Experiences w/ballplayers-Good and Bad?

[Team Clark]

I wish I had the typing skills to fill this one up.

[realistic]

In like 95 or so i went to Cincinnati to see the Reds/Expos. I was staying at the same hotel as the Expos. This was Rondell White's rookie year and he was on fire batting about .400 in June, very nice guy (and well dressed) we chatted about 5 minutes. About 10 minutes later a short little pitcher named Pedro Martinez walked by and got on the elevevator. We waved a baseball at him from across the lobby as the door closed. He actually re-opened the elevator door and came back to sign for us, blew my mind. A couple years later this little short guy would be one of the games best.

[dabvu2498]

I grew up down the street from ex-Ranger/Cubs/somebody else RP Paul Kilgus. His wife baby-sat me as a kid. Went to college with 1 current major leaguer and one former MLBer/current AAAer. (Our Major League alumni (1 or 2 of em) used to come around quite a bit as well.) All these experiences were quite positive.

My buddy almost picked a fight with Odalis Perez and Adrian Beltre in a bar on Main St. after a Dodger game one night. They were intimidating, but my buddy's ego knows no bounds. That was a negative experience.

[Yachtzee]

I have never met a ballplayer personally. My sister however, used to work at the CompUSA in North Olmstead, on the west side of Cleveland, and used to get plenty of Indians players in there. The most notable occassion was when Chuck Finley and Tawney Kitaen came in (before she put the beat-down on him). My sister was the technical specialist on duty at the time when Finley brought in his laptop to be repaired. Finley refused to deal with my sister, stating that he wanted to "talk to a guy, because girls can't fix computers." Tawney Kitaen was very nice and said stuff like "I don't know, honey. She looks pretty smart. I think she can handle it." But dear old Chuck would have none of it. Finally my sister said she would put a note on the computer to have the manager call as soon as he was back at the store. Then she told Tawney Kitaen that her brothers had a huge crush on her after seeing the movie "Bachelor Party." Tawney said that was sweet, but dear old Chuck said "who cares." So my sister can completely understand why Tawney Kitaen might have wanted to kick his behind.

[GAC]

I passed Ryan Freel [in a brown 3-piece suit, natch!] last year on the street near the Marriott DT Cleveland...

On his way to court?

[WMR]

I met Dunn and Kearns this past December at Gambino's, a club/bar in Lexington. They were both pretty cool, but Dunn was by far the more approachable. I talked to him for a few minutes.

Hmm, the highlights I can remember: "Why does Marty give you so much ****?" Dunn: "I dunno, that guy has always hated me."

"People in Cincinnati don't realize what they've got in you, man, .OBP, .OBP, who gives a **** about .BA." lmao.

To Kearns:
"What the heck was up with Obie, I hope he gets fired."
"He's gone." (or something to that effect -- they clearly both thought Obie was a complete idiot and that he was going to be fired)

Very positive experience. Observing the magnetic effect of baseball players on women was fun.

[KittyDuran]

On his way to court?

He did have a briefcase, IIRC...

[reds1869]

I've known a few minor leaguers fairly well, including one currently playing for Louisville. I've only ever had a passing glance at big leaguers...I can't honestly count being at the store with them as an experience.

I have a lot more experience with other sports. I taught teh children of quite a few Columbus Blue Jackets players when I lived up there; they were all very involved and helpful parents. I also had a weird knack for running into Brian McBride at Giant Eagle.

I went to school with Chad Pennington at Marshall and lived down the hall; a genuinely great guy, and a heck of a Playstation football player. I also went there with Randy Moss, Steve Scuillo, Chris Hanson and several other NFL players. My closest relationships were with Pennington and Scuillo...they were the only two I truly knew.

[Spitball]

I wish I had the typing skills to fill this one up.

How about a couple?

[SunDeck]

Observing the magnetic effect of baseball players on women was fun.

A highschool friend of mine had an older brother who eventually pitched in the MLB. He would visit him while he was in the minor leagues and his brother and the other guys on the team would play him up at the local bars as the newest hot prospect. And he could play the part because he was actually a good ball player, was pretty tall and had a real athletic build.

Needless to say, the results were...how shall I say it...taxable in Nevada?

[Handofdeath]

I passed Ryan Freel [in a brown 3-piece suit, natch!] last year on the street near the Marriott DT Cleveland...

I hope you were kind enough not to step on him.

[smith288]

I used to watch Saved by the Bell and eat ice cream sandwiches religiously with Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettite and Jeter prior to home games.

THat was cool...

[KronoRed]

The thing about Freel's suit is it was originally black but he had to dive into first a few times to get it broken in

[Benny-Distefano]

I saw Pete Rose at the Zoo when I was 10 (mid-eighties).

I worked up the courage to walk up to him and asked him "are you really Pete Rose?" (he had sunglasses on)

He said no, and then just as quickly told me to "get lost" or "beat it" or something to that effect.

Can't blame the guy I guess... and, considering some other stories I've heard about him, I'm just happy I didn't lose any money in the ordeal.

[cincy09]

Met Ryan Freel in an elevator the morning after his opening day DUI. He looked tired.

Brandon Phillips tossed my buddy a ball in Detroit, back in May.