Nicest player you've ever met?

84Tigers · 12-09-2002, 03:27 AM

So, who's the nicest player you've ever met?

My answer is easy, and since I have time to kill, I'll tell you the story

I was covering opening day for the Midland Daily News (where I no longer work, by the way... that's another story, which I'm glad to tell if you care

Anways, we were covering it for two reasons: 1) Ernies last homeopener & 2) Catch up with Travis Fryman, who we thought would be salvaging his career ... heh.

Well, after the game, my Editor told me to head over to the Indians locker room, and get some comments from Fryman. This was my first "pro" interview, so I was a bit nervous.

I got to the locker room, and waited for the guys to get done showering and whatnot.

So, I'm standing there, and a gentleman tapped me on the shoulder and said "excuse me" ... I turned around and, standing there is all his nakedness, Ellis Burks.

Now, I wanted to run and hide. When your growing up, and day dreaming about playing baseball in the pros, you kind of gloss over the locker room details

I wanted to run and hide

Anyways, I get out of his way, and pray that he's a quick dresser.

so, I continue to wait.

Finally, I sit down at a table. I'm getting a bit nervous, hoping I don't miss Fryman.

And then Jim Thome sits down next to me.

"Who you waiting for?"

"Uh..(Gulp)...(then I forgot Travis's NAME!) ...Uh... Fryman (I Finally spit it out) .."

"Oh, yeah. Makes sense. He's talking to Gibby right now, I'm sure he'll be out in a few."

"Thanks, Jim. Jim Thome".

"No problem."

So then, I ask if I can get a couple comments about Fryman from Thome. Total class act, if you ask me. Deserves the money he's got.

Incidently, I met the two BIGGEST *******S I've ever met in life in general, that same very day:

Ryan Drese, former RP for the Tribe & Al Kaline.

While waiting for Fryman, Drese...who's a F'N NOBODY, walks in the locker room, and I ask .. "Hey, any idea where Fryman is?" .. his retort:

"How would I know? I Ain't his babysitter." ... Uh..ok.

And Kaline...prick. He's walking through the press entrance, and a journalist (don't know who he was) said "Hey Al, how's it going" ... didn't even LOOK at the guy.

Plus, he just walked around like he was king ****. Sure, he was good, but have some grace man!

I've talked to long!

Rowleyball · 12-09-2002, 04:39 AM

My memory might be a little foggy on this one, but I remember getting former Dodgers' reliever Jim Gott's autograph twice in one day. First I stood in line waiting for someone's autograph, I had no idea who it was, all I knew was it was a Dodger and I didn't care. I think I was probably around 8 or 9 when it happened, so sometime around 1991. Anyways, I got to the front of the line and got him to sign my ticket for the game. He was very nice and asked who to make it out to and everything.

Fast forward to after the game. I'm waiting patiently with my sisters for the Dodgers to come out to their parking lot. But this wasn't the one that everyone crowded around the fence to see the big stars come out, this was the players' parking lot outside the left field pavilion that seemingly no one knew about but me and my older sisters. They didn't know I had gotten his autograph before, so they rushed me away, their cute, shy little boy with the Dodger hat on to get the autograph for them. As I was walking up to Gott he started to look familiar. I was doing what I was told, but I knew something was wrong. I recited my line "Can I please have your autograph Mr. Gott?" and held out my program. As he signed it he said "I already signed one for you today didn't I?" I thought, oh man, I'm dead, I got caught. But Gott just laughed, gave me a soft punch in the arm, and handed me the program back. Instead of acting all upset because I made him sign two autographs, he just brushed it off and did it anyway.

I used to try to get autographs from everyone I could. So many of them would just walk by without looking at you, but Jim Gott actually recognized my face. That made my day.

Jason Moyer · 12-09-2002, 05:52 AM

Joe Oliver when he was playing for the Vermont Reds. They were in town to play the Reading Phillies and I was wandering around getting some autographs. He stopped by to talk to stop Reading players and he and Bruce Ruffin ended up posing for a picture and talking to my parents for awhile. It was pretty cool, and I still have a signed game ball somewhere with Ruffin/Oliver and a few other random Phillies who never went anywhere (I think this was around 86, when the Phils had a crap farm team - the bright stars were Ruffin, Rickey Jordan, Mike Jackson, etc).

I haven't gotten a chance to venture south to see the team Kent Tekulve owns yet, but from what I've heard he's an incredibly nice guy and is always wandering around the park talking to fans during the games.

Jason

Tib · 12-09-2002, 06:25 AM

The nicest baseball player I've ever met was Brett Butler.

I was working in a sporting goods store in '93 when in comes Brett looking for official ML baseballs. I take him to the baseballs and he picks up a case. Seizing the opportunity, I pick one up and say, "Hey, as long as we're in the ball section, would you mind signing one?"

So he says "Sure." AS he's singing it, I say, "You know, I was a leadoff hitter once upon a time and I want to tell you it's nice to watch guys like you play ball the old way. You know, getting on base, hitting to the opposite field, stealing bases. Not like today."

Then he says, "When I started, playing ball like that wasn't the old way , it was just the way."

We had a chuckle and I said, "It's a pleasure to watch you play the game." And he says, "It's a pleasure to play the game."

Complete class act.

It's funny, you can base your entire perception of a player on a 5-, 10-, or 60-second experience with them. If he's cool, you think he's cool forever. If he's an ass, then you think he's an ass forever. That's why I relly appreciate the player who understand this and go out of their way top make everyone's experience with them a positive one.

asamford · 12-09-2002, 07:30 AM

Wow, you beat me to it, I was going to say Brett Butler. Met him when I was a kid at a Wendy's in Atlanta after he'd been traded to Cleveland. I wasn't sure it was him since I thought he should be in Cleveland (when i was a kid i thought all players lived in the city of the team they played for) but I went up and got an autograph and he was really cool.

Ozzie Virgil is the only other baseball player I've personally gotten an autograph from and that was after a game, so I didn't really get a chance to meet him, but he seemed nice in all the commotion...

LivnLegend · 12-09-2002, 12:54 PM

Rowley, Gott is a class act all the way. Good call.

My short list:
Mark Langston - had dinner with him a few years back when he was with the Angels. Quiet guy but very nice; his wife did much more talking than he did.

Gary Gaetti - hung out with him for a while at a social event. Great guy. We talked about hunting mostly but baseball as well. His wife and I corresponded briefly because she wanted my pheasant recipes.

Jay Johnstone - Have had the pleasure of meeting him a few times. One of the funnier players I have ever met. I worked on a couple charity functions with him.

Steve Garvey - He was my favorite player when I was a kid. I idolized him about as much as a young kid could like a player. I've heard so many stories of people meeting their childhood idols later in life and being disappointed but I've met Garv probably 10 times over the years and he has been nothing short of class. He's always got the smile & charm working. If he could have kept it in his pants, he'd probably be a senator somewhere.

Some honorable mentions: Mike Fetters, Scott Bailes, Eric Karros, Paul Molitor, Don Drysdale, Steve Yeager, & Matt Luke

bigphesta · 12-09-2002, 02:00 PM

Don Carman is the nicest baseball palyer I've ever met. Came to talk at my church when I was a kid (this was before I left, but that's another story) and he sat and talked with me and another friend for like 20 minutes before his speech. He was waiting in the lobby for everything to start and we happened to walk in there with our handful of DC cards (and they're worth squat) so he signed them all and just talked with us about baseball, church, school. He's no big star, but when you're 12 it's pretty cool.

Juvydriver · 12-09-2002, 03:54 PM

Well, this sorta fits (sort of not though) and it happened to my uncle. He was staying at the Doubletree hotel in Dallas and had gone out to warm up his car (Blue Dodge Diplomat). While he was waiting for my aunt to come out, he pulled the car up to the front door area and just sat there.

After sitting there for a few minutes, some guy gets into his car and says, "DFW (the airport)." My uncle says, "Excuse me?" And the guy again says, "DFW." At this point, my uncle said he figured out he was talking to Jim Palmer.

My uncle then explains to him that he's not the airport shuttle and they talk for a few minutes, laugh about the whole thing etc. and he gets an autograph and a pretty good memory.

crackpott · 12-09-2002, 04:08 PM

I gotta say Corey Thurman. He'll always stay and chat with you before or after a Jays game. Nice guy.

TC Dale · 12-09-2002, 04:29 PM

I have two. For anyone but Cleveland Browns fans this first person won't mean anything to you.

But Don Cockroft was a Kicker with the Browns in the 70s and I was a kid at church and my father, (who was a minister) made me listen to this guy talk. He brought me over to talk to him after the crowds had dispersed, and found out that he was truly a nice guy. We talked about football, and other sports, I told him I didn't have a card of him but if I did I would have wanted it signed cause I really liked and respected him. He signed the Bible I had, and for about 5 years, I got a signed Topps Football Card with his photo on it.

( Couldn't root for the Browns, but I cheered for him anytime I could! Packers Rule.

)

The last one is from the Greatest. Muhammad Ali was in our area and I was one of a few that got to shake his hand and listen to him talk. He was as he is now , with his disease, and I leaned forward to hear him talk.... Nothing but kindness from the man, I told him I thought that he was probably the best boxer I had ever seen...I also said that I didn't always totally agree with his beliefs, but he was still the greatest period. I laughed and smiled back as the light came in his eyes, and he threw a playful punch at me, and he nodded and whispered..Fair enough and Thanks. He was a class act, and I told him to keep fighting.....for him, for us....and for history.

He smiled and then he got in his limo to go to Chicago. (My sports editor was upset when I didn't get a quote, but hey, ALI is a legend you know? I had to let him know how I felt. Sorry that is a melancholy story, but you had to be there.

Yogi

PS I never did get the quote

Kezzek · 12-09-2002, 05:42 PM

No real "nice guys" that stand out particularly but I'd give my Biggest Jerk award to Tommy Kramer (ex-Vikings QB) hands down.

Told me to f*ck off and left the field when I (age 11 or so) politely asked his autograph at the end of training camp as the rest of the players were greeting/mingling with the fans who showed up that last day.

Don't ask my why I even bothered asking "DWI" Kramer...I have no idea. Just a silly kid who adored the Vikings!

Rowleyball · 12-09-2002, 05:55 PM

Another Steve Garvey story ... This wasn't me but my girlfriend. She was living down in San Diego at the time and went to school with Garvey's daughter. They were pretty good friends, and one day Garvey had all of his daughters' friends over for a birthday party. My girlfriend was in the pool and, I guess, forgot how to swim and sunk to the bottom. She was something like 5 or 6 at the time. Garvey saw this and jumped in the pool and saved her. He gave her mouth-to-mouth and was able to recesitate her. After that she could no longer say her favorite baseball player was Tony Gwynn, she said it was Steve Garvey.

Oh, and Brett Butler has been my favorite player since he joined the Dodgers early in the 90's. I wanted to be a leadoff hitter just like him (I never could get a drag bunt down but I tried it at least a few times each season). I would have liked to meet him, but what you guys have said has raised my opinion of him even more.

The Professor · 12-09-2002, 07:40 PM

Don Cockroft...don't hear that name too often. He kicked for the "Cardiac Kids" of 1980, right?

Tommy Kramer...a pity the Vikings wasted a decade on that guy, all the potential in the world and nothing but 500 or so interceptions to show for it.

As for my nicest player...the only player I've ever really been close to was Steve Kline. I got his autograph at Busch Stadium, it wasn't a special moment or anything. After he signed my cap, some kid commented that the Cardinals sucked that year (2000) and Kline replied - rather nicely, I might add - that it didn't matter how you started the season, but how you finished. They went on to make the playoffs.

I've always heard that Gary Gaetti was a nice guy...

Tiger Fan · 12-09-2002, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 84Tigers

"Incidently, I met the two BIGGEST *******S I've ever met in life in general, that same very day:

Ryan Drese, former RP for the Tribe & Al Kaline.

While waiting for Fryman, Drese...who's a F'N NOBODY, walks in the locker room, and I ask .. "Hey, any idea where Fryman is?" .. his retort:

"How would I know? I Ain't his babysitter." ... Uh..ok.

That story reminds me of one the first Buffalo Sabres games I ever covered when working in radio. The Blues were in town and I was trying to find Mike Lalor to get a local voice on the air (I was working for a station in Lalor's hometown of Fort Erie) and I made the mistake of asking Brett Hull where Lalor was.

Hull gave me the same line. "How the f%$k should I know. I am not a f#$@'in babysitter."

Hull is the biggest knob I ever dealt with. As for the best there are several. Brendan Shanahan, Tony McKegney and Brad May were the best in hockey. In baseball, Tony Gywnn was fantastic to deal with when I covered the Tigers-Padres '84 World Series. He spent nearly half an hour talking to me before game three.

asamford · 12-10-2002, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LivnLegend

Jay Johnstone - Have had the pleasure of meeting him a few times. One of the funnier players I have ever met. I worked on a couple charity functions with him.

that's awesome. Johnstone's always been one of my favorites since I read both of his books as a kid, and I still re-read them from time to time. Would love the chance to hang out and chat with him, probably a laugh a minute. Bill Lee would be cool to meet, as well.

Quote:

Steve Garvey - If he could have kept it in his pants, he'd probably be a senator somewhere.

that hasn't stopped a lot of other people from going far in politics

jeez, at this point it might actually be a requirement!

asamford · 12-10-2002, 01:50 AM

wow, some of you guys have met a bunch of baseball players! so does anyone have any ancedotes/experiences with Cecil Fielder? haven't ever heard many off-field stories about him...

LivnLegend · 12-10-2002, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by asamford
Johnstone's always been one of my favorites since I read both of his books as a kid, and I still re-read them from time to time. Would love the chance to hang out and chat with him, probably a laugh a minute.

Yea, he's funny all right!
In his book he said Mickey Hatcher fell for the "Strong man routine" twice. I told him he HAD to be kidding but he swore to me the gullible Hatcher did. Anyone who has read Johnstone's books knows the "strong man" clubhouse prank!

never met Fielder. A guy who I met who I was totally blown away by was Dave Parker. I had heard he was a jerk but he turned out to be a cool guy when I met him. He signed an Upper Deck baseball card for me. At the time he was telling people he did not sign baseball cards (it came from playing under Rose -- Charlie Hustle told many of his stars not to sign except at card showsfor $$$). I think part of the reason he warmed up to me was because I was calling him "Cobra" instead of Dave or Mr. Parker. No one had called him that much since his days in Pittsburgh.

Although not a player, another great baseball man I met who was 100% genuine, a class act, was the late Angels owner Gene Autry. He used to attend spring training games in Palm Springs back in the 80's. He sat in his private box behind the Angels dugout. I have a fantastic photo of Gene and I together that his bodyguard/assistant took of us. Never will forget that man!

Crapshoot · 12-10-2002, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Yogi Bear

The last one is from the Greatest. Muhammad Ali was in our area and I was one of a few that got to shake his hand and listen to him talk. He was as he is now , with his disease, and I leaned forward to hear him talk.... Nothing but kindness from the man, I told him I thought that he was probably the best boxer I had ever seen...I also said that I didn't always totally agree with his beliefs, but he was still the greatest period. I laughed and smiled back as the light came in his eyes, and he threw a playful punch at me, and he nodded and whispered..Fair enough and Thanks. He was a class act, and I told him to keep fighting.....for him, for us....and for history.

He smiled and then he got in his limo to go to Chicago. (My sports editor was upset when I didn't get a quote, but hey, ALI is a legend you know? I had to let him know how I felt. Sorry that is a melancholy story, but you had to be there.

Yogi

PS I never did get the quote

You know what Yogi ? That was a great story. Im all for the melancholy.

JWay · 12-10-2002, 03:02 AM

wow, Best I got was Chip Ambres ( single a player ) signing and tossing this plush baseball to me. Adrian Gonzalez signed my ticket stub. Pretty cool.

dvlaster · 12-10-2002, 10:10 AM

I met Sid Bream back in the fall of 1992, and it's hard to imagine meeting a better ballplayer or even a better person than Sid. He He had nothing but time and kind words for me and everyone I saw him interact with.

12-09-2002, 03:27 AM	#1
84Tigers Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Decatur, Illinois Posts: 20	Nicest player you've ever met? So, who's the nicest player you've ever met? My answer is easy, and since I have time to kill, I'll tell you the story I was covering opening day for the Midland Daily News (where I no longer work, by the way... that's another story, which I'm glad to tell if you care Anways, we were covering it for two reasons: 1) Ernies last homeopener & 2) Catch up with Travis Fryman, who we thought would be salvaging his career ... heh. Well, after the game, my Editor told me to head over to the Indians locker room, and get some comments from Fryman. This was my first "pro" interview, so I was a bit nervous. I got to the locker room, and waited for the guys to get done showering and whatnot. So, I'm standing there, and a gentleman tapped me on the shoulder and said "excuse me" ... I turned around and, standing there is all his nakedness, Ellis Burks. Now, I wanted to run and hide. When your growing up, and day dreaming about playing baseball in the pros, you kind of gloss over the locker room details I wanted to run and hide Anyways, I get out of his way, and pray that he's a quick dresser. so, I continue to wait. Finally, I sit down at a table. I'm getting a bit nervous, hoping I don't miss Fryman. And then Jim Thome sits down next to me. "Who you waiting for?" "Uh..(Gulp)...(then I forgot Travis's NAME!) ...Uh... Fryman (I Finally spit it out) .." "Oh, yeah. Makes sense. He's talking to Gibby right now, I'm sure he'll be out in a few." "Thanks, Jim. Jim Thome". "No problem." So then, I ask if I can get a couple comments about Fryman from Thome. Total class act, if you ask me. Deserves the money he's got. Incidently, I met the two BIGGEST *****S I've ever met in life in general, that same very day: Ryan Drese, former RP for the Tribe & Al Kaline. While waiting for Fryman, Drese...who's a F'N NOBODY, walks in the locker room, and I ask .. "Hey, any idea where Fryman is?" .. his retort: "How would I know? I Ain't his babysitter." ... Uh..ok. And Kaline...prick. He's walking through the press entrance, and a journalist (don't know who he was) said "Hey Al, how's it going" ... didn't even LOOK at the guy. Plus, he just walked around like he was king **. Sure, he was good, but have some grace man! I've talked to long!

12-09-2002, 05:52 AM	#3
Jason Moyer Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5,076	Joe Oliver when he was playing for the Vermont Reds. They were in town to play the Reading Phillies and I was wandering around getting some autographs. He stopped by to talk to stop Reading players and he and Bruce Ruffin ended up posing for a picture and talking to my parents for awhile. It was pretty cool, and I still have a signed game ball somewhere with Ruffin/Oliver and a few other random Phillies who never went anywhere (I think this was around 86, when the Phils had a crap farm team - the bright stars were Ruffin, Rickey Jordan, Mike Jackson, etc). I haven't gotten a chance to venture south to see the team Kent Tekulve owns yet, but from what I've heard he's an incredibly nice guy and is always wandering around the park talking to fans during the games. Jason __________________ "I pretty much popped everything cold turkey. We were doing steroids they wouldn't give to horses." -- Tom House "I was very fortunate to have a pitching coach by the name of Tom House...Tom, I really miss those days that we spent in the weight room and out on the field working together." -- Nolan Ryan's HoF Induction Speech

12-09-2002, 06:25 AM	#4
Tib All Star Reserve Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Paso Robles, CA Posts: 995	The nicest baseball player I've ever met was Brett Butler. I was working in a sporting goods store in '93 when in comes Brett looking for official ML baseballs. I take him to the baseballs and he picks up a case. Seizing the opportunity, I pick one up and say, "Hey, as long as we're in the ball section, would you mind signing one?" So he says "Sure." AS he's singing it, I say, "You know, I was a leadoff hitter once upon a time and I want to tell you it's nice to watch guys like you play ball the old way. You know, getting on base, hitting to the opposite field, stealing bases. Not like today." Then he says, "When I started, playing ball like that wasn't the old way , it was just the way." We had a chuckle and I said, "It's a pleasure to watch you play the game." And he says, "It's a pleasure to play the game." Complete class act. It's funny, you can base your entire perception of a player on a 5-, 10-, or 60-second experience with them. If he's cool, you think he's cool forever. If he's an ass, then you think he's an ass forever. That's why I relly appreciate the player who understand this and go out of their way top make everyone's experience with them a positive one. __________________ https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...ad.php?t=64219

12-09-2002, 12:54 PM	#6
LivnLegend Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: 100% pure adrenaline! Posts: 5,624	Rowley, Gott is a class act all the way. Good call. My short list: Mark Langston - had dinner with him a few years back when he was with the Angels. Quiet guy but very nice; his wife did much more talking than he did. Gary Gaetti - hung out with him for a while at a social event. Great guy. We talked about hunting mostly but baseball as well. His wife and I corresponded briefly because she wanted my pheasant recipes. Jay Johnstone - Have had the pleasure of meeting him a few times. One of the funnier players I have ever met. I worked on a couple charity functions with him. Steve Garvey - He was my favorite player when I was a kid. I idolized him about as much as a young kid could like a player. I've heard so many stories of people meeting their childhood idols later in life and being disappointed but I've met Garv probably 10 times over the years and he has been nothing short of class. He's always got the smile & charm working. If he could have kept it in his pants, he'd probably be a senator somewhere. Some honorable mentions: Mike Fetters, Scott Bailes, Eric Karros, Paul Molitor, Don Drysdale, Steve Yeager, & Matt Luke __________________ Excess ain't rebellion. You're drinking what they're selling.

12-09-2002, 03:54 PM	#8
Juvydriver Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 119	Well, this sorta fits (sort of not though) and it happened to my uncle. He was staying at the Doubletree hotel in Dallas and had gone out to warm up his car (Blue Dodge Diplomat). While he was waiting for my aunt to come out, he pulled the car up to the front door area and just sat there. After sitting there for a few minutes, some guy gets into his car and says, "DFW (the airport)." My uncle says, "Excuse me?" And the guy again says, "DFW." At this point, my uncle said he figured out he was talking to Jim Palmer. My uncle then explains to him that he's not the airport shuttle and they talk for a few minutes, laugh about the whole thing etc. and he gets an autograph and a pretty good memory. __________________ E-Mail: jpdavis44@myrailmail.com AIM: JDavis44 Owner/GM of the Roanoke Rampage in the VSBL.

12-09-2002, 04:39 AM	#2
Rowleyball Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 265	My memory might be a little foggy on this one, but I remember getting former Dodgers' reliever Jim Gott's autograph twice in one day. First I stood in line waiting for someone's autograph, I had no idea who it was, all I knew was it was a Dodger and I didn't care. I think I was probably around 8 or 9 when it happened, so sometime around 1991. Anyways, I got to the front of the line and got him to sign my ticket for the game. He was very nice and asked who to make it out to and everything. Fast forward to after the game. I'm waiting patiently with my sisters for the Dodgers to come out to their parking lot. But this wasn't the one that everyone crowded around the fence to see the big stars come out, this was the players' parking lot outside the left field pavilion that seemingly no one knew about but me and my older sisters. They didn't know I had gotten his autograph before, so they rushed me away, their cute, shy little boy with the Dodger hat on to get the autograph for them. As I was walking up to Gott he started to look familiar. I was doing what I was told, but I knew something was wrong. I recited my line "Can I please have your autograph Mr. Gott?" and held out my program. As he signed it he said "I already signed one for you today didn't I?" I thought, oh man, I'm dead, I got caught. But Gott just laughed, gave me a soft punch in the arm, and handed me the program back. Instead of acting all upset because I made him sign two autographs, he just brushed it off and did it anyway. I used to try to get autographs from everyone I could. So many of them would just walk by without looking at you, but Jim Gott actually recognized my face. That made my day.

12-09-2002, 07:30 AM	#5
asamford Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Snellville, Georgia Posts: 1,769	Wow, you beat me to it, I was going to say Brett Butler. Met him when I was a kid at a Wendy's in Atlanta after he'd been traded to Cleveland. I wasn't sure it was him since I thought he should be in Cleveland (when i was a kid i thought all players lived in the city of the team they played for) but I went up and got an autograph and he was really cool. Ozzie Virgil is the only other baseball player I've personally gotten an autograph from and that was after a game, so I didn't really get a chance to meet him, but he seemed nice in all the commotion...

12-09-2002, 02:00 PM	#7
bigphesta Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 1,366	Don Carman is the nicest baseball palyer I've ever met. Came to talk at my church when I was a kid (this was before I left, but that's another story) and he sat and talked with me and another friend for like 20 minutes before his speech. He was waiting in the lobby for everything to start and we happened to walk in there with our handful of DC cards (and they're worth squat) so he signed them all and just talked with us about baseball, church, school. He's no big star, but when you're 12 it's pretty cool.

12-09-2002, 04:08 PM	#9
crackpott Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,961	I gotta say Corey Thurman. He'll always stay and chat with you before or after a Jays game. Nice guy. __________________ Abandoned Planet - Check it out. The photos don't suck anymore.

12-09-2002, 04:29 PM	#10
TC Dale Global Moderator Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 4,960	I have two. For anyone but Cleveland Browns fans this first person won't mean anything to you. But Don Cockroft was a Kicker with the Browns in the 70s and I was a kid at church and my father, (who was a minister) made me listen to this guy talk. He brought me over to talk to him after the crowds had dispersed, and found out that he was truly a nice guy. We talked about football, and other sports, I told him I didn't have a card of him but if I did I would have wanted it signed cause I really liked and respected him. He signed the Bible I had, and for about 5 years, I got a signed Topps Football Card with his photo on it. ( Couldn't root for the Browns, but I cheered for him anytime I could! Packers Rule. ) The last one is from the Greatest. Muhammad Ali was in our area and I was one of a few that got to shake his hand and listen to him talk. He was as he is now , with his disease, and I leaned forward to hear him talk.... Nothing but kindness from the man, I told him I thought that he was probably the best boxer I had ever seen...I also said that I didn't always totally agree with his beliefs, but he was still the greatest period. I laughed and smiled back as the light came in his eyes, and he threw a playful punch at me, and he nodded and whispered..Fair enough and Thanks. He was a class act, and I told him to keep fighting.....for him, for us....and for history. He smiled and then he got in his limo to go to Chicago. (My sports editor was upset when I didn't get a quote, but hey, ALI is a legend you know? I had to let him know how I felt. Sorry that is a melancholy story, but you had to be there. Yogi PS I never did get the quote

12-09-2002, 05:42 PM	#11
Kezzek All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Keyboard - frantically typing in subtle insults to raise my self-esteem Posts: 973	No real "nice guys" that stand out particularly but I'd give my Biggest Jerk award to Tommy Kramer (ex-Vikings QB) hands down. Told me to f*ck off and left the field when I (age 11 or so) politely asked his autograph at the end of training camp as the rest of the players were greeting/mingling with the fans who showed up that last day. Don't ask my why I even bothered asking "DWI" Kramer...I have no idea. Just a silly kid who adored the Vikings! __________________ - Kez, P.E.

12-09-2002, 05:55 PM	#12
Rowleyball Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 265	Another Steve Garvey story ... This wasn't me but my girlfriend. She was living down in San Diego at the time and went to school with Garvey's daughter. They were pretty good friends, and one day Garvey had all of his daughters' friends over for a birthday party. My girlfriend was in the pool and, I guess, forgot how to swim and sunk to the bottom. She was something like 5 or 6 at the time. Garvey saw this and jumped in the pool and saved her. He gave her mouth-to-mouth and was able to recesitate her. After that she could no longer say her favorite baseball player was Tony Gwynn, she said it was Steve Garvey. Oh, and Brett Butler has been my favorite player since he joined the Dodgers early in the 90's. I wanted to be a leadoff hitter just like him (I never could get a drag bunt down but I tried it at least a few times each season). I would have liked to meet him, but what you guys have said has raised my opinion of him even more. Last edited by Rowleyball; 12-09-2002 at 05:58 PM.

12-09-2002, 07:40 PM	#13
The Professor Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: East of East Posts: 3,020	Don Cockroft...don't hear that name too often. He kicked for the "Cardiac Kids" of 1980, right? Tommy Kramer...a pity the Vikings wasted a decade on that guy, all the potential in the world and nothing but 500 or so interceptions to show for it. As for my nicest player...the only player I've ever really been close to was Steve Kline. I got his autograph at Busch Stadium, it wasn't a special moment or anything. After he signed my cap, some kid commented that the Cardinals sucked that year (2000) and Kline replied - rather nicely, I might add - that it didn't matter how you started the season, but how you finished. They went on to make the playoffs. I've always heard that Gary Gaetti was a nice guy... __________________ History isn't really about the past - settling old scores. It's about defining the present and who we are."

12-10-2002, 01:50 AM	#16
asamford Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Snellville, Georgia Posts: 1,769	wow, some of you guys have met a bunch of baseball players! so does anyone have any ancedotes/experiences with Cecil Fielder? haven't ever heard many off-field stories about him...

12-10-2002, 03:02 AM	#19
JWay Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 5,021	wow, Best I got was Chip Ambres ( single a player ) signing and tossing this plush baseball to me. Adrian Gonzalez signed my ticket stub. Pretty cool.

12-10-2002, 10:10 AM	#20
dvlaster Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 31	Sid Bream I met Sid Bream back in the fall of 1992, and it's hard to imagine meeting a better ballplayer or even a better person than Sid. He He had nothing but time and kind words for me and everyone I saw him interact with.