We used to go to Wrigley when the Pirates were playing the Cubs when i was a kid. My dad was a Cubs fan but he just loved watching Clemente play.
Me, i was a Billy Williams fanatic.
Fun story about Billy: My dad was a Buick guy. He used to buy cars from the dealership in town, but got really mad when they screwed up a tune up the day before we were supposed to leave on vacation to California. (Long drive from Chicago).
So, when it came time to buy new, he went to Bauer Buick in Harvey IL. While there to pick up the car, i'm looking at the desks and there was a nameplate that said "Billy Williams". I'm thinking a guy with the same name works there. Then, i'm looking at the pictures of the salesmen (no women selling cars there in those days) and sure enough it was Billy!!!!!
I said "Dad, Billy Williams has his picture on the wall, and his desk is over there (pointing)" By that time, Billy was sitting there. My dad told me to go and talk to him. (I was 10). I went over and told him he was my favorite player and he pulls a 3X5 picture of himself, signs it, shakes my hand and has me sit down to talk baseball for a few minutes.
It was much later that i internalized that ball players in those days, didn't make enough money to do nothing for 6 months.
But, for a 10 year old to get to meet and talk to, one on one, your favorite ball player was awfully cool!
= new reply since forum marked as read
