"My parents took the family to Cooperstown where we stayed at the Otesaga hotel, it was 1966. My younger brother was 7, and basically LIVED in a baseball uniform and slept with his mitt. Casey Stengel (along with Stan Musial and Frank Howard) were among the baseball greats staying at the hotel because they were being inducted into the Hall of Fame. My father proudly presented my little brother to Stengel for an autograph. Stengel was an impressive and grizzled presence. Stengel (seeing my brother dressed in his uniform) asked "So, what do you want to be when you grow up young man?" To which my brother responded "I want to be a tennis player." You should have seen the look on my father's face."

- Edward Smaldone