The Legend of "The Mookie Ball"
aka "A Christmas Story 2017"
Throughout the many years of The Dead Stadium Tour, we have been fortunate to have met numerous players and have collected many autographed items in our travels. In 1991, we were at Fenway for a series against the Toronto Blue Jays. We were staying in the players' hotel and while I was getting Roberto Alomar's autograph Mookie Wilson walked by us and Dan tried to get him to sign a ball.
As Mookie was about to sign, Rich yelled out "Hey Mookie, how's Lakewood" (Rich had lived in Freehold, NJ for 12 years which is near Lakewood where Mookie had lived and figured if he yelled that out in Boston, he would get a smile and his attention.). Well, the plan worked except Mookie, distracted by the shout out from Rich, turned away to acknowledge him but ultimately walked past Dan and onto the Blue Jays team bus.
Mookie didn't sign for Dan but he looked at the ball and the Legend of "The Mookie Ball" was born........
On every trip since 1991 Dan has carried "The Mookie Ball" and vowed to continue to carry it until Mookie finally signed it. Bear in mind that Mookie has not been affiliated with any teams we have visited in the ensuing years but Dan wouldn't let that stop him in a quest that would make Don Quixote seem like an amateur.
The ball has been to every stadium we have visited since 1991 and has even been used by us when we were allowed to play catch on the field in Pittsburgh Three Rivers Stadium prior to a game in 2000 (the photo below is me catching "The Mookie Ball" in the outfield at Three Rivers).
There was one opportunity for the ball to be signed but I had a "blonde moment" and didn't ask Dan for the ball when I was the honorary photographer for one Mets game at Shea Stadium. I met Mookie that day and told him the story and Mookie signed another ball for me but it "didn't count". I also "warned" Mookie that one day some grizzled old man might stop him and tell him the Legend of "The Mookie Ball" and would not let him leave wherever he was without finally signing it.
Well, last night Dan was at a charity event and knew Mookie was going to be there so Dan brought the ball with him and, finally, the "The Mookie Ball" has been signed! Mookie is a classy guy offering to assist with a charity event right before Christmas and he enjoyed learning of "The Legend of The Mookie Ball".
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night..........
As Mookie was about to sign, Rich yelled out "Hey Mookie, how's Lakewood" (Rich had lived in Freehold, NJ for 12 years which is near Lakewood where Mookie had lived and figured if he yelled that out in Boston, he would get a smile and his attention.). Well, the plan worked except Mookie, distracted by the shout out from Rich, turned away to acknowledge him but ultimately walked past Dan and onto the Blue Jays team bus.
Mookie didn't sign for Dan but he looked at the ball and the Legend of "The Mookie Ball" was born........
On every trip since 1991 Dan has carried "The Mookie Ball" and vowed to continue to carry it until Mookie finally signed it. Bear in mind that Mookie has not been affiliated with any teams we have visited in the ensuing years but Dan wouldn't let that stop him in a quest that would make Don Quixote seem like an amateur.
The ball has been to every stadium we have visited since 1991 and has even been used by us when we were allowed to play catch on the field in Pittsburgh Three Rivers Stadium prior to a game in 2000 (the photo below is me catching "The Mookie Ball" in the outfield at Three Rivers).
There was one opportunity for the ball to be signed but I had a "blonde moment" and didn't ask Dan for the ball when I was the honorary photographer for one Mets game at Shea Stadium. I met Mookie that day and told him the story and Mookie signed another ball for me but it "didn't count". I also "warned" Mookie that one day some grizzled old man might stop him and tell him the Legend of "The Mookie Ball" and would not let him leave wherever he was without finally signing it.
Well, last night Dan was at a charity event and knew Mookie was going to be there so Dan brought the ball with him and, finally, the "The Mookie Ball" has been signed! Mookie is a classy guy offering to assist with a charity event right before Christmas and he enjoyed learning of "The Legend of The Mookie Ball".
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night..........
