sentences:  Appel began his tenure with the Yankees in 1968 at age 19, handling fan mail for Mickey Mantle.In 1970, he became at 21 the Yankees Assistant Public Relations Director.He was named Public Relations Director of the team in 1973 by Yankee owner George Steinbrenner, becoming at 23 the youngest PR Director in Major League Baseball history, and remained in that position for four years.