PAST ENCOUNTERS WITH ATHLETES
THE SUMMER OF 1998- I am from north eastern Ohio and I was on Vacation in Arizona. This was the Diamonbacks innagrual season so I decided to get tickets and check out a game. I would like to say that Bank One Ballpark is absolutely gorgeous. I was sitting in my seat about 30 minutes before game time when I noticed Brian Anderson signing next to his dugout. I took my ball and pen and got down there as fast as I could. I got into line and he came by and signed my ball. I told him that I missed him in Cleveland ( I am a huge Indians' fan. ) He asked me if that was where I was from and I told him the exact city. It turns out that he lives only about 15 minutes from me. After I told him where in the city I lived he practically knew where my house was. He asked me how I liked the D'Backs stadium and I told him that I had taken a tour earlier and I really enjoyed it. The next thing he said totally threw me offguard. He said that he liked playing at the BOB but he liked playing in Cleveland better. I thought this was unusual that a player would express his feelings about his home city like that in front of the home dugout next to all his fans. The conversation lasted about 15 minutes. He signed autographs the whole time he talked to me and as he moved down the line to sign he even told me to keep talking to him and he could sign and talk at the same time. I never had success with him through the mail but in person he is a real class act. It may have been just because it was nice for him to see someone from his hometown, but he signed for about 20 minutes and seemed to enjoy it. More players should be like Mr. Anderson in person.
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