When I watched baseball as a kid, I didn't study numbers like I do now. I didn't go deep into advanced statistics or check baseball reference to look at someone's career. As a kid, I just went by the eyeball test and how I felt about a player. Sadly, Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti also doesn't look at statistics just like the child version of me.
But, my opinion slightly changed towards Kevin Gross during a Photo Day at Dodger Stadium in the early 90s. My mother had taken me that day to walk on the field in hopes of getting my photo taken with some of my beloved Dodgers. Orel Hershiser blew me off. My mother asked him to take a photo with me but, he refused. I am still bitter about it. Kevin Gross on the other hand was nice enough to take a photo with me. It was a simple and kind gesture that I still remember to this day. That changed my opinion about him as a person. I still joked about his on field performance but, not his personality. I told Gross this story in my letter to him. A ball player can do something simple like take a photo with a child and that kid could remember for the rest of his life. I thank him for that day.
Orel on the other hand, is still on my shit list. I am currently rooting against him for his bid to buy the Dodgers. If a ball player refuses to take a photo with a child, that child will always remember that day.
Also, nice shades and mustache combo. I also mentioned that in my letter.
2 comments:
And who can forget his No-Hitter!? :)
i agree - orel aint all that off the field.
i always thought i had my good record of success for TTM because i did the same as you - the letters were always personal. i think the ball players appreciate it as well.
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