[dgo71]

I've met many MLB players and HOFers, but one of my favorites was Harmon Killebrew. He did a speaking engagement in my area several years ago and afterwards signed autographs and shook hands and chatted with many of the guests. I had 4 8x10 photos with me and he happily signed them all. As he signed each one, he told me where the photo was taken and when. The first three were very obvious (one had the Yankee facade in the background, so it was obviously at Yankee stadium, etc...) but the last photo was an action shot of him swinging on his follow through. There wasn't really anything in the picture to clue anyone in as to where/when the photo was taken. Without missing a beat, Killer lit up and said "Ohhh! This one! This is me hitting a grand slam off of Sandy Koufax!" I was wide-eyed and with amazement said "Wow? Really??" He looked at me with a wink and said "Well, it could be!"

I also am fond of the time I met Hank Aaron. He too was at an event but this is one I did not attend as I was a broke high school student at the time. I did however manage to crash the dinner afterwards and when I saw Hank sitting at a table near the exit I positioned myself and waited for a good moment to approach him. A few minutes later one of the attendees walked over and had Hank sign his program from the event so I figured that was my chance. I approached him and first shook his hand, telling him what an honor it was to meet a true legend. He thanked me and I asked if he'd mind signing something for me. He asked what I had, and when I produced three baseball cards and a blue sharpie from my shirt pocket, he gave me a look like "Ah...ya got me." He signed all three cards however and was very cordial. I shook his hand again and quickly left. Less than 5 minutes later, the event broke up and Aaron BOLTED for the door, signing maybe 2 autographs for the 20 people waiting outside without ever breaking stride. To make the day even better, I went to a AAA Tidewater Tides game that evening against the Rochester Red Wings, and got about 10 cards signed by the Orioles up-and-coming prospect, Mike Mussina. So that was definitely a very good day for autographs!

Last, an experience I thought was pretty funny where a little serendipitous timing worked in my favor. Dave Winfield did a hitting clinic at a local college, a two-day affair, and had been giving the autograph seekers quite a hard time by denying about 90% of the time he was there. On the last day, I had found out Winfield would be leaving by cutting through the gymnasium locker room and I headed around to catch him. On my way, I ran into Winfield who was engaged in a debate with a kid who looked to be about 12. Apparently the kid didn't believe Winfield was anybody special, and Dave was, well not yelling, but using a tone that was instantly recognizable as frustration. Winfield was telling the kid he was the RF for the Yankees (this was 1990 or 91, the January after he missed a whole season to injury) and the kid just flat out didn't believe him. It was really funny to watch, and after about a minute of this (seemed like much longer!) I asked Dave if he'd mind signing an autograph. Winfield looked at me with a look on his face like "Oh thank God", signed my 2 cards and looked at the kid and said, "You SEE?!" and walked off.