure there would be a Game 5, “he already picked out the tie” he would be wearing Thursday night at the Yankees home ball park.

Singleton and Kay couldn’t have disrespected the Tigers any more than they did by writing them off before the fourth and possible fifth games were played. It’s fine to predict that the Yankees would win the fourth game, but the fifth game prediction should have been tempered.

The fact that the Yankees pummeled the Tigers in the fourth game is irrelevant. Yankees, at least it used to be true, don’t denigrate opponents.

Confidence and arrogance are different. Few Yankees were more confident than DiMaggio, and once Gehrig and Mantle were stars, they had great faith in their ability.

The three greats respected their opponents and teammates. Gehrig took the extra step with fans that DiMaggio and Mantle often did not.

Gehrig never refused to give an autograph, even following a particularly tough defeat. According to Bill Dickey, Gehrig was more upset than he had ever been after the Yankees had lost a crucial game.

“A kid asked him for an autograph and Lou ignored him,” recalled Dickey. “He walked a few steps away from the kid, then I heard him mumble to himself and he walked back to give the kid his signature. To be extra considerate, he even chatted with him a few moments.”

DiMaggio expressed his respect differently.

The Yankees were leading the New York Giants, 18-4, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning of the second game of the 1936 World Series.

Hank Leiber hit a tremendous drive past the Eddie Grant monument in center field.

DiMaggio took off, appearing to move with almost no strain. He neared the monument, extended his glove, and caught the ball at the foot of the steps that led to the players’ clubhouse.

Without breaking stride, DiMaggio climbed a few steps, and then suddenly stopped and stood at attention.

Joe remembered that the public address announcer had asked everyone at the Polo Grounds to remain seated or standing in place until President Roosevelt had left the park. As Roosevelt’s car slowly moved to the exit, the president waved to DiMaggio, who sheepishly waved back.

When many modern players hit a long home run, they admire it before trotting around the bases. Ryan Howard’s actions following his home run in the first game of the NLDS is a prime example.

Mickey Mantle always kept his head down when he rounded the bases after hitting a home run. He explained that the pitcher felt bad enough and that he didn’t want to embarrass him any further.

Yankees fans criticized Pittsburgh Pirates Bob Prince for favoring the Pirates during the 1960 World Series. The same thing happened when Harry Caray of the St. Louis Cardinals worked the 1964 World Series.

Today’s Yankees fans criticize broadcasters for Fox Sports and ESPN as being anti-Yankees. They have a valid point, but Singleton and Kay make Joe Buck and others seem tame.


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