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Great day at the HOF game in Cooperstown on Monday!

It was a great day for baseball! Though Im a Yankee fan, I had fun watching the Bosox and Tigers go at each other.
Cooperstown was crowded to the gills! Funny little parade at 11:00 with both the Red Sox players and Tigers players in buses waving to the crowd.

David Wells and Bronson Arroyo were signing autos in one of the stores. Arroyo charging 35/auto and Wells at 80/auto. I wasnt interested in buying an auto but have always wanted to meet Wells. While everyone was going to the ball field, I went into the store to see what Arroyo and Wells were doing...both were fulfilling their contracts and signing a bunch of stuff- pretty much alone so I went up and politely asked Wells to shake his hand and that I was a big fan....and that I wish he was still a Yankee. He gave a funny smile and said thanks while he shook my hand. Was pretty cool...talked for another minute or two until the cronies said he had to finish his autos and go to the game. I was cool with that.

We were in the seats watching the HR Derby before the game and of course my girlfriend then decided she needed to find a restroom. On the way back passing the fence, a Tiger asked how she was doing and if she was having a good time. She had no idea who she was talking to. She talked with him for 2-3 minutes, he picked up a ball, signed it and handed it to her...then the auto hounds came running, nailed the poor girl (all 100 lbs of her) into the fence....well, the Tiger told them to watch it and have some manners...he apologized to my girlfriend and told her to have fun, not signing any of the hounds autos...guess he was annoyed at them. Anyway, she got back to the seat and told me what happened and showed me her baseball....and damn it, it was Alan Trammell! I told her who he was and that was a cool moment.(other than being knocked into the fence!)

Johnny Damon was the life of the party. He only played the first inning but in center field, he played catch with the crowd. That was fun to watch. He threw the ball in the crowd and the fans tossed it back out to him...that went on for about 5-10 minutes. He also coached 3rd base for an inning and was quite the clown. A definate crowd pleaser and fan favorite. Then, about the middle of the game, he took off his jersey, signed it, and gave it to this kid who couldnt have been more that 5 years old. Now that was class! Even a Yankee fan can appreciate that....and I have a new found admiration for Damon. A real good guy.

Most of the players from both the Bosox and the Tigers were pretty cool with the crowds signing plenty of autos, shaking lots of hands, and just having a good time with the crowd.

Most of the game was played by minor leaguers but still fun to watch. I didnt see Manny Ramirez, Magglio Ordonez(though he is probably still in rehab), Curt Schilling(also probably still in rehab), or Kevin Millar. Not sure who else I may be missing but most of them were there.

All in all it was a fun day. I recommend going to the HOF game to anyone that can make it. I know I'll be going again next year.

Comments

  • That's cool. It kind of sounds like Alan Trammell was hitting on your girlfriend.
  • yankeeno7yankeeno7 Posts: 9,248 ✭✭✭
    LOL...I was thinking the same thing too. Though she's a hottie, Im just assuming (cough! cough!) that he was just being nice to a fan.
  • BigRedMachineBigRedMachine Posts: 2,563 ✭✭✭
    pics of the ball and your girlfriend?? image


    Just kidding. Sounds like a great day. And sounds like there are still some athletes who can appreciate fans, at least from time to time.
  • yankeeno7yankeeno7 Posts: 9,248 ✭✭✭
    I dont have a digital camera to take a pic of the ball...its on a mississippi mud-rubbed ball signed in blue ball point.

    LOL BRM but I dont think she would appreciate me posting pics of her! BUT...the new Speilberg/Tom Cruise movie coming out, she has a part as a extra that she is hoping makes through the edit. You may see her there! Plus, she has a movie she is auditioning for this summer in NYC. Some other Speilberg flick I believe. Speilberg likes her because she looks alot like Karen Allen who is the chick from Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark...though I think my gf is much prettier.

    On that note, she wont be wanting me around much longer if she begins to make it big LOL Hopefully I can talk her into a PSA graded Goudey Gehrig before she boots my ass!
  • BigRedMachineBigRedMachine Posts: 2,563 ✭✭✭
    LOL, dreaming like a true collector!!!
  • I was there as well and can confirm that it was a great day. Ortiz hit some balls during the HR Derby that are still traveling. With his last swing he used a broken bat and still crushed it.
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