ShowsAndy Strasberg
Former Vice President of the San Diego Padres Author October 20, 2021 Growing up in the Bronx in the 50s and 60s Andy Strasberg was the consummate Yankee fan, but he had a special place reserved for Roger Maris. While most of his pals were devoted Mickey Mantle guys, he was the contrarian. Maris’s humble and straight-forward authenticity appealed to his sensibilities and he started to champion Maris as soon as he showed up in pinstripes.
His baseball fanaticism would rise to a new level in 1961 when Maris and Mantle assaulted Babe Ruth’s single season Home Run record. Not only would Strasberg rise to number one fan status during the season of the “M and M” boys, he would establish a relationship with Maris that led to a life-long and very real connection. The story is told in his book, My 1961, the tale of his 13th year on earth, and the record-chasing exploits of Mantle and Maris. His love of baseball propelled him to a career in the game. He rose through the ranks to become a Vice President for the San Diego Padres, which put him in direct and regular contact with some of the greatest ball players to ever lace up their cleats. The tales of this bygone era in American sports and the men who made the headlines and history is so good we had to take the interview to ‘Extra Innings’, a new feature on Fish and the Flint Chronicles for this times when the stories are coming so fast and furious we just can’t fit then all in to a regular show time frame. The story of Maris, Mantle, and the future Major League Baseball Executive is totally worthy of this honor, and Andy was cool enough to play ball with us and go the distance! It’s a really cool moment in the Fish and The Flint Chronicles history. If you love baseball, sports stories, coming of age tales, or just a damn good story, you will love this episode with Fish and Andy Strasberg! |
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