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Judge Dred (Fred)I used to be a stadium rat when I was a kid. A stadium rat hung out at the stadium hours before game time and collected autographs. Prior to spring training the players would do batting practice at a practice field across from the stadium. I'd hang out and shag balls. The players were really nice and they kind of got used to seeing us around so much.
During the regular season I was given bats and autographs and on many occassions an escort into the stadium hours before the game and well ahead of the paying crowd. On a few occassions I got to go into the club house.
One season I missed only a few games and most of those games I got free admission in to the ball park. If I couldn't hitch a ride in I'd pay the buck seventy-five for admission. After getting in I'd go straight to the dugout and watch batting practice.
I heard a lot of interesting conversations because I'd be on top of the dugout and the players didn't think anyone was around because the fans weren't due to be let in for a while. I remember hearing a couple of visiting players talking about some "good weed" and I said something. They were surprised as heck that I was there. There were lots of different things I heard and saw. Those were some fun times. Lots of small conversations with your average ball players that were just happy to be there.