FanPost

I met Brooks Robinson today

I saw an ad in the paper for Brooks signing the Rockwell print, "Gee, thanks Brooks" at a store in Dundalk this morning, so I decided to go get one for my dad as a Christmas present. Plus, I've never met Brooks before so I thought it could be fun.

Brooks was scheduled to start signing at 10 a.m., but he was out in the store chatting with everyone at about 9:15. That freaked out the store staff, and they started telling people to leave Mr. Robinson alone until 10:00. Brooks nixed that right away, and actually started signing about a half hour early. I was only about the fifteenth person in line, but it took me quite awhile to get up to him. Almost every person who got an autograph had some sort of story or adulation for Brooks, and he was giving it right back. It was amazing seeing him interact with everyone. You always hear that Brooks is the nicest guy ever, and I saw nothing that could dispute that opinion. He was genuinely interested in what everyone had to say, and there were people my grandparents age just giddy at the prospect of chatting with Brooks for a few minutes.

I'm not much of an autograph person, really. Back when I was younger, my friends and I used to go places to get autographs from Mussina, Brady, Mike Devereaux and such, and none of them ever said more than two words to us. That's sort of how I thought all athletes were, but Brooks was the polar opposite. In fact, I could see myself going back to get another autograph from him just to chat. When I walked up to him he called me "young lady" (the older I get, the better that sort of thing sounds) and asked me what I'd like for him to write on the print. He noticed I was wearing a Cooperstown hoody and asked me if I'd been there for Cal's induction. I told him it was the most amazing thing I'd ever been a part of and he said, "It was crazy, all right. I hid out for three days." I really just couldn't get over how friendly he was, even though I've been hearing it my entire life. I'm so glad I went and my dad is going to be thrilled with his present.

Also, in case anyone is wondering Brooks' opinion on The Mitchell Report, the guy in front of me asked him if anyone had asked his opinion about it yet. He said of course people had. He said that he thinks the fact that no one in Baltimore has heard one word from Brian Roberts is pretty telling. He thinks that if you're innocent, you stand up and say so. He also said Brian is a good kid and if he did do what's in the report no one should think any less of him. He feels bad for all these kids playing, knowing that they have to compete with people who are cheating to get ahead and having to make decisions based on that.

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