The Yogi Berra Experience

[eastonfalcon19]

He used to sign at Yogi Berra Stadium for free, all you needed was a ticket to the New Jersey Jackals game ($8). He was always nice to me and signed just about every flat and ball. I had my girlfriend at the time ask him to put his number, he did it with a smile and a wink. I guess I should start bringing my wife to more signings lol.

[mr2686]

I've never had any problem with Yogi, and he's always been nice although sometime a little quiet (which I chalked up to age more than anything else). The only player I've ever thought was a complete jackass was Mays, with a distant second going to Rose.

[Laxcat]

I was too young to register anything but here's what my father experienced.

Mays was his hero growing up. Mays and Maris. Willie did a show for my dad. When he picked him up at the airport everything was fine. They talked baseball and stats. He took him to the hotel and picked him up a few hours later. He was a completely different person. Rude, abrasive, ill tempered. It was night and day. Unfortunately, he treated the show attendees, that paid to meet him and get his autograph, like turds.

At that moment my father lost all respect for Mr. Mays and no longer valued him as an essential part of his collection.

[packs]

I only had one bad show experience and it was with Willie Randolph:

My dad and I went to a White Plains show because my dad wanted to get him on a mini-helmet. It's sort of his thing and he was working on a team mini-helmet project while Randolph was a coach. When my dad got up there, Randolph refused to sign the helmet. He said "sorry partner, no helmet today" despite my dad holding a ticket for a mini-helmet, which he paid for.

So F Willie Randolph and his unearned plaque in monument park. I don't know what it is he has over the Yankees head, but it must be something for him to be tolerated like he is.

[7nohitter]

Originally Posted by packs

I only had one bad show experience and it was with Willie Randolph:

My dad and I went to a White Plains show because my dad wanted to get him on a mini-helmet. It's sort of his thing and he was working on a team mini-helmet project while Randolph was a coach. When my dad got up there, Randolph refused to sign the helmet. He said "sorry partner, no helmet today" despite my dad holding a ticket for a mini-helmet, which he paid for.

So F Willie Randolph and his unearned plaque in monument park. I don't know what it is he has over the Yankees head, but it must be something for him to be tolerated like he is.

What a jerk! Did your dad get his money back?

I love threads like this, hearing about how these guys really are.

[packs]

Yeah he got his money back but it was total BS. We even got them to give us our entrance and parking back because we said we only went there for the autograph. PLUS the ticket specifically said mini-helmet.

[jad22]

Seems like there are a lot of bad Willie Mays stories.