Decorated WWII veteran and longtime (40+years) Atlanta Braves official photographer Walter Victor died this week at age 97. My favorite of his many photos hangs on a wall in my basement. It is from the Sat., June 21, 1969 game attended by some Boynton youth.
My brother Rob (age 14) and I (age 13) were kidded by our friends for our over-joyous response to an unannounced pregame gathering at the mound. Mays and Aaron walked from their respective dugouts to be joined by Mantle, who had announced his retirement in March and was working on the broadcast crew for NBC's Game of the Week.
"Look! That's the three living home run leaders!" Rob and I said repeatedly as we marveled at being eyewitnesses to such an occasion. (Remember: We didn't see these guys much, even on TV; NBC's Game of the Week was the only baseball televised each week.)
I came across the photo (autographed) decades later — though the image was long seared in my mind — and negotiated a great deal. But I would have mortgaged the house to have it.
RIP, Mr. Victor. Thanks for your heroic service — and for this photo of heroes that brings back great memories.
