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We left New Jersey early in the morning, to arrive at the Braves' hotel in Philadelphia before the players left. We pulled up at the hotel (where we would be staying that night) around 2:00, a little bit later than we anticipated. The game that night was 5:05, and the bus leaves about 2 1/2 to 3 hours before the game time. Some players, however, might have gone out to eat lunch and then gone to the game, or just left in a cab and gone earlier.
In the best system possible, I will run down all of the autographs I got during these two days -- either at the hotel going to the bus, at the ballpark, or at the hotel that night or the next morning. I will also include any specific stories or comments I have about them:
Bret Boone -- I saw him three times, all coming in and out of the hotel. He was very nice to everyone, signing whenever he came out. I got autographs on my team ball, a baseball card, and an index card. One time, when he saw a few of us outside the hotel around 3 A.M., he said to us "Go to bed guys!"
Kevin McGlinchy -- Although usually the young guys are nice about autographs and meeting fans, Kevin is probably one of the nicest. On the way from the hotel to the team bus on Friday, no one even noticed Kevin and asked him for an autograph! I was just about to, but I realized I already had his autograph on my team ball. I ended up getting an autograph later on a photo that I had taken at Yankee Stadium earlier in July. Also, out of the goodness of my heart (;-) ), I gave the McGlinchy baseball card I had to another fan so they could get his autograph.
Leo Mazzone -- One time, he was standing outside the hotel with his 20-year-old son, Chris (the batboy), and he wasn't really doing much. After a few people approached him for an autograph, I got an index card signed -- I didn't have a baseball card or anything like that! ;-) I told him "Nice work with the Atlanta pitching staff" and he replied with a "thanks."
John Hudek -- I got his autograph on the team ball as he entered the hotel once. I was sad to hear that he was cut (well, optioned to the minors for assignment, but he can choose to reject it -- he hasn't made his decision yet, last I heard) on Saturday night. I saw him as a Brave just that morning! John was always friendly and joking with the fans and autograph seekers, and that is always a pleasant surprise. Several times, however, on Friday night, he told us he was going to go to bed -- but he kept on appearing in the hotel lobby! Go to bed, Johnny boy!
Rudy Seanez -- Another nice guy -- it seems like all the bullpen guys are (except John Rocker, but I'll get to him later). He signed my team ball on the way to the bus on Friday. I also got to talk to him for a little bit about Joy, who writes Joy's Journals as well as some articles for the Andruw Advisor.
Randall Simon -- I was surprised when he stopped and signed while going on the bus, because I have never seen him sign before. He changed my view totally, though! I got his autograph on the team ball while going on the bus. While he signed, I said "Good job in representing Curacao!" and he replied with a common "Thanks." I also got his autograph during pre-game stretches at the ballpark, this time on a baseball card.
Bruce Chen -- I've met him before at Richmond games, and he usually does sign some autographs, although you can tell he doesn't enjoy it that much. Just before going into the hotel after he pitched a great game, I got him to sign my team ball. Interestingly enough, he only signed this autograph "Bruce." In the past, he's written "Bruce Chen" in very neat handwritting (well, for a ballplayer anyway).
Ryan Klesko -- I have heard mixed stories about Ryan, but this trip changed my opinion. When he saw some autograph seekers at the ballpark while the players were stretching (the gates opened too late and BP had already finished by the time the fans were let in!), he said "Let me stretch first, then I'll sign for a little bit." Truthfully, I did not believe him, but sure enough, after stretching out, he came over to the wall and signed for a good amount of people. I got his autograph on my team ball. He also signed later that night while going into the hotel, but I didn't get anything that time.
Eddie Perez -- Eddie is usually nice to the fans, when people ask! When he came off the bus, going into the hotel, I believe I was the only person that asked for his autograph! The other people were chasing the superstars (Maddux, Andruw, Chipper) and didn't worry about the "Non-superstars". While he told some jokes after coming out of the bar, I also got his autograph on a baseball card.
Kevin Millwood -- Kevin, like Bruce, also pitched a great game in the Doubleheader, but was pulled early due to a Blister on his finger (which I found out after I came home.) He signed for anyone that asked, although he didn't say much. I got his autograph on a team ball and a baseball card.
Otis Nixon -- Otis didn't sign that much, but I was lucky to catch him going onto the bus. When he was signing, he took two or three items at a time -- which made me scared! At one point, he had my baseball in his hand, along with two others, and was about to walk on the bus! I don't think he was trying to steal them, but it sure made me nervous! He did sign and, after returning it to the wrong person, I got the team ball back! ;-)
Russ Springer -- Russ, although not being that chased-after to the fans, did sign for anyone that asked. I got his autograph on a team ball and later on a Baseball Card (the card featured him in a Yankees uniform, though -- yuck!). Because he was standing around once with no one else around him, I got my picture taken with him, too! Hopefully I can get that signed the next time I see him.
Bobby Dews -- He was very nice during pre-game stretches, signing autographs for a lot of Braves fans against the wall. When he was just about to leave, we yelled out to him "Please, one more, for a really big Braves fan!". He replied "But you want them to keep winning, don't you?" (in a joking tone, not a snippy one!). Then he signed the team ball. Although I had a bad image in my head about the coaches for some reason (that they were old geezers who didn't care about the fans), this trip certainly changed that.
Don Baylor -- He let people ask for autographs while he pulled up his car to the hotel on Saturday morning. I got a baseball card signed (a 1988 card -- he was a player not too long ago!) and also told him "Good job with the hitting!". He replied with another "thanks."
Ozzie Guillen -- I already had his autograph on my team ball, but later in the hotel, he signed a baseball card for me. After he was done signing, I asked him for a photo with me, and he obliged. Ozzie is another gracious one to the fans.
Now onto some other things. First, some stuff about the Doubleheader:
It was kind of disappointing that the Braves ended up losing the first game, especially with a 4-0 and 5-1 lead at different points. Bruce Chen's best performance in the majors (just in time for the trading deadline, too) was a big bonus in Game #2.
For the thirty minutes in between games, the Phillies' employees, announcers, and mascot did a good job of keeping the fans from being bored. They showed a few videos on the big screen, like the Phanatic's (the mascot) best moments, crazy promotions at Veterans stadium, or baseball bloopers.
An interesting event was the "Cash Scramble." Fake money was placed around the infield grass, and a total of four contestants were giving 60 seconds each to grab as much money as they could! After that, they could turn it in for real money. Although they said they were going to announce how much each person got during the 2nd game, I never heard the announced amounts.
One of the halirious things I have ever seen a mascot do took place on that Friday night. In between an inning, the Phanatic, with the Star Wars music blaring in the background, jumped onto the dugout and then the field with a light saber sword. (Hopefully that's the correct wording -- I'm not a Star Wars fanatic!) Then, popped up a little Braves Demon, with I believe a Braves hat on. They had a little sword fight, and of course, the Phillie Phanatic won and emphatically stepped on the Braves' guy after defeat! Although the Phanatic can be annoying, and he is a Phillies fan, it was incredibly funny!
Veterans Stadium was pretty much full of Braves fans -- when the Braves did something good, you could always here some cheers, and when the Phillies did good, you also heard some cheers. I'd say for being at another person's ballpark, the Braves had pretty good fan support.
Other comments about certain players around the ballpark or hotel:
Tom Glavine was spotted several times with his new wife and new son, Peyton. MOST of the fans and autograph seekers were respectful and didn't bother him.
Greg Maddux was probably the toughest autograph to get. He just walked fast and furious, trying to avoid the fans. A few times, if you kept following him until no one else was there, he did sign.
John Rocker was with a blonde girlfriend the whole time, and I did not see him sign any autographs. That was surprising for being a bullpen guy (although he is the closer, he's still not exactly a superstar) and for being young. Once, when he thought I was waiting for him near the elevator, he took the stairs instead! Yeah right John, we weren't waiting for you. Although I still have plenty of respect for him as a baseball player, I don't have much for him as a person that cares for the fans.
I was glad to see Micah Bowie there -- when I left on Friday morning, I didn't even know he was called up from Richmond! I already got an autograph and a photo with him at a Richmond game, so I didn't worry about autographs here. It was pretty cool when I rode an elevator with him, his wife (they got married on the pitching mound in the Durham Bulls' ballpark a few years ago!), and his child on Saturday morning, because later that day, he made his major league debut! Although Micah probably won't stay in the majors for long, or he might possibly be traded in the upcoming deadline, he's still one of my favorite players and persons in the Braves' system.
Chipper Jones does sign a fair amount of autographs, but so many people tried to get his, that it was very tough! He did sign on Friday, going from the hotel to the bus, but I was not able to get his autograph. He didn't sign when he came back from that night's game, and I didn't see him after that. He was with a blonde girlfriend most of the time, too.
Andruw, disappointingly enough to me, pretty much ignored the fans. On Friday, going to the bus, he talked on his cell phone as he walked, and did not acknowledge the fans at all. He did not take the bus home from the stadium after the game, and there were some autograph seekers there as late as 4 a.m. waiting for him! I'm not sure when he came back, but he might have been in Atlantic City like Maddux was. On Saturday, he talked (or pretended he was) on his cell phone in the lobby, but two hotel people were "guarding" him and not letting anyone near. Then, the same hotel people followed him when he made the short walk from the lobby to a nearby car to go to the game.
Brian Jordan didn't sign many/any autographs, but he had a valid excuse -- he was with his wife and family! I saw his wife and two young children, both of whom were very cute! They ran and played around the lobby at times, and were just a joy to watch.
Also, when I was waiting for the bus to arrive at the hotel on Friday night, Jessica Stine, a writer for ChopTalk and a subscriber to our newsletter, the Andruw Advisor, came up to me! She asked if she could interview me, and because we've talked a few times online, I told her who I was and she remembered me and the newsletter. She did a small interview, so I MIGHT be in an upcoming ChopTalk! ;-)
Well, that's about it from Philly. We arrived home around 7:00 on Saturday, just in time to tune in for that night's game. (Another blown loss). It was definitely a good outing, and one I'll never forget!
Fanatical Braves Fans can be found across the United States. Janice Logan from "chilly" Idaho warmed up to the Braves when "there was NOTHING on" television one afternoon. She instantaneously became "hooked" on Braves baseball. Although she lives hundreds of miles from Atlanta she is a very dedicated fan. She takes "yearly treks to San Francisco to see them play" and her bedroom is "a shrine to the Braves". Jennifer Landry from Thibodaux, Louisiana also turned her bedroom into a Braves shrine. Her walls are covered with Braves posters and memorable Choptalk covers. She has Braves blankets, pillows, signs, and even a lamp. If it has the Braves logo on it, Jennifer "wants it or has it". Teresa Skaggs from Madison, Alabama just started watching the Braves a year ago, but is no less fanatical about the team. Teresa refers to the players as "my wonderful boys of summer". She has become "extremely addicted" to the Braves and has a rather considerable collection of Braves memorabilia. Teresa, her son, and her parents have traveled to see the Braves play in Atlanta and St. Louis. She has ensured that her love for the Braves is carried on at her place of work, as she alternates the "wallpaper" on her computer there between pictures of Andres Galarraga, Javy Lopez, Ryan Klesko, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Kerry Ligtenberg, and Chipper Jones.
Cathie Dove from Ohio has over 100 different Andruw Jones cards. She spends hours surfing Braves sites on the Internet. She travels to Cincinnati to see the team play and has spent a memorable birthday watching the Braves play in person. She tapes every game and decides if she "wants to keep it when it's over". "Kelly" is another fanatical Braves fan who frequently tapes games. She puts together her own "highlight tape every season by taping home runs, game winning plays, and player interviews".
Every spring and summer, Kaye Dooley and her family hit the road to watch their favorite Brave, Klesko, play. They drive from Jonesboro, Arkansas to Atlanta, a 450 mile trip and to St Louis, a 250 mile trip to do the "fan thing". They endure the "hot sun for hours" and spend "lots of money on hotel rooms, stuff at the ballpark, and treats for the grandkids". The Dooley's are not alone in their pilgrimages to see the team play. Ken and Valerie Reinert plan their spring and summer vacation trips around the Braves schedule. When traveling to Florida to visit her parents they always make a stop in Atlanta to see their beloved team play. They recently purchased a vacation time share "right down the street from the Braves Spring Training Complex" in Kissimmee, Florida. Their time share week is, of course, in March! This couple is so fanatical about the Braves that they recently celebrated their wedding anniversary "on-line booking Spring Training Tickets". As they traveled to their Las Vegas vacation they made a stop off in Atlanta to catch a game. And they don't let their jobs get in the way of seeing a game. They have been known to "hop a plane to Atlanta on a Friday evening, catch a Saturday and Sunday game and head back home Sunday night, reporting to work blurry-eyed on Monday morning".
Chris French from Kennett, Missouri, named her dog Hank Aaron. "Hank", does the Tomahawk Chop for "goodies". She has made two pilgrimages to Turner Field, one while traveling to Florida for a reunion and one special trip for Hank. Hank even showed the clerk at the ticket booth his "chop"!
Fanatical Braves fans can be found not only across the United States but also in many parts of the world. Martha Saenz lives in Sonora, Mexico and "can't live without watching the Braves". She doesn't remember why she "started following the Braves", but "loves the game and loves the team". Martha says she does not generally become so crazy about things that interest her, however, "people say I am obsessed about the Braves". So much so that she "dragged" her parents to Atlanta, all the way from Mexico, to see the Braves play during the 1996 World Series.
Many Braves fanatics have found an outlet for their enthusiasm on the Internet. Through various web pages they share their love for the team and their favorite players. Jessica from Iowa, is a huge Chipper Jones fan. She maintains her own web site entitled "The Chipper Experience". She has traveled to Milwaukee, Chicago, and Pittsburgh to see her team play. While in Florida she made a pilgrimage to Pierson the birthplace of Chipper Jones and the "fern capital of the world".
Amanda Jennings from Augusta, Georgia is a college student and an aspiring sports journalist. She has participated in the Braves "Guest Press Program" where she had the opportunity to interview players during batting practice and watch the game from the press box. She has traveled to Philadelphia and New York to see the Braves play. While in New York she had the opportunity to visit the radio booth and press box at Shea Stadium. She writes a monthly column, "Choptalk.com" for Choptalk magazine. Her column explores various Braves websites. She has developed her own Tom Glavine website. And, of course, she collects Braves memorabilia.
You can find Leslie Harshbarger's Greg Maddux website entitled "Mad Dog Mania". Leslie has been a Braves fan for over twenty years. Everything her husband gave her for Christmas this past year was Braves related. Among the many "Braves" gifts she received was a Glavine autographed jersey. She jokingly feels that she is personally responsible for "at least a million of those 38 million transactions on E-Bay just on Braves cards and memorabilia". Teresa Skaggs is also a frequent visitor to the E-Bay site, often out bidding other fans for Braves merchandise.
Braves fanatics are a diverse group, due in part to the wide visibility of the team on the TBS Superstation, which beams Braves games across the globe. Although a diverse group, Braves fanatics have one thing in common; their immense loyalty and enthusiasm for "America's Team".
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