Mantle Named in $1-Million Suit Filed Against Sports Phone Line

Amid the marketing of the Super Bowl, baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle has been accused of allegedly cashing in on the Jan. 28 game illegally.

A Contra Costa County district attorney last week filed a $1-million lawsuit against Mantle and a sports phone line for allegedly operating an illegal lottery that promised a chance to win free tickets to the game in New Orleans.

The 900-number Sports Phone America line, which is operated by Tyree Communications Inc. based in Los Angeles, was disconnected last week after a Superior Court judge issued a temporary restraining order against the firm. “It was unlawful because it gave the sports line the opportunity to promote its business through an illegal lottery,” said Deputy District Attorney Gary Koeppel, who filed the lawsuit. “This deprived other businesses from competing on the same level.”

To enter the lottery, callers first listened to a 4-minute 20-second promotion of the sports line before being given the opportunity to leave a name and address. This cost the callers $2 for the first minute and $1 for each additional minute, or a minimum of $6 to become eligible for the contest. Mantle promoted the sports line in a 30-second announcement during the call and was to receive 10% of the proceeds from the promotional contest.

According to Koeppel, the phone line was advertised in at least three newspapers.

The settlement trial will be held May 11.

Mantle’s attorney, Roy J. True, said Tyree Communications paid Mantle to perform the commercial and his client had no idea that the contest was being conducted illegally.