Embarassing the nicest man in baseball

30. October 2007 by Orioles Fanatic.

I’m starting this post with an apology to my mother for making fun of her, but this story is just too rich to not share. These sorts of stories cannot go untold. When something is better in truth than you could make up in fiction you have an obligation to share it. Oh, and bless her heart. Now I can say whatever I want.

I learned this weekend that my uncle has a friend who is affiliated, or was once affiliated (we think he is retired) with the Orioles organization. So while I have been 500 miles away all these years, he has been merrily attending one special Orioles event and All Star game after another. What’s worse? My mother has the same friend. For over an hour this weekend, I listened to my uncle catch me up on stories about getting autographs, my cousin being invited into the bullpen, players like Brooks Robinson (!!!) making a special visit at the ballpark to see my uncle and say hello. Can you imagine how I felt hearing this for the first time and knowing that no one has once called me and said, “Would you be interested in meeting Brooks or going to an All Star game?”

My husband and I both told my uncle that in the future, he better remember to call me. He asked, “Would you drive all this way?” We both said in unison, emphatically, “YES!” My uncle pleaded ignorance to knowing what an Oriole fanatic I am, even though he knows where I grew up. (I still don’t get how he didn’t know that!) I cut him some slack since my mom lived in the same house as I did for twenty two years and isn’t all that bothered about the Orioles. But she? What is her excuse for her not thinking to, at the very least, invite me on some of these occasions?

This is what is known as neglectful parenting.

So here’s the story that I couldn’t resist telling, because it is just so unbelievable.

My uncle was invited to a photo shoot with Brooks Robinson. My aunt, my uncle and my mother all went together. My aunt had her picture taken with Brooks. My uncle had his picture taken. My mom just stood there. When the photographer asked my mom, “are you going to have your picture taken?” my mom replied, “Only if he takes off all his clothes.”

To
the
nicest
man
in
baseball.

My mother said that to the nicest man in baseball. She loves nothing better than embarassing people.

She brags to this day “he turned bright red,” and laughs heartily, slapping her knee at the hilarity of it. I promised my uncle I would never say anything like that to Brooks if given the chance to meet him.

I didn’t make any promises about what I would say to Cal though. They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

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