Your experiences with HOF'ers

[Hot Springs Bathers]

Just read a wonderful essay by Fritz Peterson on his friend Brooks Robinson at www.baseballhappenings.net I think it will reinforce all the nice things said in this thread about my favorite ball player! Best wishes to Brooks, get well soon

[71buc]

This has been one of my favorite posts since joining this board. My initial post on this thread dealt with my experience with baseball players. After reading the positive comments on interactions with boxers I thought I would share my own.

I took my son to an Oakland A’s spring training game about ten years ago. He was twelve at the time. I’m a third generation Indian and Pirate fan. He broke with the family tradition and adopted the Oakland A’s. He now has his own personal hell and he can at least relate to his father’s pain. During the game Mohammed Ali made a surprise appearance. When he entered the ball park you could hear a pin drop. It was surreal. The game stopped and the players applauded him. The crowd chanted Ali, Ali! He sat a few rows away from us and an autograph line quickly formed. He signed between innings. Those in line knelt to avoid obstructing the view of others during the game. My son asked why people were kneeling. My wife smiled and told him you do that before royalty. I told my son that this was an autograph opportunity he should not miss. At that time he was painfully timid but with a bit of coaxing he stood in line by himself for two innings. When it was his turn to receive an autograph play resumed forcing him to kneel and wait. Ali looked over at him and motioned to him. My son approached Ali rather nervously. He told my son to sit next to him in a vacant seat. He then opened a bag and pulled out a large oatmeal cookie broke it in half and handed half to my son. He sat with Ali eating that cookie for a half inning. At the end of the inning Ali smiled at him and threw a quick jab his way. He then signed the autograph and thanked my son for sitting with him.

When we returned home my shy son shocked us with the announcement that he wanted to be a boxer. My wife and I cringed but he was persistent so we relented. He boxed for a few years and although he was an average boxer the sport changed him in a positive manner. He became assertive, disciplined, and extremely confident. He has grown into a young man I am very proud of. I have to attribute some of that to boxing and his fifteen minutes with Ali.

[thebigtrain]

As a shy 16 year old going up to Mickey Mantle in 1967 as he was standing alone in front of the hotel he lived in while in NYC (I was the only one there) I had a Sport magazine photo already signed by Casey Stengel and I said "Mr Mantle can you please sign this" and he looked at me and spit in my face and walked off- that I will never forget .

Yet the rotten, miserable, ignorant old drunk got to "cut in line" for a liver transplant, while others who had cancer through no fault of their own died waiting. Sad, and pathetic.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by 71buc

This has been one of my favorite posts since joining this board. My initial post on this thread dealt with my experience with baseball players. After reading the positive comments on interactions with boxers I thought I would share my own.

I took my son to an Oakland A’s spring training game about ten years ago. He was twelve at the time. I’m a third generation Indian and Pirate fan. He broke with the family tradition and adopted the Oakland A’s. He now has his own personal hell and he can at least relate to his father’s pain. During the game Mohammed Ali made a surprise appearance. When he entered the ball park you could hear a pin drop. It was surreal. The game stopped and the players applauded him. The crowd chanted Ali, Ali! He sat a few rows away from us and an autograph line quickly formed. He signed between innings. Those in line knelt to avoid obstructing the view of others during the game. My son asked why people were kneeling. My wife smiled and told him you do that before royalty. I told my son that this was an autograph opportunity he should not miss. At that time he was painfully timid but with a bit of coaxing he stood in line by himself for two innings. When it was his turn to receive an autograph play resumed forcing him to kneel and wait. Ali looked over at him and motioned to him. My son approached Ali rather nervously. He told my son to sit next to him in a vacant seat. He then opened a bag and pulled out a large oatmeal cookie broke it in half and handed half to my son. He sat with Ali eating that cookie for a half inning. At the end of the inning Ali smiled at him and threw a quick jab his way. He then signed the autograph and thanked my son for sitting with him.

When we returned home my shy son shocked us with the announcement that he wanted to be a boxer. My wife and I cringed but he was persistent so we relented. He boxed for a few years and although he was an average boxer the sport changed him in a positive manner. He became assertive, disciplined, and extremely confident. He has grown into a young man I am very proud of. I have to attribute some of that to boxing and his fifteen minutes with Ali.

Mike,
That is really a beautiful story about your son and Ali. Thanks for sharing it!
BTW, has your son seen Moneyball yet? I finally just caught it and can tell you that it's definately worth seeing. Perfect for an Oakland A's fan, since it involves the A's franchise.

[GrayGhost]

Moneyball is an awesome movie, and that story bout Ali is GREAT. Wonderful thread continues.

[smotan_02]

Originally Posted by 71buc

This has been one of my favorite posts since joining this board. My initial post on this thread dealt with my experience with baseball players. After reading the positive comments on interactions with boxers I thought I would share my own.

I took my son to an Oakland A’s spring training game about ten years ago. He was twelve at the time. I’m a third generation Indian and Pirate fan. He broke with the family tradition and adopted the Oakland A’s. He now has his own personal hell and he can at least relate to his father’s pain. During the game Mohammed Ali made a surprise appearance. When he entered the ball park you could hear a pin drop. It was surreal. The game stopped and the players applauded him. The crowd chanted Ali, Ali! He sat a few rows away from us and an autograph line quickly formed. He signed between innings. Those in line knelt to avoid obstructing the view of others during the game. My son asked why people were kneeling. My wife smiled and told him you do that before royalty. I told my son that this was an autograph opportunity he should not miss. At that time he was painfully timid but with a bit of coaxing he stood in line by himself for two innings. When it was his turn to receive an autograph play resumed forcing him to kneel and wait. Ali looked over at him and motioned to him. My son approached Ali rather nervously. He told my son to sit next to him in a vacant seat. He then opened a bag and pulled out a large oatmeal cookie broke it in half and handed half to my son. He sat with Ali eating that cookie for a half inning. At the end of the inning Ali smiled at him and threw a quick jab his way. He then signed the autograph and thanked my son for sitting with him.

When we returned home my shy son shocked us with the announcement that he wanted to be a boxer. My wife and I cringed but he was persistent so we relented. He boxed for a few years and although he was an average boxer the sport changed him in a positive manner. He became assertive, disciplined, and extremely confident. He has grown into a young man I am very proud of. I have to attribute some of that to boxing and his fifteen minutes with Ali.

This is my favorite. Great thread, keep them coming!

[Exhibitman]

Great Ali story, Mike; that's why he's the greatest. He could be all pissy and self-pitying over his ailment but he's been a joy to his fans for decades instead. It's his personality, just like being a selfish turd was Mantle's personality. I remember seeing Ali at a card show shortly before he was diagnosed. He did not look well at all and was not his usual gregarious self but he stayed and signed as the 'free' guest for hours past his quitting time to make sure everyone got a signature. I remember seeing the ink stains on his white shirt cuffs [he was wearing a suit] and wondering at how much a major celebrity cares about his fans to stay on and keep signing for free like that.

Another guy who impressed me with his caring for fans was Steve Garvey. When he was at the height of his fame here in L.A. I saw him and his family one Sunday morning at a local deli in Woodland Hills. Kids were lined up 20-deep at his table to meet him. His wife was visibly pissed off but he not only signed everything as his eggs sat getting cold, he engaged each kid in conversation, sat them down next to him, etc. Although I was a Dodgers hater at the time [they were playing my beloved Yankees in the W.S. three times in those years] I was really impressed with him.

Another one who's always been good with fans even when he was the biggest star around is Sylvester Stallone. I ran into him a couple of times here in L.A. in the 1980s and he was always polite and nice to his fans and signed whenever he was able. I was so tongue-tied that all I could sputter out was that I'd seen all his movies. He thanked me and signed my autograph for me.

[Mr. Zipper]

Despite the upsetting story about the Mick, this has been a great read!

Love the Ali stories.

Keep 'em coming!

[scmavl]

Anyone got any Stan Musial stories? The Ali stories are very impressive.

[whitehse]

Another quick story of my time working in the major leagues.

I was assigned, along with another co-worker to be Pete Rose's shadow on the weekend in which he came to Wrigley Field and would eventually tie Ty Cobb's hit record. Pete had received death threats and various other threats and they thought it was a good idea to put two of the larger guys on him all weekend wherever he went. Pete would show up at the ballpark and we would literally follow him around wherever he went. The cool thing was I was able to see him in his everyday baseball glory. He was actually very nice to us and engaged us both in conversation the whole weekend. It was very odd to be hanging around the guy that I hated as a kid but he actually won me over.

The cool thing of the whole experience was that Pete would have a press conference every day leading up to the record setting game. We escorted him, on field, to the right field corner where a press conference was being held under than stands. After the presser ended we headed back, on field towards the Reds dugout. Batting practice was going on and we were walking in right field when a ball was hit our way. It was one of those line shot one hoppers that came right at me and I reached out and grabbed it bare handed. Pete looked right at me and said "wow nice grab"! I couldn't believe that I caught the ball AND Pete Rose was complimenting me. It took a few seconds but I realized my hand and arm were on fire from the pain of catching a major league line shot one hopper with no glove but there was no way I was going to show Mr. Rose that I wanted to cry like a baby!! LOL It was a huge thrill for me, as someone who loves the game of baseball to have this massive star not only talking to me and asking questions about my experiences but to compliment me on a great catch!!

I have heard stories of Pete Rose and how much of a turd he could be but for that weekend, he couldn't have been more pleasant and engaging to me and my colleague. He did cause the game of baseball to be cast in a bad light when he bet on baseball and do the crap he did but I did gain a measure of respect for him that weekend.

[theshleps]

My son batboyed for team USA when Frank Robinson was manager and they were doing practice games in Maryvale in Phoenix.
There is a superfan named Suzie who has a deep voice and comes to the games in AZ (mainly Dbacks) and cheers on each player. Even if they are just having a catch- she'll yell "great catch or something like it". She is well known to AZ fans. The players didn't know how to relate to her. One day Suzies voice was saying its usual accolades but Suzie was nowhere to be seen. It turns out that Frank was imitating Suzie from the dugout. You'd have to be there to appreciate it, but it was hilarious.
Despite my son and Frank having many neat conversations, Frank only signed one autograph for Noah for all the time they spent together. Noah had some 1960's Topps RBI and HR leader cards that were partially signed already but Frank would turn him down. Frank would say "maybe you'll get me someday".
Noah would yell from the dugout a cheer he learned in school to the batters "stroke it and poke it". He didn't understand the sexual connotations. Within a few days Frand was yelling it to. I once paid $65 to get Frank to sign a picture of he and Noah and to inscribe- stroke it and poke it. he refused to inscribe.
I ran into Frank at the winter mlb meetings a few years ago. We spoke about Noah and he remembered him. I said Frank can you sign this card or Noah's and he said no.
One more story- not a HOFers but since our collection specializes in HOF and Jewish- we own Shawn Greens AAA home jersey from Syracuse. We went to the DBacks spring training camp in Tucson not knowing if we'd get it signed or not as it was quite crowded and we didn't know Shawns signing habits. Shawn and the rest of the team came out about 50 yards away to warm up. Noah was wearing the jersey. Shawn looked over (50 yards away) and sprinted over to Noah to get a look at the jersey. He was amazed that we had it. He signed it and posed and was amazing. A few weeks later Noah saw Shawn outside of Phoenix muni and remembered him and they talked for 20 minutes.
Noah has alot of these stories and times we shared together. As a result we can rarely root for a team- just individual players as each team is a mix of great guys and not so great guys

[GrayGhost]

More great stories. I wonder why Frank doesn't sign much in person, or didn't in those days? Seemed friendly enough.

One that a friend told me, not a HOF, but hope you allow it. He was at a card show w Bucky Dent and Mickey Rivers signing. Apparently it was Mick's first show. A kid walked up to Mick and handed him a photo, and Mickey asked Bucky "What do I do" Bucky was flabbergasted,..maybe Mick was kidding? Anyways, Bucky said, like this. Bucky took one of his own photos and signed it Buckey Dent. Mick then took the kids photo he had, of Mickey Rivers mind you and signed it BUCKY DENT

Another HOF'er I met many years ago at the same show I met Brooks Robinson at was NFL HOFer Bob Lilly. He was really really cordial.

Last one was at an Ed Keetz show in Polish home in Albany NY years back. Scooter was a guest and I had a yankees stadium postcard to have him sign. He asked me where to sign it, I pointed to the sky, and he said right up there where Mick was right now. Also, a card show years back in my old HS w Scooter. A big line was forming for him, in the hall outside the signing area. Phil came down the hall w a rep and a little boy rushed up to him, w no autograph ticket. He asked Phil if he could sign the ball. Sure Sonny. The promoter then runs up to Phil and says "he didn't have a ticket for that" Phil's reply. "You Huckleberry, I'll sign for the kids anytime I please" . Made me smile.