Your WORST interaction with a player

[7nohitter]

Hey all,

I always enjoy hearing about peoples' meetings with players. I think for the most part they're positive. All the chances I have to interact with players have been good... except for Dave Winfield.

I was at Fenway for a game against the Twins. I was about 15 and always got to the park for BP. Many people were yelling for him, "Mr. Winfield!" Or "Dave" and he wasn't acknowledging any of it. So I yell " Hey David!" And he stops talking to whomever he was speaking with and slowly turns around with one of the meanest glares I've ever gotten. I'm 40 now, so this was 25 years ago but that glare is burned into memory. Once he realized I was a kid he just turned around, but man was he pissed.

[ThoseBackPages]

i was about 13 and down the third base line at Shea for warmups/BP

Tony Pena was catching whomever was warming up. he stopped and started speaking espanol to someone that was behind me. i began asking him for his auto (while holding out my baseball). he nodded, and i took that as "toss it to me", so i did. he didnt catch it, and FIRED me a LOOK (op, you KNOW what im saying). He did not sign it for me, but he did return it. F'er

[rotoblueprint]

I was about 10 or 11....almost the same exact story with Edgar Martinez

Originally Posted by 7nohitter

Hey all,

I always enjoy hearing about peoples' meetings with players. I think for the most part they're positive. All the chances I have to interact with players have been good... except for Dave Winfield.

I was at Fenway for a game against the Twins. I was about 15 and always got to the park for BP. Many people were yelling for him, "Mr. Winfield!" Or "Dave" and he wasn't acknowledging any of it. So I yell " Hey David!" And he stops talking to whomever he was speaking with and slowly turns around with one of the meanest glares I've ever gotten. I'm 40 now, so this was 25 years ago but that glare is burned into memory. Once he realized I was a kid he just turned around, but man was he pissed.

[duwal]

Reggie Jackson.....still going through therapy

[preakness]

Jesse bidd...

[3of5-2]

Willie Mays, class A JERK!!!! At a show about 15 years ago in Little Rock, a 10 year old boy with his dad were in line in front of me. The dad had bought a card for around $40 to have Willie sign for his son. When they handed the card to Willie, he never looked up or spoke, just signed the card. As he finished signing it, he smeared the auto on the last stroke. The little boy said, "oh Willie", and Mays said, "what the hell you want me to do about it?". I stepped forward and told him I didn't need or want his autograph.

[justrun7]

I will never forget Sidney Ponson. I was 10 years old at a Phillies-Orioles game in Philadelphia. I was down by the dugouts during batting practice and was given a ball by a security guard. Delino DeShields, Jerry Hairston Jr. and Ricky Bones had already signed my ball. I was hoping Ripken would come out to sign. Instead, Ponson comes out of the dugout. I have no idea who he is, but I want his autograph anyways because I'm 10 and he is a professional ball player. I asked him for his autograph, he asked me if I had any money, laughed and walked away. This was also his rookie year. I have not liked him since, even as a Yankee.

[mwash1983]

Ask any minor league baseball grapher and they will say Lars Anderson...

[drumrun]

Richmond Braves 1993. I was waiting along the 3rd base line trying to get some autos before the game. I was 12 os so. Ryan Klesko was walking from the dugout toward the bullpen. I asked him if he would sign my ball. Without looking up or missing a step he said"go F@3k Yourself kid" That was pretty quality.

[ucLAkers]

Roger Clemens and Will Clark

[njdunkin1]

Originally Posted by 3of5-2

Willie Mays, class A JERK!!!! At a show about 15 years ago in Little Rock, a 10 year old boy with his dad were in line in front of me. The dad had bought a card for around $40 to have Willie sign for his son. When they handed the card to Willie, he never looked up or spoke, just signed the card. As he finished signing it, he smeared the auto on the last stroke. The little boy said, "oh Willie", and Mays said, "what the hell you want me to do about it?". I stepped forward and told him I didn't need or want his autograph.

That is so sad....

[kdailey4315]

Originally Posted by ucLAkers

Roger Clemens and Will Clark

Will Clark is cool as long as it's not game day. Then he's an intense #@#@#@#@#@#@#@.

[TarjetasBéisbol]

A friend told me his worst encounter was with Barry Bonds when he was 8 years old in San Francisco. In 1987 he handed Bonds a 1987 Topps to get signed and he walked away with it. I actually gave him a 1987 Topps and Donruss.

Another story that was going around in the 80s was the guy who handed Willie Mays a baseball that had already been signed by a few 500 home run players, to include Mickey Mantle. Willie Mays signed right across the Mantle auto on 2 balls before the guy crawled over the table to stop him.

[baalton]

Last year at Spring Training. I went to Sarasota to Orioles camp and attempted to get Chris Davis to sign. Multiple day attempts and nothing (Field and parking lot). A couple of ladies (passionate Orioles fans) and spent a lot of time on the sidewalk just outside the players parking lot. They told me you have to get Chris in the morning going in, 6 am. Last day and last attempt set the alarm for 4 am and drove down from Clearwater. Arrived before the State Trooper was there and anyone else was there...I was the only one. Roughly 6 am Chris and his noticeable jacked up white truck came in, drove right by me. Then walked down the sidewalk were he was parked and asked him to sign for me. I quoted 'not today' I responded 'common Chris... it just me out here' as he walked way 'have a nice day'

I saw this video online...14 seconds video says it all

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7PkOm0QRsk

The other guy that is just brutal...Justin Verlander! I have attempted him on multiple trips to Spring Training. I went to get a photo signed. Two days and he walked right by, the third and last day/last attempt, one of the security guard said to me. You have tried to get Justin earlier this week. He then added try at the parking lot, he has been going out that gate lately. So I got in the card drove around the block and parked the car. I walked over and there was a young boy and his dad at this gate already there. I asked who are you waiting for, the dad responded Brandon Inge. Brandon gave my son his broken bat today and was hoping to get it signed. He asked me and I said Justin... he laughed. It was like 3 o'clock that afternoon and almost everyone had cleared out that day. We could see Justin fancy car still there (one of many he has). Brandon drove out and stopped and said hi and signed. The Dad and his son stuck around to see if Justin would stop. Finally Justin walked to his car, the dad suggested we step back and let the young boy stand out so Justin could see him. Justin started driving out the gate we were at but wen saw the boy standing there, proceeded to do a 180 and went out the gate no one was at.

Justin Verlander is brutal!!!

[vwnut13]

Originally Posted by duwal

Reggie Jackson.....still going through therapy

Dudes a dick. I was at Spring Training, 14 years old, Reggie signs THREE baseballs for one kid, grabs my baseball then hands it back to me without signing it, because "the game is about to start".

[awz50]

Originally Posted by baalton

Last year at Spring Training. I went to Sarasota to Orioles camp and attempted to get Chris Davis to sign. Multiple day attempts and nothing (Field and parking lot). A couple of ladies (passionate Orioles fans) and spent a lot of time on the sidewalk just outside the players parking lot. They told me you have to get Chris in the morning going in, 6 am. Last day and last attempt set the alarm for 4 am and drove down from Clearwater. Arrived before the State Trooper was there and anyone else was there...I was the only one. Roughly 6 am Chris and his noticeable jacked up white truck came in, drove right by me. Then walked down the sidewalk were he was parked and asked him to sign for me. I quoted 'not today' I responded 'common Chris... it just me out here' as he walked way 'have a nice day'

I saw this video online...14 seconds video says it all

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7PkOm0QRsk

The other guy that is just brutal...Justin Verlander! I have attempted him on multiple trips to Spring Training. I went to get a photo signed. Two days and he walked right by, the third and last day/last attempt, one of the security guard said to me. You have tried to get Justin earlier this week. He then added try at the parking lot, he has been going out that gate lately. So I got in the card drove around the block and parked the car. I walked over and there was a young boy and his dad at this gate already there. I asked who are you waiting for, the dad responded Brandon Inge. Brandon gave my son his broken bat today and was hoping to get it signed. He asked me and I said Justin... he laughed. It was like 3 o'clock that afternoon and almost everyone had cleared out that day. We could see Justin fancy car still there (one of many he has). Brandon drove out and stopped and said hi and signed. The Dad and his son stuck around to see if Justin would stop. Finally Justin walked to his car, the dad suggested we step back and let the young boy stand out so Justin could see him. Justin started driving out the gate we were at but wen saw the boy standing there, proceeded to do a 180 and went out the gate no one was at.

Justin Verlander is brutal!!!

I mean Chris just did not want to sign that day, do not really see an issue with that..

[preakness]

Originally Posted by mwash1983

Ask any minor league baseball grapher and they will say Lars Anderson...

Really?
I never knew that
Forgot about him
Was a collector of his when he was team USA

[baalton]

I was there 3 different days at O's camp and everyone said the same thing. This video was not my experience, saw it online. I was just saying it was just not me.

In that video 6 am was not good enough had to be there at 5 am, he was likely pulling out at 2 2:30 pm that afternoon

[cobravetteki]

Albert Belle Day Long....

[AnthonyCorona]

Originally Posted by ucLAkers

Roger Clemens and Will Clark

I had a good experience with Clemens several years ago. His son was playing in Stockton, he showed up and signed for a lot of people, watched the game, came back out and signed more.

[TNP777]

Tons of Willie Mays horror stories out there - mostly regarding how he'd purposely ruin items by smudging signatures or signing over other players. I've read that his eyesight lately has been awful, so I'd give him a pass for that if it wasn't for the fact that he was also doing that kind of crap back in the 80s... or so I've read. No firsthand knowledge, but have read enough accounts and also heard firsthand stories.

[mattglet]

Jose Canseco was my favorite player growing up; I lived in New York, on the border of Canada. There's no way I was able to see him in person, ever. But in 2002 or so, I can't remember, my girlfriend and I went to see him when he played for the Nashua (NH) Pride. This is when he was blackballed and just started played in independent leagues.

Anyway, after the game about 20 of us waited outside the locker rooms for him to come out. As soon as he stepped out and saw us he gave the most exasperated sigh anyone could give. Like, he could not be bothered to deal with 20 people. In an independent league stadium. In New Hampshire. Dude should have been grateful to still be able to play at that point, but you could tell he was acting like a spoiled brat. In the end, I got a ball signed with a terrible version of his signature, which made my year. Regardless of how much he was seemingly, and not trying to hide it, annoyed by 20 people, I'll never forget how awesome it was for me to be there. I just wish he remembered where he was and what it took for him to still be able to play the game. Side note: Ozzie (his twin brother) also played on the team with him.

I also have a terrible story about Jim Boeheim, the coach of the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team. But that's not about baseball.

[ucLAkers]

Originally Posted by kdailey4315

Will Clark is cool as long as it's not game day. Then he's an intense #@#@#@#@#@#@#@.

My family had season tickets on 1st base rail at Dodger Stadium in the late 80's/90. Never seen his cool side.

[EricTownsend88]

Originally Posted by cobravetteki

Albert Belle Day Long....

I've gotta counter this one. I'm from Delaware and Albert Belle is the reason I am a die hard Indians fan and baseball fan in general really. My first game ever I was 6 years old and my Uncle took me to the very first game ever at Camden Yards (1992.) They opened against the Indians. I had no knowledge of baseball whatsoever and he was explaining to me on the way about Cal Ripken Jr., Mike Mussina, Brady Anderson, ect. I was decked out in Orioles gear and was dreaming of getting my the ball my Uncle gave me signed by an Orioles player. No luck at all.

Then somebody on the other team, this big guy with the uniform #8 came over and signed my baseball. He made a joke about me wearing the wrong hat and that I needed an Indians one. I proudly told him I played little league. He asked me some questions about little league and said I had a nice glove. Our conversation ended with him asking for a high five and he proceeded to hit a home run and Charles Nangy through I believe a 1 hitter against the O's.

This started me getting into baseball and then going into my LCS and digging through boxes and buying anything Indians and especially Albert Belle with my allowance. I've heard some horror stories about him and maybe I just caught him on the right day but Albert Belle is one of the nicest people I've ever met.

To stay on topic: Matt Kemp is a prick. Went to a Dodgers/Phillies game in Philly his rookie year when he wasn't a huge name yet and a dozen or so little kids who were Dodgers fans were patiently waiting and nicely asking for his autograph for probably a good 30-45 minutes while we was standing a few feet away just talking to different teammates at random times. Eventually he walks by and I'm thinking ok cool he's going to sign at least a few balls for these youngsters and when they started to scream his name again he responds with a simple "not today" before heading to the dugout.

[VandyCards]

Can't say I've had any that stick out. Pete Rose refused to sign a ball "Charlie Hustle" for me at a paid signing when I was like 12. At this point, the uniqueness of Pete Rose refusing an inscription to me is worth more than the ball (which I do not display).

I do not begrudge players for being curt in parking lots or outside hotels. Seems entirely reasonable to be showered up after a day's work and wanting to go home. I get IP autographs quite a bit at minor league games, but the only times I have stayed past the end of a game outside a locker room is when there is a Vandy guy I have a connection to, and he tells me during the game "hey, stick around after the game". This has happened all of two times.