Comments on: When I met the Hit King [UPDATED] http://trueslant.com/grahamkates/2009/07/27/when-i-met-the-hit-king/ Sat, 16 Oct 2010 12:27:27 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Graham Kates http://trueslant.com/grahamkates/2009/07/27/when-i-met-the-hit-king/comment-page-1/#comment-382 Graham Kates Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:31:08 +0000 http://trueslant.com/grahamkates/?p=2590#comment-382 Dude, Phil Niekro is officially ruined for me. That image of a large greasy hand turning a smaller hand into a pomaded remnant of the handshake where they met, will forever be tied to Niekro's name. I think some guys would have shown more enthusiasm about that ticket than Phil. My Grandma waited in line to get autographs from Joe DiMaggio for my brother and me (I know, totally awesome) about fifteen years ago, and when it was her turn she told him that she had been to one of the games during his streak. He responded by asking her which specific one it was. He was totally into reminiscing about individual games, which is mad cool. Dude, Phil Niekro is officially ruined for me. That image of a large greasy hand turning a smaller hand into a pomaded remnant of the handshake where they met, will forever be tied to Niekro’s name.

I think some guys would have shown more enthusiasm about that ticket than Phil. My Grandma waited in line to get autographs from Joe DiMaggio for my brother and me (I know, totally awesome) about fifteen years ago, and when it was her turn she told him that she had been to one of the games during his streak. He responded by asking her which specific one it was. He was totally into reminiscing about individual games, which is mad cool.

]]> By: Matt Pack http://trueslant.com/grahamkates/2009/07/27/when-i-met-the-hit-king/comment-page-1/#comment-381 Matt Pack Tue, 28 Jul 2009 03:07:18 +0000 http://trueslant.com/grahamkates/?p=2590#comment-381 Was his hand greasy when you shook it? I remember meeting him at a baseball card show when I was a little kid, and I have a very vivid memory of how greasy his hand was. I was like six at the time. Also, by the by, I met Phil Neikro at the same show, and had him autograph my ticket stubs from his final game as a pitcher. And I remember telling him the stub was from him final game. And I remember, even as a six year old, being sure that showing someone the ticket stub from his final game should elicit a little bit more enthusiasm than what Phil showed. Was his hand greasy when you shook it? I remember meeting him at a baseball card show when I was a little kid, and I have a very vivid memory of how greasy his hand was. I was like six at the time.

Also, by the by, I met Phil Neikro at the same show, and had him autograph my ticket stubs from his final game as a pitcher. And I remember telling him the stub was from him final game. And I remember, even as a six year old, being sure that showing someone the ticket stub from his final game should elicit a little bit more enthusiasm than what Phil showed.

]]> By: glennkates http://trueslant.com/grahamkates/2009/07/27/when-i-met-the-hit-king/comment-page-1/#comment-380 glennkates Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:16:21 +0000 http://trueslant.com/grahamkates/?p=2590#comment-380 Your quote is mostly accurate, but not in the proper context. He actually said something along the lines of, "These people want me to write God Damn novels." Its just that his hand still hurt from his collision with Ray Fosse. http://www.realclearsports.com/lists/top_10_mlb_allstargame_moments/pete_roses_collision.html Your quote is mostly accurate, but not in the proper context. He actually said something along the lines of, “These people want me to write God Damn novels.” Its just that his hand still hurt from his collision with Ray Fosse. http://www.realclearsports.com/lists/top_10_mlb_allstargame_moments/pete_roses_collision.html

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