Your experiences with HOF'ers

[sycks22]

I have a couple stories about HOFers.

Puckett: My mom worked for them back in the early 90's and knew Kirby really well, he was the nicest guy on the planet and his former wife Tonya was great too. One day Puck came home with 2 bags of Mcdonald's food what was called "the puck pack" back in the day. He tried to slip it past her, but she caught him and made him throw it out. It was pretty funny. His house was also amazing as I got to visit twice and being a 10 year old looking at his gold gloves and all of his awards it was like a kid in a candy store.

Griffey: After a Twins game back in the early 90's our neighbor Wayne Terwilliger (1st base coach of the twins) who we always waited for outside of the locker room saw Griffey walk by and Twig introduced him to my brother and me. He shook our hands and think asked us some baseball questions. It was amazing just to talk to Griffey for a minute.

Blyleven: I was at Twins fest about 5 years ago and Bert was walking by us so I grabbed a ball and a pen and walked over to him to ask him for his auto. I was wearing my college baseball uni as we were doing a baseball camp for the little shavers that day and Bert says "Usually I don't do this, but you're with a good team." and signed my ball. I told him that he was my dad's favorite player and he asked about him too. Bert is the man.

I haven't had a lot of bad experiences with HOFers, but kind of felt bad when getting Feller's auto also at Twins fest that year. He was sitting in a booth in the back of everything by himself asking for $15 for an auto and nobody was in line. I didn't notice he was there until I turned my head and said to my bro "That's Bob Feller". He was a very genuine guy and shook my hand.

[barrysloate]

I told this story a few years back, but it's worth repeating. It's about an accidental meeting with Nellie Fox.

When I was a kid, maybe 13 or 14, my friend Steven and I went to Shea Stadium to see the Mets and Astros. Steven was a huge Astros fan and somehow he got these incredible seats in the front row behind first base. Don't remember how he got them, but they were as good as it gets.

As we were buying food throughout the game, we were accumulating loose change which Steven kept in his top pocket. At one point in the game he leaned forward, and all the change came pouring out onto the field, rolling in different directions. At that point we wrote it off and assumed it was lost.

Nellie Fox was coaching first base, and when the inning ended, to our surprise he ran over, got down on his hands and knees, and picked up every last coin and returned them to Steven. I don't recall him even saying a single word, and when he was done he ran back to the dugout. We said thank you and I know I never forgot that small gesture of kindness from a major league ballplayer. And when he made the Hall of Fame that was the first thing I thought of.

[GrayGhost]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I told this story a few years back, but it's worth repeating. It's about an accidental meeting with Nellie Fox.

When I was a kid, maybe 13 or 14, my friend Steven and I went to Shea Stadium to see the Mets and Astros. Steven was a huge Astros fan and somehow he got these incredible seats in the front row behind first base. Don't remember how he got them, but they were as good as it gets.

As we were buying food throughout the game, we were accumulating loose change which Steven kept in his top pocket. At one point in the game he leaned forward, and all the change came pouring out onto the field, rolling in different directions. At that point we wrote it off and assumed it was lost.

Nellie Fox was coaching first base, and when the inning ended, to our surprise he ran over, got down on his hands and knees, and picked up every last coin and returned them to Steven. I don't recall him even saying a single word, and when he was done he ran back to the dugout. We said thank you and I know I never forgot that small gesture of kindness from a major league ballplayer. And when he made the Hall of Fame that was the first thing I thought of.

BEST Story yet..

I love this thread, good and bad, its awesome stuff

[7nohitter]

Originally Posted by GrayGhost

BEST Story yet..

I love this thread, good and bad, its awesome stuff

Agreed!

[GrayGhost]

Seeing someone comment on Ernie Banks reminds me of another card show experience many years ago at a show in Waterbury CT. A major snowstorm hit and many dealers/customers couldn't make the show, but Ernie did. Before the signing, he told everyone to all join together in a big rousing Take Me out to the Ballgame. Was awesome and he was SO COOL to those he signed for.

Another one was a late buddy of mine, who used to travel all over to get autographs in a HOF hardcover book he had. He went to Sturbridge mass once where Enos Slaughter was signing. there was no line and Slaughter was reading, when J came up w the book, and said, could you please sign my book. Slaughters reply? "Your face is uglier than the cabbage in my garden. Now, I got this info second hand, but the source was reliable. ha

[tjlives]

I've told this story before here, but here's a Brooks Robinson experience:

About seven or eight years ago, I went to a free signing out in Pennsylvania with Brooks that I think was to promote an indy league team and their sponsors. It was one of those deals where the players were supposed to be signing promotional items and nothing else, which the other players, not nearly as big of stars as Brooks Robinson, were sticking to. Can't blame them, that's what they were being paid for. I got on the Brooks line perhaps 100 people back, and noticed immediately that the line was moving pretty slow. I didn't really have a great idea of Brooks's rep at that time, so I was expecting the Willie Mays experience - slow, grumpy, maybe hung over.

Got up to the front of the line, and the reason the line was moving a bit slow was because Brooks was getting up and taking pictures with anyone who had a camera, having a personal chat for a minute or two with every single person in line, handing out his own signed 8x10s that he brought, and actually asking if people brought anything extra with them for him to sign - even though he wasn't supposed to be doing anything other than signing the team pre-print. The handlers were getting annoyed, but Brooks didn't care at all, and he ended up staying well past his allotted time because he wouldn't let the line get cut off. I took home two beautiful signed ROMLBs with HOF inscription that are proudly in my showcase, the Brooks-provided 8x10 which is also still in my collection, and a permanent fandom of Brooks Robinson.

I simply can't say enough positive things about Brooks Robinson.

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by tjlives

I've told this story before here, but here's a Brooks Robinson experience:

About seven or eight years ago, I went to a free signing out in Pennsylvania with Brooks that I think was to promote an indy league team and their sponsors. It was one of those deals where the players were supposed to be signing promotional items and nothing else, which the other players, not nearly as big of stars as Brooks Robinson, were sticking to. Can't blame them, that's what they were being paid for. I got on the Brooks line perhaps 100 people back, and noticed immediately that the line was moving pretty slow. I didn't really have a great idea of Brooks's rep at that time, so I was expecting the Willie Mays experience - slow, grumpy, maybe hung over.

Got up to the front of the line, and the reason the line was moving a bit slow was because Brooks was getting up and taking pictures with anyone who had a camera, having a personal chat for a minute or two with every single person in line, handing out his own signed 8x10s that he brought, and actually asking if people brought anything extra with them for him to sign - even though he wasn't supposed to be doing anything other than signing the team pre-print. The handlers were getting annoyed, but Brooks didn't care at all, and he ended up staying well past his allotted time because he wouldn't let the line get cut off. I took home two beautiful signed ROMLBs with HOF inscription that are proudly in my showcase, the Brooks-provided 8x10 which is also still in my collection, and a permanent fandom of Brooks Robinson.

I simply can't say enough positive things about Brooks Robinson.

In the days when I did card shows Brooks Robinson was a guest at one of them on Staten Island. My son used to help me at these shows. He got on line for Brooks Robinson. I used to take Polaroid photos of my son with the players. Brooks saw me with my camera, came out from behind the table and put his arm around my son for the photo. After I shot one, he insisted I shoot another to make sure I got a good one.
A total class act and a man with a huge heart.
I just realized that I had a new camera when we met Brooks and these are not Polariods.

[Mr. Zipper]

Originally Posted by GrayGhost

Slaughters reply? "Your face is uglier than the cabbage in my garden. Now, I got this info second hand, but the source was reliable. ha

LOL

This reminds me of another story I forgot about.

I saw Goose Gossage at a show back in the late 90s. At the time he was probably in his late 40s and I think he was coaching some semi-pro team. Despite his gray hair and a bit of a gut, he looked like he was in great shape and his arms were ripped.

I said something to the effect of how he looked like he was in game shape and could still bring it.

I was around 30 at the time. He looked me up and down through squinted eyes and replied, "I could still f%$^ing strike out your ass."

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Mr. Zipper

LOL

This reminds me of another story I forgot about.

I saw Goose Gossage at a show back in the late 90s. At the time he was probably in his late 40s and I think he was coaching some semi-pro team. Despite his gray hair and a bit of a gut, he looked like he was in great shape and his arms were ripped.

I said something to the effect of how he looked like he was in game shape and could still bring it.

I was around 30 at the time. He looked me up and down through squinted eyes and replied, "I could still f%$^ing strike out your ass."

Awesome story, Steve!!!

[jdmeltz]

I was at a boxing event about 10 years ago collecting signatures on a boxing glove. Muhammad Ali made an unexpected appearance so of course I headed over to where he was walking in. His security was saying "no autographs" but he saw my glove hung over my shoulder, and without saying a word he motioned me over, took the glove and signed it.

I was at an event where Brooks Robinson was one of the guests. An announcement was made "no autographs please." Robinson leaned over to me and a few other guys and whispered "follow me." He led us out into the hallway where he signed for everyone.

And another boxing story: Former great Archie Moore was signing autographs at a public appearance. I noticed he had a hand full of pens. Seems if you didn't say "please" when you asked for his autograph, he kept your pen!