Yankees Fined for Airport Drinking

June 9, 1965 - Three Yankees (the questions is, which three?) found the cost of skylarking pegged at $250.

General manager Ralph Houk revealed before tonight’s 5-1 win over the A’s in Kansas City that the fines had been handed out at a Monday night “bawling-out” by manager Johnny Keane. The fines were, Houk said, “for getting a little too gay” in Newark Airport after Sunday’s doubleheader victory over the White Sox.

Houk refused to name those fined, but reporters who witnessed several incidents are betting on Mickey Mantle, Hal Reniff, and Pedro Ramos. The general manager admitted there were several others besides the unnamed three — reportedly including Roger Maris and Pete Mikkelsen — who received reprimands. Houk supports Keane’s action, saying, “Anybody can have one too many, but there’s no excuse for it to happen at the airport where people can see it.”

Some Yankees began to have a good time Sunday in the 3½-hour delay between the doubleheader’s end and the team’s departure by chartered bus from Yankee Stadium for the airport. Some went to eat; some drank more than they ate.

Keane had not accompanied the team on the bus trip. He showed up with his wife at the airport around 10:30 p.m., shortly after the team arrived. There was another delay and more time for celebration.

The delay lasted two hours. Players wandered off, some for coffee shops, some for cocktail lounges. At one point, Mantle wandered back to the waiting area with his tie done up in Soupy Sales’ favorite manner. All the time, Keane remained in the waiting area, not saying anything.

Mantle returned to the cocktail lounge. The group of players there were loud, boisterous, and drinking. One or two whistled at waitresses — which ballplayers often do even when they’re sober. Shortly after they were told by the bartender they would not have any more drinks, word came to them their plane was about to leave. There was a dash for the plane, and everybody made it.

“Johnny called me and told me what he wanted to do,” Houk said today. “I agreed with him. I don’t think it’s important to name the players, but I can’t stop people from guessing.” The Yankee players and the manager refused to reveal any more about the fines or Keane’s lecture.

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