Mantle was an outstanding ball player, Jones said. He was strong, he could run and hit from both sides of the plate, he was a great player.

Mantle, who played with the Yankees from 1951 to 1968, died August 13 at age 63.

Jones, who coached the Saluki baseball team from 1970 to 1990, traveled to Comiskey and sat in right field with a friend to see Mickey Mantle, Billy Martin and Whitey Ford of the mighty Yankees battle the White Sox in a doubleheader.

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That day not only gave me the chance to watch Mantle play, it gave me the chance to witness my younger friend harass him throughout the entire game, Jones said.

Jones said Mantle could not escape the constant jeering his younger friend yelled during both games. He said his friend really wanted to get the Yankee greats attention.

No matter what Mantle did my friend would yell at him, he said. I don’t know if he did it because he was intoxicated or just out of shear meanness.

Jones’ friend taunts failed to hinder Mantle’s performance Mantle got a base hit that won the second game for the Yankees.

After he got the hit, Mantle came running out to right field where we were sitting to see if my friend had anything more to say, Jones said. My friend simply told Mickey that he loved him and he was the greatest player he had ever seen.

I’ll never forget that look Mantle had on his face when my friend told him that he was the greatest.

Jones said Mantle had some big shoes to fill when he joined the Yankee ballclub, after all he had to take over for one of baseballs greatest outfielder Joe Dimaggio

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People always talked about what a great player DiMaggio was and they wondered if Mantle could replace him, he said. Soon after they witnessed Mantle’s performance on the field, they started talking about what a great player he was.

Few player’s could fill the shoes of DiMaggio Mantle was one of those players.

Jones said today’s generation of fans cannot grasp what Mantle meant to the game of baseball.

Usually people can only relate with what took place in their era, he said. Although I never met him, I can remember what he was as a player, and he was simply outstanding.

He would have been even more special to me had I lived on the East coast and been able to follow him more closely. Back then, our televisions did not get the best reception so the evening highlights were not that good.

Jones said another aspect that many fans do not realize was Mantle’s ability to play the game despite physical obstacles.

Mantle played with a lot of pain, he said. Today a player may wonder if he can play in a game whereas players like Mantle and Ford wondered if they could even get to the ballpark, let alone play.

Jones said had Mantle not wracked his body with years of alcohol abuse, he would have undoubtedly had a longer career.

If you want to look at Mantle you must overlook his off the field life, he said. Mantle proved himself on the field.

Babe Ruth led a lifestyle similar to Mantle’s but it is often overlooked because of what he done on the field.

Jones said Mantle’s hard living off the baseball field did not hamper his ability on the field.

Mickey was a great player, he said. As far as I’m concerned Mantle never once embarrassed the game of baseball.