A Brush With History

So this post is actually going to be a copy of the story that my dad wrote for a local newspaper contest.  The topic was stories of people who have met famous people and this story that my dad wrote was about a time when just the two of us went to a baseball game when I was a kid.  This story is particularly important to me for a few reasons.  First is because it is easily one of the most memorable moments in my life when it comes to things I’ve done with my dad.  Second because it was something that I one day hope to do with my own kids.  Finally because it was this moment more then any other that sparked my love and desire to get autographs.  My dad only discussed the two main ones that I got that day but in total I think I was around 20-25 autographs that day at the Kingdome.  Oh and sorry there are no pictures but we forgot to bring a camera that day.

2 dads, 2 sons, 4 ever

In May 1991 the Seattle Mariners were playing a week day game at 12:40 in the afternoon. I decided to take my son Joshua (he was 10 at the time) out of school and go to the game. We decided to leave early so we could be there before most of the players arrived.

At that time there was a player’s parking lot on the north east side of the dome. We met a security guard there, and Josh told him how he got out of school to come to the game so he could see some of the players.

Then, a car came into the Kingdom parking lot, zig-zagging around toward the players’ parking lot. The security guard told us that it was Ken Griffey Sr.’s car.

Out of the passenger side of the car stepped Ken Griffey Sr., and he did not have a smile on his face.

Out of the driver’s side stepped Ken Griffey Jr. with his classic big smile.

Senior was not happy with the driving skills of his son.

As they walked toward the stadium, the security guard told the Griffey’s that my son would like an autograph.

Ken Griffey Sr. signed for my son, and Junior stopped and signed a couple of cards and then signed my son’s baseball glove.

As he was signing, he and Josh started talking.

At first I thought they were just doing the simple stuff: “Have fun at the game,” “Thank you for signing.” Then I realized that Junior wanted to talk.

He started telling my son about being a pro ball player. Next thing I know they are talking about football. Junior told Josh that the only thing he does right handed is punt a football. The two of them talked for about 10 minutes. And I talked with Senior.

Anywhere else this would have seemed ordinary. Just a couple of dads talking about their kids and their sons talking about sports.

The only negative was that the baseball glove Junior signed was fairly new, and this meant it was not being used again. I had to buy Josh a new one.

To this day, every time I see Junior on TV or in a magazine I think about that day.

— Stan Randolph, Longview