May 21, 1964 - Jackie Robinson is “chock full of nuts” according to manager Casey Stengel of the New York Mets. (Robinson, incidentally, is an executive with the Chock Full o’Nuts corporation.)
This was Stengel’s answer to a Robinson speech in Minnesota Wednesday night, when Jackie said the 74-year-old manager should retire.
Robinson, one-time Brooklyn Dodger star, told an audience at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., that the Mets should get rid of Casey for the same reason the Yankees did — his age.
“A baseball manager must be alert on every play,” said Robinson, “but at 74 or so, you’re not too alert.”
Robinson also criticized Stengel for ridiculing his players “day in and day out.”
Stengel said: “I’m not concerned with anything Mr. Robinson says. He’s not working for me, and I’m not working for Mr. Robinson. He’s gone into politics or something, hasn’t he? So, he has to get his name in the papers. Whatever he says doesn’t disturb me one bit. He’d better take care of his own affairs, and I’ll take care of mine. He’s chock full of nuts.”
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