Brush with HOF fame...

[53Browns]

Scooters recent thread about meeting Tommy Lasorda made me think that it would be interesting to share our experiences if anyone had an interesting encounter with a hall of famer. Maybe something more than just shaking their hand at a card show.

Here's mine: I live in northern kentucky. About 3 years ago I was at a gas station and getting ready to pump the gas when I noticed an old gentleman at the pump on the other side of mine seeming to have trouble. He was well dressed and driving a brand new Volvo SUV. I walked around the other side and offered to help. As soon as I saw him I knew who it was because I had met him once before probably 15 years back when he spoke at a men's breakfast at our church. It was Jim Bunning. He told me he was having a hard time figuring out the gas pump. It was one of the newer pumps, new design. I pumped his gas for him, shook his hand, he thanked me and that was it. I didnt bother him for an autograph, I already have one on a single signed ball. Nothing major but a neat encounter all the same!

[jb217676]

but I hung out with future NBA hall-of-famer Charles Barkley when I worked at Scarborough golf & country club in the summer of 1997. One of the funniest guys you'll ever meet, and THE worst golfer you'll ever see. Really down to earth guy and the only famous athlete I can remember who carried his own clubs.

[kkkkandp]

In February 2009 my wife and I were at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California catching a red eye back to New Jersey after visiting our son.

I was standing in line behind an attractive woman waiting to get our Starbucks fix. A man dressed in a warmup suit and an Angels baseball cap came up to the woman in front of me and gave her some paperwork. I recognized him as Rod Carew, who still lives in the Anaheim area.

I quickly jumped out of line to get from my wife a pen and something to write on. Rod and I chatted a bit - I told him how I remember him killing Yankee pitching - and he kindly gave me his signature.

He was very nice, but at 6:00 AM tired just like the rest of us mere mortals.

[tedzan]

Bill

Nice encounter.

I have run into Jim Bunning on a couple of occasions on HOF weekends in Cooperstown. I found him
to be a very fine gentleman, willing to spend some time talking with you on any subject....baseball,
the economy, his perfect game on Father's Day in 1964, and of course....the Phillies.

But, I know better than to bring up the end of the 1964 Phillies season.


TED Z

[scooter729]

I used to collect autographs in person around Fenway Park for many years while growing up, so I was fortunate to see many Hall of Famers. But I'll relate one of my strangest stories, which happened in September 2008 (as copied from a post I made on the CU boards at the time).
=====
I went last night to the Boston University Bookstore for a book signing by Johnny Bench. I was planning on buying his book and having it signed, but my real goal was to have him sign my HOF bat. I've been working on this bat for about 15+ years, where I have been getting as many Hall of Fame people to sign it. I'm close to 30 now. (My experience has been that at book signings, usually the people will only sign their book and not other things, but I figured I'd take a chance.)

I went into the signing area and left the bat in my car, and figured I'd ask Bench to see if he'd sign it first. (It's pointless to ask bookstore people, since they'll just say no.) So I waited in the small line, went up to Bench, had him sign my book, then asked him:

Me: Mr. Bench, I have a bat out in my car that I've had about 30 Hall of Famers sign. I would be thrilled if you would sign it for me as well.
Bench: Ah, well, ask my son what he thinks (pointing to back of room).

His son is about 20 years old and goes to BU - hence the appearance there. I'm confused, but I do as he said and go talk to his son. I repeat the story to the son, and he says sure, although he's not sure why Johnny told me to ask him. I go back out to my car, get the bat, wait at the back until the last 10 people or so get their books signed, then I go up to the front where Bench is, by himself.

Me: Thanks to you and your son for agreeing to sign the bat for me; I greatly appreciate it.
Bench (taking my pen and signing my bat): My son told you I want fifty bucks for doing this, right?
Me: Excuse me?
Bench (somewhat snapping at me): I'm here to sign books, not your bat. I want fifty bucks.
Me: No one said that to me. I had no idea.
Bench (angry now): Don't give me that crap. If you've had 30 people sign this, you know how it works. You want it signed, you pay up. (He's now holding my bat, not giving it back.)
Me (opening my wallet and showing him): I've got 24 bucks on me; I came in with 50, but just spent 26 to buy your book. And honestly, I haven't paid anyone else to sign my bat.
Bench: So you think I'm here to just sign your bat for free? Ridiculous. (Rolls the bat back across the table at me.) And to think I tried to give you a break - go to my website next time, and you'd have to pay 100 bucks.
Me: So do you want my 24 bucks?
Bench: Get out of here, will ya?

[Matt]

Wow. Sometimes it's better to not meet the players in person so they don't ruin your boyhood memories.

[chris6net]

That is sad. What a disgrace some people can be. CN

[barrysloate]

Scott- that's an awful story. Bench is obviously a jerk, asking you for fifty bucks like that.

[jb217676]

Wow! My Barkley story is the opposite of the Bench story. Sir Charles posed with us for pictures and signed autographs (including my jersey) for anyone who asked. I was still working at the same golf course the following year when Barkley made another appearance and was able to get him to sign my picture.

[BCD]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Scott- that's an awful story. Bench is obviously a jerk, asking you for fifty bucks like that.

Barry,that is a sad but nothing compared to the piles of stories I could post here about Mr. Nasty October. I assure you over the years where I live he has made a name for himself.....a bad one at that.

[quinnsryche]

WOW that Bench story SUCKS! Sorry to hear that. My stories have better endings for me. My father used to produce card shows back in the mid 80's to early 90's and I got to sit with many players to help them get the stuff signed and move the line along. I was able to spend the afternoon with really great guys like Duke Snider, Eddie Mathews, Stan Musial (he bought ME lunch and we sat and talked, just the 2 of us), Fergie Jenkins, Bob Gibson (a real jerk to the paying customers but super nice to me), Don Drysdale, Robin Roberts, Billy Pierce, Ray Dandridge, Steve Garvey and the biggest ass of them all Pete Rose. He was a complete douche the whole time.

[PolarBear]

You're not the only one who had that problem.

[FUBAR]

i would have thrown his book back to him and told him where to put it! \i have no respect for guys that act like a douche!

Never met any baseball players, actually, not many here would believe, i have never been to a MLB game. Been to lots of NHL and a few NFL but never a ball game. Its on my to do list.

I met Grant Fuhr when i was a kid and he was fanatastic...met many other Oilers over the years... Met a few UFC guys, all have been great.

Sucks to hear Bench is an A**, he is one guy i always liked. After hearing this, he joins Bonds, Rose in the Douche-mobile.....

Should any others join that club?

[jb217676]

Originally Posted by FUBAR

i would have thrown his book back to him and told him where to put it! \i have no respect for guys that act like a douche!

Never met any baseball players, actually, not many here would believe, i have never been to a MLB game. Been to lots of NHL and a few NFL but never a ball game. Its on my to do list.

I met Grant Fuhr when i was a kid and he was fanatastic...met many other Oilers over the years... Met a few UFC guys, all have been great.

Sucks to hear Bench is an A**, he is one guy i always liked. After hearing this, he joins Bonds, Rose in the Douche-mobile.....

Should any others join that club?

Randy Johnson. The most miserable athlete I have ever met. I was "in his presence" when employed at a different golf course. He was golfing with Heathcliff Slocumb when both were members of the Seattle Mariners in the late 1990's. Johnson wouldn't acknowledge anyone, no autographs or pictures... nuthin'. Slocumb was the opposite and was almost apologizing for Randy's behaviour. Also, I have to say hockey players are by far the nicest athletes you could ever meet. Very down to earth guys.

[alanu]

I saw Frank Robinson blow off a little kid who asked for an autograph in the lobby of a Kansas City hotel when the Orioles were visiting the Royals, it was after his playing days when he was working for the Orioles. Left me with a bad impression of him.

[53Browns]

I actually have two more brushes with a HOFer's I should mention. This is actually a much better one than my close encounter with Mr. Bunning. In the summer of 1984 I was a sophomore in high school and had just obtained the latest Baseball Address List by Jack Smalling and was feverishly writing to every ball player I could. The first encounter was when I wrote to the Chicago Cubs great Hank Sauer. His wife actually wrote me back and sent back the photo autographed by him that I had sent, along with a nice letter thanking me for being a great fan. This was in November. In December I got a box in the mail from "The Sauers". I opened it and there was a wrapped Christmas gift inside. I opened it and enclosed was a photo album that Mrs. Sauer had put together for me. It was full of re-printed photos and news clippings of his career. Some of them autographed. I couldnt believe it! Now that's a classy thing to do. I still have it!

The second encounter was the most exciting. That same summer, in August 1984 I noticed in the Baseball Address List that Waite Hoyt just lived across the river from me in Mt. Adams (Cincinnati). I wrote to him and let him know what a big fan I was and maybe sometime I could meet him. I expected him to send an autographed photo back. He didnt. He actually handwrote a shorrt letter back to me. The letter said he and his wife would love to meet me and he gave me a date and said why don't I come to their house and we can make a day of it. He included his home telephone # and asked me to call him. I about fainted! But then a horrible twist of fate happened. I got the letter in the mail late that evening because I was out all day and was planning to call him the next day to set up a meeting at his house. My Dad was watching the 11 o'clock news and I heard him call me from the other room. He told me to look at the TV. I did and the newscaster was reporting that earlier in the day Waite Hoyt, the hall of fame Yankee and long time Reds announcer was rushed to Jewish Hospital. A few days later he died. He never came out of the hospital. I was so close to meeting this legend. I still have the letter.

[Nap Rucker - The Southpaw]

That story about Mr. Bench is interesting. My wife, who knows nothing about baseball, and I watched his interview on the Tim McCarver Show. She told me that he [Mr. Bench] seemed really cocky and arrogant.

I have met several hockey HOF guys and they were, for the most part, really nice.

[albrshbr]

I met Bob Feller several times when the Buffalo Bisons were an Indians AA team. It was always great to see him, and he has always been a pleasure to talk to. Maybe I'll get lucky and run across him in Cooperstown this weekend.

When I lived in San Antonio, I ran across David Robinson a few times in our local grocery store. It seems that everyone you talk to in San Antonio has met Robinson at least once, and everyone is impressed with how nice and down-to-earth he is.

At the Football HOF Induction Ceremony last year I seemed to constantly run across James Lofton. Everywhere I went he was there signing for anyone who approached him. With both Bruce Smith and Ralph Wilson being inducted, there was a very large Buffalo Bills fan crowd present. There were also many current and former Bills there, and many went out of their way to sign for the fans. One notable exception was Andre Reed who went out of his way to ignore the fans. I saw him several times, always with a phone up to his ear, and he had the largest "security detail" with him that I saw. He had more than any of the actual HOFers.

My uncle worked for the Buffalo Sabres, and I've met quite a few. I'll agree with what others have already, and hockey players are generally the nicest to meet. One big exception was Sabre great Gilbert Perreault. Always a jerk. Of course this was over 20 years ago, and I've talked to some folks who have met him in local establishments recently, and he seems to have mellowed quite a bit since his retirement.

[cubsfn01]

When i was a senior in high school in 1996, I was the editor of my HS newspaper, and we found out that a local lawyer had organized a fundraiser for a former NFL player from the area who had been ill. I met with the lawyer for a story and he gave me a pass to go backstage and meet everyone. At the time I did not know much about NFL history, but i was excited anyway. I met Johnny Unitas, who i had hear of, but didn't know much about, and Coach Weeb Ewbank, who i thought was older than dirt (remember I was 17). I then got my picture taken with two big Defensive linemen who I had never heard of, Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen. The funny thing about the photo was the two hofers (who looked huge) with MY skinny self in the middle, wearing a Cincinnati Reds shirt. Had I known then what I know now, I would have had a million questions.

[t213]

I once witnessed Frank Robinson blow off a little kid at Camden Yards -- "I get paid when I sign" and he stomped off.

On the plus side, in the mid 80s Lyle Alzado lived in my town and he used to come into the Pet Store where I worked. He was always very cool. One time I spent over an hour with him talking about parrots. Very nice man and he always had his wife and kids with him each time we met. He also always wore a muscle t-shirt and I've never seen anyone so big up close.

Other nice guys I've met:
NHL: Mike Knuble, Matt Bradley, Marcel Dionne, Jason Chimera
Baseball: Brooks Robinson, Frank Howard (if you get in line for his auto, be prepared to wait because he talks to everyone, poses for pics and it's easy to get him telling stories from his playing days)
NFL: Henry Ellard
TV: Mr. T (A little kid (maybe 6 years old) came up to him at the baggage carousel at LAX in the late 80s - he had the gold chains and mohawk. The kid said "Mr. T, when I see a bad guy, I'm going to bop him on the head." Mr. T replied "Hey little man, Mr. T doesn't want you to do that. If you see a bad guy, you come find Mr. T and Mr. T will take care of him." The kid responded with "Alright!" or something like that and Mr. T patted him on the shoulder. Mr. T made that kid's year.

Bruce Willis once very politely and friendly asked me if he could cut in line in a shopping mall bathroom when he was filming a Moonlighting episode. He looked like he was 2 seconds from dying so I said yes.

Andy

[FUBAR]

Jason Chimera is an arrogant ass in my opinion.. almost kicked the crap out of him in his first year. Jason grew up in the hood i used to live in. The company i worked for had a hockey team and i used to keep my goalie equipment at the shop to dry out rather then my apartment. Jason was friends with the owners sons and the whole gang of them used to play road hockey in our shop yard.

I show up on a Saturday to our shop and there is Chimera wearing my goalie equipment out on the street, playing road hockey. Now i am not one to start trouble but using 5 k worth of high end goalie equipment is not something you do. I asked him to take it off and put it back. He told me to go F- myself because he was using it. I walked over to him and I am quite a bit bigger then he is and then insisted he remove it or i would! He said he would put it back when he was done with it. He then said he could buy and sell me if he wanted... If it wasn't for our mutual friends, the Oilers would have had one dead little mouth piece in goalie gear. Arrogant little p.o.s thought he was something special cause he played for the Oilers, i could care less.

Now i am not too much of an ass, i had given these kids my old set of goalie gear to use months before for their road hockey but Chimera thought he was above the old equipment.

He/ they ended up having to buy me a new stick cause they frayed the bottom of mine....

On the upside, all of the other Oiler players i met over time have been great... Grant Fuhr was the nicest guy ever and sat and talked with me for about an hour. He auto'd all my old equipment(wish i still had it) His auto looks like it says Great F**k....