Ask Mr. Know It All

By Gary Clothier

Q. Ever since The Beatles released their first song, I’ve been an avid fan. Fifty years later, they are still my favorite band. I have a question about the song “When I’m Sixty-Four.” Is there any significance to the number? In the song there is a line, “Grandchildren on your knee/Vera, Chuck and Dave.” Are the names significant?

A.L., Norfolk, Va.

A. “When I’m Sixty-Four” was written by Paul McCartney and released in 1967 on the Beatles album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” In it, a young man sings to his lover and questions how they might grow old together.

Many sources say that Paul McCartney wrote the song when he was 15 or 16 and that he picked 64 because his father had just celebrated his 64th birthday. But there is a problem with that theory. McCartney was born in 1942, so he would have been 15 in 1957. McCartney’s father, Jim, was born in 1902 and would have been only 55 in 1957.

It also has been suggested that McCartney got the idea for the title in 1966, when the song was actually recorded and when Jim would have been 64. That would make sense, but The Beatles were playing the song back in the 1950s when they were still The Quarrymen. Only McCartney knows for sure.

As for the names of the children, John Lennon said in an interview many years after the song was released that he and McCartney were working on the lyrics before the recording session and made several changes. The names of the children were added because they sounded good together.

Super trivia: Would you like to guess how old McCartney was when he and his second wife, Heather Mills, separated? That was too obvious; he was 64.

Q. What can you tell me about professional wrestler Gorgeous George?

M.S., Crab Orchard, Ky.

A. George Raymond Wagner was born in 1915 in Butte, Neb. Using the ring name Gorgeous George, he gained international fame for his outrageous and flamboyant performances and his charismatic personality.

By the time he retired in November 1962, he had purchased a large turkey ranch in Beaumont, Calif. He also owned a cocktail lounge/restaurant in Van Nuys, Calif. He was married twice. He and his first wife, Betty, had two adopted children. With his second wife, Cherie, he had one son, Gary. He also had a son with his longtime mistress. His investments failed and so did his health. Gorgeous George suffered a heart attack Dec. 24, 1963, and died two days later at age 48.

Q. At various times while watching Yankee baseball games on TV, the commentators have said that Derek Jeter’s rookie year is 1996. But according to Beckett Baseball Card Guide, Jeter’s rookie card is 1993. Several baseball-card manufacturers also list 1993 as his rookie year. What is the correct year?

D.G.P., Blakeslee, Pa.

A. Shortstop Derek Jeter was drafted by the New York Yankees in the first round (sixth pick) in 1992. Beginning in 1993, he played in the minors until he was called up by the Yankees to replace the injured Tony Fernandez. Jeter made his major-league debut May 29, 1995. He played in 15 games and had 48 at-bats with 12 hits. The new manager for the Yankees, Joe Torre, announced that Jeter would be the starting shortstop in 1996. When the 1996 season was over, Jeter won the American League Rookie of the Year. ù

DID YOU KNOW?

Three of President George Washington’s many hounds were named Drunkard, Tipler and Tipsy.

Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at AskMrKIA@gmail.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

2011 Gary Clothier