The Retired Men’s Association of Greenwich (RMA) will host Tom Molito on Wednesday, Aug. 2 discussing “Mickey Mantle: Inside and Outside the Lines.”
This year is the 61st anniversary of Mantle’s Triple Crown season, which many baseball experts consider one of the best seasons ever for a ball player. Today Mantle is more popular than ever. The value of his memorabilia is second to none. He remains respected and admired for the redemptive quality of his life.
Molito will talk about his book, Mickey Mantle: Inside and Outside the Lines, written for baseball lovers and Mantle fans. Archival newspaper articles, websites and more than 35 books on Mantle are used to weave the most complete look at an American icon. The book recalls never-before-told stories from Park Avenue to Las Vegas to Cooperstown, from television shoots to concerts and Mickey’s restaurant on Central Park West.
Molito collaborated with the highly respected baseball historian Harold “Doc” Friend. The late Mr. Friend wrote for Bleacher Report (CBS) and uncovered previously unknown facts about Mantle’s career – such as Mickey hitting the facade in Yankee Stadium three times, not the reported twice. An entire chapter updates Mantle’s career with present-day statistical measures and comes to the indisputable conclusion that “Mickey Mantle was even better than we thought!”
Molito lives in New Canaan with his wife Kathleen. They have three children and four grandchildren. A graduate of Iona College and a U.S. Army veteran, Molito served in senior marketing positions at both Nestle and UST Inc. where he founded and was president of a wholly owned subsidiary, Cabin Fever Entertainment. He met Mickey Mantle as a result of Cabin Fever’s award winning production of the 500 Home Run Club. Tom’s relationship with Mickey Mantle developed into a friendship and eventually the book.
The Greenwich RMA offers a free program every Wednesday at 11 a.m., at the First Presbyterian Church, 1 W. Putnam Ave., that is open to the public; no reservations are required. For more information, visit greenwichrma.org or contact info@greenwichrma.org
