Brian Boehringer

I met Brian Boehringer at the Four Points by Sheraton Suites in Tampa, Florida on November 10, 2018. Brian was part of the New York Yankees Fantasy Camp and was about to attend a banquet as the camp was coming to a close. I spotted Brian coming down the glass elevator and I went to approach him in the lobby. Brian stopped to chat with a couple of guys that were attending the camp along with former teammate, Shane Spencer. Brian didn't see my seven year old son and I at first as he was conversing. I didn't want to interrupt, so my son and I waited patiently. Brian used quite a few choice words, all in good fun. He turned around and saw my son and I and was incredibly apologetic.  I laughed it off and told it wasn't a problem. As he continued to apologize a second time, I said, "You can make it up to us, if you'd like". He replied, "How so?" -"You can sign an autograph for us!" I said. He was shocked that my son and I had cards of him from his Minor League days. Brian signed my 1993-94 Fleer Excel baseball card.

Roy Halladay

My son and I met Roy Halladay outside of Tropicana Field as he was leaving for the night after being awarded at the Ted Williams Hitters Hall of Fame dinner on February 6, 2016. Roy signed my 8x10 picture for me and signed a 2009 Upper Deck baseball card for my son. I remember the joy I had of finally getting this amazing 8x10 picture signed! I saw Roy again in November of 2016 as he was being inducted into the Florida State League Hall of Fame. I was hoping to take a picture of him with my son, but he was running late to the event. He approached me and clearly seemed lost. I pointed at the door where the event was being held and said, "You're in the right place!" He nodded and thanked me. I didn't want to bother him for a picture when he was leaving for the night. I figured I'd see him around again since we both lived in the same area. Sadly, Roy was taken away about a year later as his plane crashed in the Gulf of Mexico on November 7, 2017. Roy's two Cy Young awards along with a Perfect Game and No-Hitter during a playoff game are two key notes into the greatness of his pitching. Roy was announced as a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame's class of 2019 on January 22, 2019 by receiving 85.4% of votes by the BBWAA on his first year of eligibility.

Kevin Cash

I met Kevin Cash outside of Brighthouse Networks Field, the Spring Training home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Kevin was leaving the park after a Spring Training game, on March 13, 2015. Kevin, who had just taken over as the Tampa Bay Rays manager, signed an 8x10 picture.

Dante Bichette

I first met Dante Bichette at the Tampa Bay Rays Fan Fest at Tropicana Field. Dante was signing autographs along with the MLB Alumni. Dante signed a 1993 Donruss baseball card.

Darryl Strawberry

I first met Darryl Strawberry on July 4, 1995 at Dunedin Stadium. Darryl was on a rehab assignment with the Tampa Yankees at the time. I was lucky enough to be one of the Dunedin Blue Jays bat boys that day. Darryl was my all time favorite baseball player and I was incredibly honored to meet him. I remember watching him take BP that day. He had such a sweet swing and the balls would launch off his bat with what seemed to be little to no effort. Raw power! After BP, I was able to chat with him in the dugout as he sat next to me. I told him that he was my favorite player and that my brother and I were long time Mets fans from birth and that he and I even shared the same birthday! I also mentioned that my brother was in the stands and had a Beckett Baseball Card Monthly magazine that we were hoping to get signed. He told me he had already met him and signed one for each of us! After Darryl and I finished chatting, he went back to the visiting clubhouse as I returned to my pre-game bat boy duties and headed back to the Blue Jays home clubhouse. Just before reaching entrance of the clubhouse, I collapsed against a fence and limped back to the locker room in pain. The Dunedin Blue Jays trainer checked me out and diagnosed me with a strained hamstring. I still to this day don't know how I would've strained it as I was just walking. I also never forget how Darryl was greeted by the fans that day. Darryl was met with loud and obnoxious boos during each of his at-bats. After the game, I remember those same fans lining up by the visiting clubhouse, hoping for his autograph. As Darryl was signing autographs, they were praising, cheering and wishing him luck on his return to New York. Kind words didn't seem to add up from the boos I was hearing from those same people. I was annoyed by how fake and two-faced those fans were. I also admired Darryl for letting go and signing for everybody that asked him for his autograph. On May 16, 2017, Darryl was making an appearance at George M. Steinbrenner Field to spread the word of God to the people of Tampa. I brought my son with me to hopefully get a chance for him to meet him. We arrived and were there for less than 5 minutes when Darryl walked in our direction. My son pulled out his 8x10 picture and asked Darryl to sign it. He said, "Sure! Why don't you guys follow me!" Darryl brought the two of us into a private area, closed off to the public. He signed the picture on a table and then agreed to take a picture with us! Darryl Strawberry may have had some bad press during his playing days. In my mind, Darryl has always been a class act.

Ed Sprague

On March 4, 1994 my Mother woke me up to tell me that instead of going to school, she was taking my brother, Dan and I to the Spring Training home opener for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Baltimore Orioles, at Grant Field in Dunedin, Florida. After batting practice, I was standing in the stands behind home plate by myself, waiting for somebody to walk by so that I could get an autograph. A man approached me from the field and asked if I'd like to be the bat boy for the day. Of course I jumped at the opportunity! My Mom gave the 'OK' and I was taken onto the field and into the Blue Jays clubhouse to be fitted for a uniform. After the game, the clubhouse attendant which offered me the job for the day, was allowing me to get autographs in the clubhouse! I needed only one more signature... I asked the man if Ed Sprague was still around. He advised me that Ed had already left for the day. He then brought me to the back of the clubhouse where a couple guys were hanging out, conversing. One of them was signing a box of a dozen baseballs. I didn't recognize either one of them. The attendant began asking how I was enjoying my day as he was flipping through my book with my cards and pictures, some signed, some not. He flipped to Ed's unsigned 8x10 picture and asked what I thought of him. Keep in mind, I was 12 years old at the time, just shy of my 13th birthday. I answered as honestly as I could. "I like Sprague, but I think the Blue Jays will wind up trading him, soon." The man signing the baseballs began to laugh. I immediately realized I had been set up! I was incredibly embarrassed as I realized at that moment, I was sitting next to Ed Sprague himself! Ed pulled the 8x10 picture out of the plastic protective sleeve, and signed the picture, "To Brian 'My Biggest Fan'! Ed Sprague.