I had few run-ins with Mickey Lolich over the years... I grew up in the Rochester/Lake Orion area, so I remember his donut shops in both downtown Rochester and later in Lake Orion, which was right by my childhood church.
One time when I was little, I was having dinner with my parents in Lake Orion at a restaurant called The Orion House and Mickey was there with his family. He got up and left his table, so my younger self followed after him hoping for an autograph. Not knowing any better, I followed him into the bathroom but quickly retreated back to my table once I realized what I had done. Mickey on his way back to his table, stopped by and signed an autograph for me (I still have it), and thanked me for allowing him some privacy. I was young, but still felt embarrassed... My parents still razz me about that to this day.
When my older sister was in High School, she did a project for school about Mickey and was able to interview him at his donut shop. He didn't have to do that, but was happy to help her out. I remember listening to the tape she had with his interview over and over.
Most recently, Mickey shared a common wall with my mother-in-law at an assisted living facility... My MIL moved from there in early 2025 and passed away a few months later at another facilty, but for about a year (2024) she lived just on the other side of the wall from someone she cheered on during the 68 World Series and for years after. Unfortunately for her (and probably fortunate for him 🙂), she wasn't with it enough to probably realize he was there. My wife ran into him on an occasion or two, and often saw his wife there visiting him.
Lots of fun memories of him. I wish his family well in these times...