Day with your Favorite Player

[bigtruck260]

Re: Day with your Favorite Player

Not a penny.

I have had chance meetings with athletes - the most famous being Jurt Warner, and my favorite being Gary Matthews Sr., and they all have been really good suprisingly.

I met Warner at a gas station near Rams Park in Earth City when I worked at a business there. We were at the counter paying at the same time, and though everyone in place was staring at him, he took a second to say hello...mind you this was just after the Rams had won the SuperBowl. Kurt's a great guy, and I will always pull for him. Glad he's doing well this year.

My buddy was having a birthday pary at Robata's at Westport here in STL, and I got there early since I work around the corner - must have been 2003 (?) and this guy sitting next to me strikes up a conversation - and starts complaining about the lack of a TV in the bar area. I informed him that there was no Cards game on - but they were playing the Cubs the following day. I asked if he was a Cards fan - his reply, an enthusiastic 'NO'. Then..."Sh#t, man, I'm the hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs." I looked, but didn't recognize him, so I say - "Lemme see your driver's license"...he says - "Why would I lie about a thing like that?" I say, "What's your name then?" - 'Gary Matthews'. My jaw dropped, because as he said it - I was thinking "SARGE"!

As a kid, I watched every baseball game I could - even the Cubs on WGN and the Mets on WWOR...and, of course the Braves on WTBS. I LOVED Matthews as a kid - he used to flip his helmet off when he got a base hit that required speed...I once flipped my hat off in a little leauge game and was called out.

I told him that story, and how I always thought he was a giant - in all actuality, he wasn't all that big. He seemed to think I was funny because he would not stop laughing.

We talked about the Greatest of all time - Me: Ruth (because he won 100 games as a pitcher) and him: Bonds

I asked him what it's like to coach a guy like Sosa - his reply: "Everyone has holes in their swing."

The funny thing is, we were stinking drunk on sake and Sapporo - and I never asked him for his autograph - never crossed my mind. I'm sure if I ever saw him again, he would know me if I reminded him of that night. We spent about an hour together.

I could never have imagined sitting next to a childhood hero and getting plastered, but it happened - and it was a frickin' CUB! One of the nicest guys I have ever met.

[frikativ54]

Re: Day with your Favorite Player

Not a penny.

I have had chance meetings with athletes - the most famous being Jurt Warner, and my favorite being Gary Matthews Sr., and they all have been really good suprisingly.

I met Warner at a gas station near Rams Park in Earth City when I worked at a business there. We were at the counter paying at the same time, and though everyone in place was staring at him, he took a second to say hello...mind you this was just after the Rams had won the SuperBowl. Kurt's a great guy, and I will always pull for him. Glad he's doing well this year.

My buddy was having a birthday pary at Robata's at Westport here in STL, and I got there early since I work around the corner - must have been 2003 (?) and this guy sitting next to me strikes up a conversation - and starts complaining about the lack of a TV in the bar area. I informed him that there was no Cards game on - but they were playing the Cubs the following day. I asked if he was a Cards fan - his reply, an enthusiastic 'NO'. Then..."Sh#t, man, I'm the hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs." I looked, but didn't recognize him, so I say - "Lemme see your driver's license"...he says - "Why would I lie about a thing like that?" I say, "What's your name then?" - 'Gary Matthews'. My jaw dropped, because as he said it - I was thinking "SARGE"!

As a kid, I watched every baseball game I could - even the Cubs on WGN and the Mets on WWOR...and, of course the Braves on WTBS. I LOVED Matthews as a kid - he used to flip his helmet off when he got a base hit that required speed...I once flipped my hat off in a little leauge game and was called out.

I told him that story, and how I always thought he was a giant - in all actuality, he wasn't all that big. He seemed to think I was funny because he would not stop laughing.

We talked about the Greatest of all time - Me: Ruth (because he won 100 games as a pitcher) and him: Bonds

I asked him what it's like to coach a guy like Sosa - his reply: "Everyone has holes in their swing."

The funny thing is, we were stinking drunk on sake and Sapporo - and I never asked him for his autograph - never crossed my mind. I'm sure if I ever saw him again, he would know me if I reminded him of that night. We spent about an hour together.

I could never have imagined sitting next to a childhood hero and getting plastered, but it happened - and it was a frickin' CUB! One of the nicest guys I have ever met.

That's an awesome story. Did you ever get to see is license?

[bigtruck260]

Re: Day with your Favorite Player

That's an awesome story. Did you ever get to see is license?

No. I realized it was him as soon as he said who it was.

You have to realize Frik, I live in the 'show me' state....

[frikativ54]

Re: Day with your Favorite Player

No. I realized it was him as soon as he said who it was.

You have to realize Frik, I live in the 'show me' state....

Huh? Missouri?

[bigtruck260]

Re: Day with your Favorite Player

Huh? Missouri?

Yup - Missouri is the 'Show Me' state...

[skyking26]

Re: Day with your Favorite Player

What's the story behind you knowing Dave Kingman?

Kingman was doing a signing as part of the Alumni Association down in FL in March 1992. I was thinking about going down there for vacation and the promoter of the show said since I was such a fan of Kingman he'd set up a meeting. All I had to do was call him once down in FL. I packed up my car in Michigan and headed down with jerseys, bats, etc. Once in FL I called the promoter and he changed his mind and said he was too busy to be bothered putting us together. In the course of the conversation he told me the hotel he was at. Dave and his wife had just had their 3rd child, so his wife was in the room frequently. I identified myself and told her I wanted to meet the big guy and if possible get a few things signed. She encouraged me to continue calling, and I finally got Dave and we arranged a meeting in a sauna-like setting in the parking lot of his hotel at 9:30 on a Sat. morning.

I still remember Dave decending outer stairwell with his 2 daughters in tow. He signed everything I had after introduction and was very quiet, really. After signing everything he got in the hot tub with his daughters. While we were packing he started asking me questions, and then asked me to take some information for him. Minutes later I left with phone, fax, cell information, and was asked to never give it out. Never have... I've kept in touch with him since then...

[Kong's Landing]

Re: Day with your Favorite Player

I've known my collecting interest, Dave Kingman, since 1992. We have had dinner together upon some of his signing visits in Chicago over the years. Dave's a busy guy, so a "day" probably would not happen, and his interests are hunting and fishing so that puts us in different corners too, but we hung out for 3 hours last March, had dinner and watched college hoops in a hotel bar in Chicago. It is VERY COOL to have that opportunity, and to here a few stories about baseball in the 70's and 80's. I enjoy each minute of it. Dave's a good guy....

RK's right on here. We don't push baseball talk with Dave unless he brings it up. Possibly a fishing trip out West, but then he'd throw both Skyking & I out of the boat 20 miles off shore.

[skyking26]

Re: Day with your Favorite Player

RK's right on here. We don't push baseball talk with Dave unless he brings it up. Possibly a fishing trip out West, but then he'd throw both Skyking & I out of the boat 20 miles off shore.

Hey Landing: Thought I'd communicate here as your wife would not think to check out this site... I'd take the Cubs bag or even the minor league Kong hat in exchange for $ owed. Just throwing options out there!!

RK

[Kong's Landing]

Re: Day with your Favorite Player

I've known my collecting interest, Dave Kingman, since 1992. We have had dinner together upon some of his signing visits in Chicago over the years. Dave's a busy guy, so a "day" probably would not happen, and his interests are hunting and fishing so that puts us in different corners too, but we hung out for 3 hours last March, had dinner and watched college hoops in a hotel bar in Chicago. It is VERY COOL to have that opportunity, and to here a few stories about baseball in the 70's and 80's. I enjoy each minute of it. Dave's a good guy....

Skyking 26 is right on there as we both have enjoyed Dave's company over the years. Dave knows both of us well and I guess that's a good thing that he has not forgot us totally. With 64 years of combined collecting of the big fella, Skyking26 & I have paid our dues big time over the years and long before the days of EBAY or in that case EMAIL.

Erik Bakalar

[Mr.3000]

Re: Day with your Favorite Player

I would love to get to know my fav. player personally and have a chance to meet him, have dinner, exchange emails....etc


Man, that would be incredible!!


If I had to pick one player....I would have to say Miguel Cabrera.

[sahil_kotak]

Re: Day with your Favorite Player

I would have dinner with him ,talk with him for at least three hours or so and then would have an nice autograph and an photograph with him.

[dcrules01]

Re: Day with your Favorite Player

Met Bill Pulsipher after a game.He was playing for the Somerset Patriots and they were having a silent auction to win the jersey they wore that night with all proceeds going to cancer research..Showed him his rookie jersey which he signed and a game used bp. Very nice guy was very gracious.