The Legend of the Mick

 

THE LEGEND OF THE MICK

by Jonathan Weeks

 

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GENRE:  Sports Biography

 

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BLURB:

 

In the 1950s, America entered the television age. And Mickey Mantle, a country boy from Commerce, Oklahoma, was made for the moment. Signed by the New York Yankees as a teenager, he made his major league debut in 1951 as a right fielder alongside Joe DiMaggio. When DiMaggio retired at the end of the season, Mantle inherited not only Joltin’ Joe’s position in centerfield but also his stature as the face of the franchise. His boyish good looks, breathtaking power from both sides of the plate, and blazing speed on the basepaths made him an instant superstar. He won league MVP three times, came in second three times, was a 16-time All-Star, a Triple Crown winner in 1956, and a seven-time World Series champion.

 

Mickey Mantle’s career was the stuff of legend and in this book, Jonathan Weeks tells us why. Mantle’s extraordinary (and at times incredible) tales carry readers on an enthralling journey through the life of one of the most celebrated sports figures of the twentieth century.

 

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EXCERPT

 

THE SPOOK LIGHT

 

For more than a century, residents of the Tri-State Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas area have talked about a paranormal phenomenon known as the “Spook Light.” The light has been described by witnesses as an orb of fire about the size of a baseball or basketball. It flickers, dances, and spins—typically in an east to west pattern—while hovering above the treetops. When observers attempt to walk or drive toward it, it disappears. 

 

According to popular legend, the “Spook Light” was first observed by Native Americans along the infamous “Trail of Tears” in 1836. Since then, a number of ghostly stories have circulated regarding its origin. One of the oldest tales centers around a Quapaw Indian maiden and her lover, who leaped to their deaths after the girl’s father forbade them from marrying. Another oft-told yarn involves the spirit of an Osage tribal chief who lost his head in battle and continues to search for it by lantern-light. 

 

The “Spook Light” is commonly seen along a desolate stretch of road near the town of Quapaw, which is located just six miles from Mantle’s hometown of Commerce. The Yankee slugger grew up with these campfire tales and, like many teenagers of the era, enjoyed the associated benefits. By the time he was in high school, the deserted route known as Spooklight Road (or “The Devil’s Promenade” to some) had become a popular make-out spot. In his 1985 autobiography, Mantle remarked, “If you happened to be waiting at the Spook Light and you happened to have a girl with you, it was a pretty good place for necking.” Mantle’s first social outing with his future wife, Merlyn, was a triple date to Spooklight Road. The youngsters piled into Mantle’s 1947 Fleetline Chevy, which he had purchased with his Yankee signing bonus. Though Mantle was paired with another girl that night, he ended up asking Merlyn out on a date after he “struck out” with her friend. 

 

The “Spook Light” continues to be an enduring legend despite scientific research conducted during Mantle’s teen years. In 1945, it was proposed that the phenomenon was caused by the refraction of vehicle headlights over a range of western hills. The following year, an Army Major named Thomas Sheard stationed a vehicle in the region he believed the so-called “Spook Light” was emanating from. He instructed the driver to flash the vehicle’s headlights at a designated time after dark. Observers in the vicinity of Spook Light Road were able to see the flashes. In 1965, Popular Mechanics magazine recruited professors from the University of Arkansas to investigate even further. They confirmed that distant headlights on Route 66 were being distorted by waves of heat, producing the phenomenon. 

 

Those who still cling to paranormal explanations maintain that the “Spook Light” was seen long before the invention of automobiles and is, therefore, an unrelated phenomenon. The first verified written account of the eerie spectacle didn’t appear until 1935. Multiple sources have claimed that a booklet on the topic was released in the 1880s, but concrete evidence of it has not been uncovered. Detailed information about the ethereal orb—complete with driving directions to Spook Light Road—appear on the Joplin, Missouri official website.

A Word With the Author

 

Did you always want to be an author?

No. It’s funny how aspirations change throughout the life span. When I was in elementary school, I wanted to be an astronaut or astronomer. When I was a middle-schooler, I wanted to be a professional athlete or a sports broadcaster. When I got into my teens, I started thinking about writing as a career. I ended up working in the mental health field. I still wonder how that happened. I guess it’s true that you never really know where you’ll end up.  

 

Tell us about the publication of your first book.

I wrote my first short story when I was about nine or 10 years old. I thought I would end up writing fiction, but my lifelong love of sports steered me in a different direction. By the time I got published for the first time, I was 37 years-old and had received hundreds of rejection letters for various failed projects. I had developed a pretty good working knowledge of baseball history by then and was looking for a topic that had not been overdone. Most baseball books are about the greatest players and the greatest teams. I thought it might be interesting to write about teams that were horrible. The book ended up being called, Cellar Dwellers: The Worst Teams in Baseball History.  It got published in 2012. It was a fun subject to write about.    

 

Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

Hmm...Tough call. There are so many good sports writers.  From the current era, I really enjoy reading stuff by Peter Golenbock, Jane Leavy, and Tom Verducci. Writers from the past I have come to admire include Roger Kahn, Phil Pepe, Robert Creamer, and Shirley Povich.   

 

What’s the best part of being an author? The worst?

The best part about being a writer is the escape it provides. When I’m sitting at my computer doing research or actually writing, I am somewhere far away from the troubles of everyday life. The worst part about being a writer happens when the right combination of words eludes you. There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to string together a coherent paragraph. And that does happen sometimes.  

 

What are you working on now?

I’m in the process of finishing up a trilogy of New York Yankee biographies. Lore of the Bambino, which is about Babe Ruth, was published last year. The Legend of the Mick—my ode to Mickey Mantle—is the second to hit the shelves. I have a late draft of a Joe DiMaggio biography finished. I just need to find a home for it. It’s called Tales of the Yankee Clipper and it’s currently in the hands of an editor. Fingers crossed it gets accepted for publication.

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Jonathan Weeks spent most of his life in the Capital District region of New York State. He earned a degree in psychology from SUNY Albany and currently works in the mental health field. He has written several sports biographies and two novels, one of which was a posthumous collaboration with his father.

 

BLOG: www.jonathanweeks.blogspot.com

GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/5862273.Jonathan_Weeks 

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jonathan-Weeks/author/B00DXL3JM4

 

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Legend-Mick-Mickey-Mantle-Stories/dp/1493070177/ref=sr_1_1

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

 

The author will be giving away a $25 Amazon/BN Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner.  Please use the following code on your post:

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway