Bigger Jerks Than Joey Belle in the Hall of Fame

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by scooter729

Around 1989, when Robinson was managing the Orioles, I approached him before a game outside of Fenway Park, to sign a 1967 Topps card of him with Hank Bauer and Brooks Robinson. Bauer and Robinson already had signed it. Worth noting, I was 15 at the time, was the only person around seeking an autograph, and Bauer and Brooks both signed it for free for me (Bauer TTM, Brooks in person for me at Fenway). Knowing Frank's nature, I tried my hardest to be very polite. It went something like this:

Me: Mr. Robinson, would you please sign this card for me?
Frank: (takes a second to stop and look at the card) Oh, you already got the other two to sign that, and just need me now?
Me: Yes, sir, if you don't mind.
Frank: I'll sign it for you tomorrow.
Me: But it's your last day in Boston.
Frank: I know! (Laughs and walks away.)

Now that is a total jerk move for no reason.

I wonder what would've happened if I followed the Orioles to the next city and approached him again the next day....

My Frank Robinson story is the opposite :

In late 1981 or 1982, I was standing (hunched over my treasure, really) in the rain outside the players parking lot at Candlestick after a rained out Giants game when he drove past me, then stopped and backed up.

He rolled down his window and asked "What are you doing standing there?"

"I was hoping I could get you to sign this baseball" I told him, as I reached it into his car to avoid the wet, and pointed out that it already had Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and a few other HR hitters of note.

"This is a nice ball", he said "what if I just drive away with it?" he chuckled.

"Please don't" I said, as the rain came down a bit harder.

He smiled as he found a good spot on the ball, signed a beautiful signature, carefully handed it back to me avoiding the rain, and said "thank you, now get out of the rain".

"Thank you!", I said and headed to my car to make the 93 mile drive home.

****

I now work for famous people for a living, and I see both sides of it on a daily basis, both of my current bosses have reputations that may have earned them mention in this thread had they been baseball players.

Both are unquestionably HOF caliber in their chosen professions.

Both are among the nicest people I know, although after a combined 17 years working for them, I might have a few "horror" stories, also.

My point is, for every horror story, there is often a story with the opposite point, but frequently it's the horror stories that circulate the most.

Doug