Milton "Mickey" Rutner

Milton "Mickey" Rutner, age 88, of New York City, New York and Georgetown, Texas died October 17th. Husband of Leona Schiff Rutner, he is survived by his three loving sons, Toby, Richard and Paul; devoted daughters-in-law, Nancy and Kayci; and seven grandchildren, Ian, Paullee, Seth, Colin, Brooke, Caleb and Henry.Mickey was a very gifted athlete who starred in soccer, basketball and, especially baseball in both high school and college. He was signed out of college by the Detroit Tigers, after being the intercollegiate batting champion for St. John's University. He served in the U.S. Army 45th Division Rangers during World War II for six campaigns that included North Africa and the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp in Dachau. After the war, he had a long career in professional baseball, including a stint in the major leagues playing for the Philadelphia Athletics, managed by the legendary Connie Mack. He, later, opened a dry cleaning store named "Big League Cleaners" and had a successful business for many years. He was the inspiration for the novel by Eliot Asinof, "Man on Spikes". Recently, Mickey renewed his association with his beloved baseball by working for the Round Rock Express.Services were held at Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home in Georgetown, Texas on Friday, October 19th at 10:00 a.m. Burial following at Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville, Texas.Mickey was a larger than life figure who was loved by many. He will be remembered as someone who loved to laugh and encouraged others to laugh with him. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation at 383 Main Avenue, 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851 http://www.multiplemyeloma.org/ or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation http://www.jdrf.org/.Arrangements by Cook-Walden/Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628 (512)863-2564.