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Rasmuth · 01-18-2003, 11:11 AM

In 1975 my family lived in Des Moines, Iowa and we took a trip to Kansas City to go see the Royals play the Red Sox. We happened to stay at the same hotel the Red Sox were staying at so invariably we ran into some of them.

I was hoping to run into Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice or Fred Lynn but I didn't.

I really don't remember much but I do remember Carlton Fisk basically ignoring everybody but then he was having his breakfast.

At one point my little brother and I walked out of the front door of the hotel and literally ran into Luis Tiant. I recognized him immediatley and held out a program for him to sign. What a sight he was...remember this was the 70's so fashion was ugly enough but he was larger than life. He looked like a pimp with some sort of garish hat and a huge feather sticking out of it. He spoke only spanish to us but he laughed constantly. I remember being in awe yet a little scared of him. He signed his name for us and went on his way.

Another player I remember meeting was Jim Willoughby, a relief pitcher who actually had a decent season with the Sox that year. I saw him looking around as other players were signing autographs so I went up to him and asked him if he played for the Sox and he replied yes. I had no idea who he was until I read his signature but he seemed uncomfortable with the whole concept. He was very nice though.

I met various White Sox minor league players when I lived in Des Moines because the Iowa Oaks played there but the only one I remember is Ken Kravec who pitched for the White Sox in the later 70's and actually won 15 games in 1979.

01-18-2003, 11:11 AM	#40
Rasmuth All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Upstate Western NY Posts: 1,760	In 1975 my family lived in Des Moines, Iowa and we took a trip to Kansas City to go see the Royals play the Red Sox. We happened to stay at the same hotel the Red Sox were staying at so invariably we ran into some of them. I was hoping to run into Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice or Fred Lynn but I didn't. I really don't remember much but I do remember Carlton Fisk basically ignoring everybody but then he was having his breakfast. At one point my little brother and I walked out of the front door of the hotel and literally ran into Luis Tiant. I recognized him immediatley and held out a program for him to sign. What a sight he was...remember this was the 70's so fashion was ugly enough but he was larger than life. He looked like a pimp with some sort of garish hat and a huge feather sticking out of it. He spoke only spanish to us but he laughed constantly. I remember being in awe yet a little scared of him. He signed his name for us and went on his way. Another player I remember meeting was Jim Willoughby, a relief pitcher who actually had a decent season with the Sox that year. I saw him looking around as other players were signing autographs so I went up to him and asked him if he played for the Sox and he replied yes. I had no idea who he was until I read his signature but he seemed uncomfortable with the whole concept. He was very nice though. I met various White Sox minor league players when I lived in Des Moines because the Iowa Oaks played there but the only one I remember is Ken Kravec who pitched for the White Sox in the later 70's and actually won 15 games in 1979.