http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/03/sp...r=2&ref=sports
He mentions Billy Martin as an early mentor. I remember when I was a kid meeting Martin after a spring training game in Tucson. My brother and I were waiting in the parking lot, totally alone as it was well after the game, with two broken bats given to us during the day (We'd go for the whole DAY, watch morning workouts etc. Got a lot of balls, bats, etc. and to meet and talk to Bob Feller.) We ran over and asked "Mr. Martin" to sign them as he was walking to his car. He couldn't have been nicer. He mussed our hair, signed the bats, and drove off. He seemed like a lonely guy. He made our day though.