Mystery Guest Joe DiMaggio

Back in the early 80’s when I was working in the minor leagues for the Cardinals AAA farm club in Springfield, IL, I had one of the most amazing and awkward experiences of my career.

Our owner was a man who was well connected in baseball.  Each winter he would hold a huge banquet which he called the “Night of the Stars Diamond Dinner”.

This event always drew several hundred people, and always included several baseball hall of famers on the dais.  Legendary broadcaster, Jack Buck would travel from St. Louis to serve as the master of ceremonies.

One particular year the big surprise was going to be the inclusion of a mystery guest.  None of us were privy to who the mystery guest might be.

On the day of the dinner, our owner, Mr. Smith, called me into his office as he had a special job that he wanted me to take care of.  He told me to take his car and get it all cleaned up and to go out to the airport to pick up the mystery guest and take him to his hotel.  Later that evening I was to take the guest to a restaurant for dinner, and then take him to the hotel where the banquet was being held.

I remember asking who the mystery guest was so I could look for him when he got off his flight.  Still the boss wouldn’t tell me.  All he said was “go to the airport and meet the flight,  you’ll know when you see him walk off the plane”.

So, I headed out to Capitol Airport with a clean car and only a flight number.  Back in those days you could literally park on the curb in front of the terminal and go directly to the gate to pick up a passenger.  Security didn’t exist back then.

When the plane landed, I was stunned to see the Yankee Clipper, Joe DiMaggio walk down the steps of that plane!

Nervously, I walked over and introduced myself, took his carryon bag and we started walking out of the terminal.

Once outside, there was a huge stretch limousine parked curbside.  Naturally Mr. DiMaggio began walking directly towards the limo.  Not sure what to say, I quickly explained that Mr. Smith had sent me to pick him up in his personal car.  He chuckled and we then turned and went to the car.  After I opened the door for him, I went over to ask the limo driver who he was waiting for.  It turns out he was picking up Clayton Moore, The Lone Ranger, who was coming into town for an  autograph appearance at the nearby White Oaks Mall!

That night at the banquet, DiMaggio had a great time teasing our owner about being upstaged by the Lone Ranger!