29 Years Later And The Thrill Is Still There!
BPorter26
Posts: 3,499 ✭✭✭✭✭
As many of you know, I grew up in Augusta, Maine and the company my dad worked for there made the "Fenway Franks". One day in January 1983, my Dad showed up at my school. He told me to grab 3 of my buddies because he had a surprise for us at his job. When we got there Carlton Fisk was sitting in my dad's office. My jaw dropped to the floor-- so did my buddies'. Four jaws hit the floor! That day Mr. Fisk signed a 1982 OPC card as well as a baseball for me. When my dad got home from work he had a pair of game used cleats that Fisk gave to him. I can tell you I tried on those bad boys, but of course they were way too big for me. I did wonder that day if they were used during his time with the Red Sox or with the White Sox. But I wouldn’t learn the answer until much later. Twenty nine years later, in fact.
Fast forward to August 2012 and Fisk is signing at this year’s National. It was a no-brainier for me to bring the cleats with me to Baltimore to have them signed. As I approached Fisk he asked me, "How did you get those?" So I pulled out my phone and showed him the picture of us taken that January day in '83. He chuckled at his appearance in that picture and said “I guess I let myself go in the off-season."
He went on to tell me that he remembered that day—which was totally cool. He seemed even more thrilled to see that I kept that picture and cleats for all those years. Then he asked me, "Where would you like me to sign on the cleat?" I had him sign on the outside swoosh and he added #27. I thought that was neat, and I’m assuming since he put down #27 those cleats were used during his days in Boston. After he signed the cleat, I asked him if he would mind taking a picture. He said of course and in an attempt to replicate the earlier picture, we actually kind of stood the same way we did 29 years ago. As we're standing there to take the picture he said, “You haven’t grown much!” I laughed and replied, “Apparently I haven’t!” As I walked away from Fisk, I felt like I did 29 years ago—overjoyed at meeting one of sports idols.
Fast forward to August 2012 and Fisk is signing at this year’s National. It was a no-brainier for me to bring the cleats with me to Baltimore to have them signed. As I approached Fisk he asked me, "How did you get those?" So I pulled out my phone and showed him the picture of us taken that January day in '83. He chuckled at his appearance in that picture and said “I guess I let myself go in the off-season."
He went on to tell me that he remembered that day—which was totally cool. He seemed even more thrilled to see that I kept that picture and cleats for all those years. Then he asked me, "Where would you like me to sign on the cleat?" I had him sign on the outside swoosh and he added #27. I thought that was neat, and I’m assuming since he put down #27 those cleats were used during his days in Boston. After he signed the cleat, I asked him if he would mind taking a picture. He said of course and in an attempt to replicate the earlier picture, we actually kind of stood the same way we did 29 years ago. As we're standing there to take the picture he said, “You haven’t grown much!” I laughed and replied, “Apparently I haven’t!” As I walked away from Fisk, I felt like I did 29 years ago—overjoyed at meeting one of sports idols.
"EVERYBODY LOVE EVERYBODY IT SAYS IT RIGHT THERE ON THE WALL" - JACKIE MOON
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Comments
Bobby!!! How come you didnt tell me about this at the show?
GREAT STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WTB: PSA 1 - PSA 3 Centered, High Eye Appeal 1950's Mantle
Lou Gehrig Master Set
Non-Registry Collection
Game Used Cards Collection
T222's PSA 1 or better
Congrats man!
Mark
T206 Set - 300/524
<< <i>
Bobby!!! How come you didnt tell me about this at the show?
GREAT STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >>
I know, that is so cool.
Good guy, great player thanks for sharing
Regards
Barry
<< <i> Bobby!!! How come you didnt tell me about this at the show? >>
Thanks guys, it was a good day for me this past Saturday at least the afternoon was.
Eric, I thought I did apparently I didn't
Mark, I know you love my winter jacket and Fisk was wearing a plant coat ( when visiting the plant you had to wear one of those)
Jeff
Take care the story made me smile.
"Live everyday, don't throw it away"
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
Mike
Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
It was really cool to check out those cleats at the show. You probably can't tell from the picture, but the backs of the cleats say FISK. Did all the players have their names on their cleats like that back then?
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Collecting:
Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.
1991 & 1992 Fleer Pro Visions
1952 Topps
~WalterSobchak
Jeff
Card Country
Graded stars 1950's-1980
MULLINS5,1966CUDA,nam812,nightcrawler,OAKESY25,PowderedH2O,relaxed,RonBurgundy,samsgirl214,shagrotn77,swartz1,slantycouch,Statman,Wabittwax