And what a memory Vernon has. He can tell you all about the team he pulls for today, the Philadelphia Phillies.

But if you want to reflect on history, he can also tell you about what it was like to break into the Major Leagues with the Washington Senators in 1939.

Vernon played in four different decades (1939-60) and ended his career playing 2,237 games at first base, surpassed only by Jake Beckley, who was a Major League player who played from 1888-1907 and was in 2,377 games.

If you are old enough to remember Vernon, you probably will think of him as the reliable first baseman of the Washington Senators who made seven All-Star teams in 14 seasons with the Senators.

Vernon won American League batting titles for the Senators in 1946 (.353) and 1953 (.337). He led AL first basemen in fielding percentage four times. He collected 2,495 hits, an average of more than one per game, and finished in the top five in the AL MVP voting three times.

But the fact of the matter is that there was so much more to Vernon's career than statistics and accomplishments. The beauty of all of this is that the man from Marcus Hook, Pa. can recall almost every one of his 51 seasons in professional baseball in remarkable detail.

After his playing career, Vernon managed the Senators for two years and later on, served as a Minor League manager, scout and a Major League coach for several organizations.

Vernon's list of former teammates reads like the roll call at a Hall of Fame ceremony.

He was a teammate of the great Ted Williams with the Boston Red Sox in 1956 and 1957, watched in amazement at the power of Hank Aaron in Milwaukee in 1959 and saw firsthand the remarkable play of Roberto Clemente with the Pirates in 1960.

It's fitting that Vernon was surrounded by great teammates during his career. In December, he will have the opportunity to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee.

Vernon is one of 10 former players whose careers began in 1942, or earlier, who are under consideration, with the results to be announced on Dec. 8 at baseball's annual Winter Meetings in Las Vegas.

When I saw the announcement earlier this week that Vernon was under consideration by the Veterans Committee, I called him to wish him well. During my years with the Dodgers, Vernon had served as a hitting instructor for our organization in 1975 and 1976.

I was amazed at Vernon's remarkable memory of the players he had worked with during his time with the Dodgers. He recalled that Charlie Manuel, the current manager of the Phillies, had been called up to the Dodgers in 1975.

Vernon said he keeps a close eye on Manuel's Phillies these days, as he watches most of the team's games on television and also takes in an occasional game.

"I have to root for the Phillies," said Vernon. "I was an A's fan and a Phillies fan as a kid growing up."

Vernon now lives in a retirement home in Media, Pa., just seven miles from where he was born and raised.

He said he feels comfortable living in his home area, driving his car and playing an occasional round of golf. "I had enough travel during my career in baseball," he said.

When you ask Vernon about his career, the memories flow like a Hall of Fame highlight film.

He recalls joining the Red Sox in 1956, watching Williams hit .388 the following year at the age of 38.

"Ted was the greatest hitter I ever saw," said Vernon.

When Vernon went to the Braves in 1959, he saw a young Aaron hit 39 home runs and drive in 123 runs.

"Every single time he hit the ball he hit it so hard it was unbelievable," said Vernon. "I never saw anyone hit the ball so hard on a consistent basis."

Vernon's 20th and final season as a player was in 1960 when he joined the Pirates, serving as a coach, but being activated in the final month of the season.

"I had the chance to see Roberto Clemente play every day and I never saw a more exciting player who could do so many things," Vernon recalled.

The 1960 season ended with Vernon as the Pirates' first-base coach and Bill Mazeroski hitting a walk-off home run to give the Bucs the World Series title over the New York Yankees.

"Being a part of that World Series team is something I will never forget," he said. "Even though I played only briefly, it was memorable."

Vernon was 42 years old at the time, and his playing career had ended the way he had dreamed: as a World Series champion.

The perfect end for this season for Vernon would be to see his Phillies in the World Series and then to receive the nod from the Hall of Fame committee in December.

I have the feeling if his former teammates and opposing players were doing the voting, Mickey Vernon would be in the Hall of Fame by a landslide.