A’s Bring Mule to Stadium

Apr. 26, 1965 - Charlie O, the losingest mule in baseball, will make his first appearance at Yankee Stadium tomorrow afternoon. 

Diego Segui, a 2-2 righthander against the Bombers last year, has been assigned to open against Al Downing. The mule (pictured today at New York’s Americana Hotel) will not be allowed to bat.

This will be the third stop for the new Kansas City mascot, who rides in a special gold-and-green, air-conditioned trailer with sweet music piped in. Charlie O, named for the somewhat stubborn K.C. owner, Charles O. Finley, has already visited Detroit and Cleveland.

The Yankees could have been mean and refused Finley’s request to bring the mule to the Stadium. Permission was granted without hesitation though, as a Bomber club official remarked: “Maybe we should have added the condition that Finley walk behind his mule.”

A genuine Missouri mule, the russet-colored Charlie O. is considerably larger than the average mule. He is nearly 1,300 pounds and stands 15½ hands high.

“He’s very intelligent, too,” said Mel McGaha, who is now managing the cellar team (2-7) from Kansas City.  “He’ll go down on one knee and curtsey to the stands at first base and third base. He also has learned to nod yes and no to questions.”

Of the seven big bonus players being carried on the Kansas City roster, McGaha has been particularly impressed by two pitchers, Don Buschhorn and Jim (Catfish) Hunter. Both are righthanders. Hunter was 19 on the eighth of this month; Buschhorn will be 19 next Thursday.

“For two pitchers so young, they have a great deal of poise,” McGaha said. “Each is fast; each has a good curve, and each can get his stuff over the plate.”Catfish, incidentally, did not pitch professionally last year after finishing his senior season with Hertford, N.C., High School. He was recuperating from a Mayo Clinic operation for the removal of shotgun pellets from a foot.

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