My encounter with Willie Mays today......EDITED: Check out what my wife got me.......

RonBurgundy · October 17, 2007 5:36AM

He was in town for a local luncheon. I got to attend the reception before the lunch and joined the line to meet Willie. No autographs or pictures were allowed, but it was ok since we knew that going in. All the time I stood in line I was trying to think of something to say to him. It's hard......I'm not into blowing smoke for anyone, living legend or not. Plus, I'd heard he can be kind of a jerk. I finally decided just to say thank you for all he's done for baseball, and for our country. So the exchange went like this:

Me: "Mr. Mays, it's an honor to meet you. I just want to thank you for all you've done for baseball. You've really meant a lot to the game and to our country."

Willie: "Thank you very much, I appreciate that. Did you play baseball?"

Me: "Yeah, but I quit after high school because I knew I wasn't very good."

Willie: (Laughing). "Great to meet you and thanks for being here"

After this exchange and listening to him at lunch, I did not find him to be a jerk at all. He was very genuine, but there's no doubt he has an ego. But I found it to be an ego in an endearing sort of way......

More important, I thought about what I said to him and ultimately decided it was appropriate. What else do you say to a living legend? Thank you just seemed like the right thing to say.

He told a great story about Stan Musial, about how at the all-star games Stan would routinely hang out with him and other minority players. Stan was very supportive of them and didn't believe they should've been segregated.

Stay classy,

Ron

jrinck · October 17, 2007 5:42AM

Sometimes humility can make someone appear to be arrogant. Thrust a "shy" person into the spotlight and they may withdraw inward, coming across as arrogant.

It could just be that Mays was able to shine "anonymously" in front of thousands when all they had to do was watch him do what he did best, and that is play baseball.

But perhaps face-to-face encounters and public speaking aren't his strong points, and thus why he comes across as aloof or arrogant.

But then again, some people in this world can be just plain jerks, but that's never the impression I got from Mays.

BunchOBull · October 17, 2007 5:47AM

I think you handled yourself in the best way you possibly could. It was an inviting way to insure a nice exchange between you and a legend, a great life memory, made that way, in part, because of your initial comment.

RonBurgundy · October 17, 2007 5:57AM

Thanks. And one other thing I got was that he took a great deal of joy in playing baseball. He really loved to play the game and perhaps that was why it was so hard for him to hang it up.

Ron

perkdog · October 17, 2007 5:58AM

Great stuff!

Teknobailey · October 17, 2007 5:59AM

Wow man, that's great.

I would have tripped over my words I'm sure.

That's an amazing oppertunity.

Thanks for sharing!

DeutscherGeist · October 17, 2007 8:32AM

Thanks for sharing. You thought it out well. With limited time and a virtual stranger, its hard to engage in conversation, but a thank you for the memories was absolutely appropriate and relevant. Mays sounded like he was friendly by asking a personal question if you played baseball yourself. Very good. It could not have gone better considering the circumstances and time.

Now if you guys were both stuck in an elevator and had some time before the rescue crew or repair men solved the problem, then things would be different in that situation and that would lend itself to friendly banter.

jamesryanbell · October 17, 2007 8:59AM

I met Stan Musial, and I thought he and Warren Spahn were a couple of the nicest guys that I've ever gotten an autograph from.

incugator · October 17, 2007 9:07AM

Willie Mays is an extremely nice guy and has very good intentions. He has a tough time with his vision which limits his opportunites for photos and autographs. Even though I am a collector, I would much rather have the oportunity to hear him speak than have an autograph. The experience of having a few words with an American Icon is much more important that any baseball or peice of paper.

nam812 · October 17, 2007 9:14AM

I'd have asked him how many of his own rookie cards he has.

stown · October 17, 2007 9:43AM

Cool story.

How is he doing? When the All-Star game was held here in Houston, he was in a wheelchair and didn't look too well...

Glad to hear he's still making appearances and mingling with fans

itzagoner · October 17, 2007 10:06AM

cool story RB.....i will ALWAYS be grateful for the multiple opportunities i had to see Willie play when i was a youth who frequented Dodger Stadium....the one time i met him and we actually spoke, he was as cordial and friendly as could be and he introduced me to McCovey and Tito Fuentes, too!

Allen · October 17, 2007 10:13AM

Willie should be grateful Mantle is not alive still or he would not get as much press and attention as he does. I have never met the man, but there have been a lot of stories about him being a jerk to those who admire him.

unitas · October 17, 2007 11:08AM

cool story. i think sometimes these guys get unfairly labeled, congrats!

ROCKCITYCHRIS · October 17, 2007 1:14PM

About twelve years ago I was on a spring training vacation with my family and we pulled up our rental car and got out. Guess who pulled up next to us! Willy Mays! I pulled out a ball and he graciously signed it for me. A great end to a great trip for this 15 year old!

psafan · October 17, 2007 5:43PM

You should have asked him if he ever took HGH

ebayaddict · October 18, 2007 12:45AM

Well.................he was born not to far from Birmingham, yet asked for money to attend a parade (gathering) for a park (ballpark, playground) in his honor. So the story goes, he refused to come, almost as if he had no ties to the area, his hometown, so the story goes. I have never met him, yet have heard local stories of his arrogance and selfishness. ......so the story goes. For me as a player, top 5 all day and twice on Sunday.

jmbkb4 · October 18, 2007 1:43AM

eBayaddict,

I like your quote.

RonBurgundy · October 31, 2007 12:50PM

My sweet wife surprised me tonight with this. She had a connection at the luncheon who was able to obtain this, and she gave it to me as a belated birthday present.

nam812 · October 31, 2007 12:54PM

Who is - 4 will Trio P?

mosaic · October 31, 2007 12:55PM

4uuuu TwoP

RonBurgundy · October 31, 2007 12:58PM

I know.......terrible signature, isn't it? How hard is it to sign "Willie Mays"?

Ron

ldferg · October 31, 2007 1:02PM

nam...........

i met him at a card show in nashville in 89 or 90. my signature looks very familiar to yours. if i can dig it up i'll get a pic for comparison.

nice story...totally opposite of the card show experience above...he had a little too much to drink that day.

PasadenaMudSlide · October 31, 2007 1:02PM

Awesome, nonetheless.

BunchOBull · October 31, 2007 1:04PM

Pretty cool wife.

BobaFett72 · October 31, 2007 1:18PM

OMG thats a rare C3po autograph

very nice just the same..hehe

BunchOBull · October 31, 2007 1:33PM

I've shown this one before. It would be a pretty nice sig, if it weren't for the "re-do" as the pen failed on the first attempt.

My encounter with Willie Mays today......EDITED: Check out what my wife got me.......

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