This is going to be a different kind of blog entry than we are all used to. I just found about the untimely passing of Clete Boyer. I actually knew Clete pretty well (better than most athletes I am friendly with). I saw Boyer about three weeks ago. I was wearing a Mets shirt to a Yankees appearance (which is not that abnormal for me) and Clete was messing with me all day about it (offering to buy me a Yankees shirt). He was one of the nicest guys you would ever meet. So, with that in mind, I figured I would share my favorite Clete Boyer story. Three summers ago I was sent up to Cooperstown to do a ton of signings during the induction week. It was a short-notice thing so it was impossible to get a hotel room. Clete had an apartment right on Main Street. He used it during the summer and usually stayed for close to three months up there signing autographs each day. Anyway, Clete was nice enough to let me stay with him for close to four days. Not only did he let me stay there but he also allowed us to conduct the signings at his apartment. It was a completely self-less gesture and really showed what kind of a person Clete was. It was also incredible to see the amount of respect that each of the hall of famers that came to sign gave him. I had a lot of fun that weekend hanging out with Boyer who shared some amazing Mantle stories with me (not the ones you see on televison or in "*61"). While my Clete story isn't as good as any of his Mantle ones I figured I would share it with you all out of respect to one of the greatest Yankees and nicest people I have ever met.