Who is your favorite childhood baseball player?

[58pinson]

The handle should pretty much give it away. The story? If I can brush the cobwebs off an old book in the back of my memory it was 1962 (could have been '63 I guess) and at 13 years old I'd gotten the first ok (with a few be carefuls) from my parents to venture from New Jersey into New York City without an adult. The Cincinnati Redlegs were in to play the Mets at the old Polo Grounds for a day game. As a Yankee hater who's greatest baseball thrill so far had been Mazeroski's World Series home run I was ecstatic that National League baseball had returned to New York. My friend (a Yankee fan) and I got there super early. Our tickets were on the Cincy side and the ushers didn't object to us walking down to the unoccupied field seats and getting a close up view of the Red players warming up and such. Out of the clear blue Vada Pinson comes strolling over to us and chats us up for what was probably a minute or two - it seemed like a half an hour to us. It was a larger than life experience and made an instant lifelong fan out of me. Even many years later I was saddened when he passed at such a young age. He and Frank Robby are chucking the ball around again somewhere.

[packs]

Donnie Baseball for me. I grew up loving the Yankees when they were horrible: the Melido Perez and Scott Kamieniecki days. Mattingly was the only reason to go to the game. Always a class act, always had the upmost respect of baseball. When he became a manager I gained even more respect for him. He talked to everyone at spring training and was more than happy to sign for his fans, including for me and my rookie card:

[riggs336]

Duke Snider. Followed closely by Stan Musial.

[pokerplyr80]

Ken Griffey Jr was my favorite growing up. 89 was when I first remember getting into baseball and card collecting. He was so exciting to watch. Both at bat and the catches he would make in center field.

[commishbob]

Brooks Robinson

[parker1b2]

Mattingly for me.

[aljurgela]

Being an Angels fan

[Bagwell-1994]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

Ken Griffey Jr was my favorite growing up. 89 was when I first remember getting into baseball and card collecting. He was so exciting to watch. Both at bat and the catches he would make in center field.

I remember dude running as hard as he could and slamming into center field wall and breaking his wrist to catch a fly ball. Pure talent and hustle. Started certain seasons with home runs in 7 or 8 consecutive games. Simply one of the best to ever do it, and from both sides offensively and defensively.

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[sixpointone]

Johnny Bench. I was fortunate to meet him to be able to tell him so. I was hoping I'd be able to get a picture with him. Ends up I did not even need to ask. As he was approaching from a distance he yelled over to me "Hey you, with a classy outfit like that get over here and take a picture with me." The classy outfit was my Reds #5 jersey. We spoke for several minutes, and each time I thanked him, he thanked me for being a fan. Great life memories!

[RCMcKenzie]

1)Rose,2) Lynn,3) Brett,4) Cedeno

[jerrys]

Originally Posted by sixpointone

Johnny Bench. I was fortunate to meet him to be able to tell him so. I was hoping I'd be able to get a picture with him. Ends up I did not even need to ask. As he was approaching from a distance he yelled over to me "Hey you, with a classy outfit like that get over here and take a picture with me." The classy outfit was my Reds #5 jersey. We spoke for several minutes, and each time I thanked him, he thanked me for being a fan. Great life memories!

This photo was taken at the AC 2003 National. What year did you meet Johnny Bench?

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