November 1st, 2008, I was in Wilmington, MA, excited to get Johnny Bench’s autograph. I was also hoping for a picture with him. I was wearing Bench jersey, and a Reds cap. As he walked into the room, a good 25 feet away or so, he spotted my outfit, and yelled over “Hey you, with a classy outfit like that, get over here and take a picture with me!” I could not believe it. We chatted for 5 minutes or so. I got to tell him how big a fan I am, and how I loved watching The Baseball Bunch. He personalized the signature on my baseball, and we did indeed got a pic together, complete with holding my childhood t-shirt from The Baseball Bunch. Sometimes you have a hero, and when you meet them, the experience exceeds all expectations. I’ll take this memory with me forever.
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