Tony the Gwynn must know Dodger Fan by smell

by Dex on Jan 24, 2007 1:11 PM PST in News

Otherwise, why would he be such a jerk to this autograph seeker?

Once I got to Tony, I said "Hey Tony" and gave him a bat for him to sign and politely asked him "Do you mind putting H.O.F. 2007?" He looked at me angry and replied quickly "Yes I do mind putting that!!" I was surprised by his reaction but stayed calm and told him "Oh ok Tony, no problem" Then he grabs the bat and starts to take some swings at it and talks to himself about how terrible this bat is and how funny collectors are about getting autographs.

Giving Dodger Fan the benefit of the doubt, this sort of story doesn't surprise me. I've heard very similar things about Gwynn when people ask him for autographs and the like. He didn't even bother walking over when Jonny Dub and I were looking for an autograph at his HoF pres conference. The one time I was on an elevator with him, I didn't bother asking for an autograph and instead played it cool by wetting myself. He was much cooler about that than he was to Dodger Fan.

P.S. Be sure to check out the full post. The photo is really funny. Like, "Next! Outta my way, Dodger Fan. You smell."

[Link from San Diego Padres Mom]

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I was seriously afraid to ask Gwynn for a photo

My theory is that Gwynn starts as a real nice guy. Word travels about what a nice guy he is, and people start trying to take advantage of him. So he's gotta kinda build up a defense for that. That and he genuinely hates signing autographs.

I paid for an autograph in the SDSU bookstore, not long after he started. I was 2nd to last in line. You pay 20 bucks and he signs a ball and a t-shirt for you. It was a nice fund raiser.

When I got up there he's talking to his handler about how much he hates signing stuff. Right there in front of me. He never even looked up at me. I left with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.

I've seen him a few times since and I've honestly just tried to stay out of his way so as not to upset him. I cringe when people start asking him for stuff, because I'm afraid he's gonna flip out.

by jbox on Jan 24, 2007 1:23 PM PST reply actions

He can't sit there that long

without staring at people and in his mind, they turn into food, just like the old cartoons. Jbox probably looked like a hot dog or something to Gwynn.

by thenerdhater on Jan 24, 2007 2:30 PM PST reply actions

Bring him food

I bet if you actually brought him a hotdog while asking him it would all go a lot smoother.

by Jonny Dub on Jan 24, 2007 3:08 PM PST up reply actions

food

He probably smelt that little dodger fan and all he could think of was the all you can eat dodger dogs deal in LA next year...

by ABY on Jan 24, 2007 5:00 PM PST up reply actions

I've gotten his autograph

on a couple different occasions.

First time was around 1990 at a baseball card show. Cost me (well...my Dad) like $8 or something. I don't remember this part...but my dad recalls him being kind of rude. He was talking to somebody else sitting next to him and didn't even glance up at us.

Second time was at the Costco on Morena. It was around 1993 or so. Price was free, with the exception that he would only sign these No Fear promo 8x10s. My brother and I brought in game-used baseballs we had got in BP and asked him to sign them. He must have liked us or thought we were cute or something, cuz he said that he wasn't allowed to sign the balls, but if we wait outside until he's done he'll sign them for us. We also got a picture with him that day. He was super-nice that day.

I think I also got his autograph before a game one time, but I actually forget. Either way, I think like anyone he has his good days and his bad days.

by wait till next year on Jan 24, 2007 3:05 PM PST reply actions

That Picture cracks me up

He's totally tring not to look at the camara.

by Jonny Dub on Jan 24, 2007 3:09 PM PST reply actions

From what I understand

...is Tony doesn't like all the collectors out there just trying to make money. So when this guy asks him to sign that way, he's doing it to try and increase the value. Plus, when he asks for the picture, it is for authenticity purposes, again to increase the value.

So I think he likes signing for kids who will definitely keep the autographed item, but has become jaded about adults getting autographs b/c they are just going to sell it on Ebay.

by FUBYU on Jan 24, 2007 3:53 PM PST reply actions

This is nothing new

T. Gywnn gets surly with autograph collectors, it's happened many times in the past. However, I bet that will change as he ages.

When people STOP asking, that's when you are in trouble, and these guys should realize that.

Case in point -- at a Cubs/Pads game last May, I was sitting about a section away from the Cubs dugout on the 3B line. I caught a foul ball.

Seated just a section to my right -- Cubs Hall Of Famer Billy Williams. Well, you know what I had to do. I approached Billy between innings, introduced myself, (addressed him as Mr. Williams)
and he signed gladly -- "Billy Williams, H.O.F. '87."

The Pads swept that series, but that gesture from a classy gentleman made my day.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jan 24, 2007 8:38 PM PST reply actions

Classy & unclassy gestures by Hall of Famers

True story about Reggie Jackson, which probably does not belong here, but I'll tell it anyways cause I'm waiting for the last episode of 24 to download. The trigger was when FUBYU said he thinks they all get classier with age.

My parents used to own a flower shop in Newport Beach; Reggie Jackson owned a condo right across the street. Mr. October would roll in whenever he was in town and not in Oakland or NYC and have flowers ordered and shipped to like 6 different women all over the country. And Reggie's famous for being a world class A-hole. So he sort of knew my dad cause they both went to Arizona State together and they bro our and knock down a Coors Light that dad kept in the flower cooler, then Reg uses the restroom. After he leaves dad noticed frickin' Reggie pissed on the damn seat, all over the place. Holy crap, it's not every day a HOFer pisses on your toilet seat. Dad was livid; I suggested he get it autographed and then frame it. Those one-of-a-kind items get big $$ at the memorabilia shows. What kind of a-hole pees on your toilet seat and then doesn't wipe it up? What the frick? Unclassy gesture.

So dad doesn't care for Reg much. A few years later Reggie is our front drinking coffee and reading the sports page, dad walks outside and chats. Super old guy sitting next to them, (this guy must have been a thousand) had one of those oxygen carts with the tubes up his nose and says he's going to die soon, and you believe it, cause he looks so frail, but he's still smoking a cigarette. It's maybe 8:00am- how rad is that guy? old guy asks Reggie for an autograph for his grandson or something, but realizes he has neither a pen nor paper. Reggie says "no problemo" opens up the trunk of his beamer and whips our 3 brand new official MLB balls, signs them each and personalized one to the kid, and hands them all to the old man. Dad said he though the old guy was going to have a heart attack right there. Dad is a big Reggie fan now, all it took was one sweet classy gesture.

So maybe AFTER you are inducted into the hall is when you become cool to people.....Maybe this story was way too long.

by RBS on Jan 25, 2007 12:26 AM PST reply actions

That's a great story

Lift up the seat Reggie!

by jbox on Jan 25, 2007 8:48 AM PST up reply actions

seat

I dunno where you been, I worked in a bar in NYC for over 10 years and most men (and women) whizz on the seat after a few coors lites!

by ABY on Jan 25, 2007 9:10 AM PST up reply actions

T Gwynn

I'm not trying to defend T's actions in some of the previously mentioned stories. There is no excuse for being rude or not even glancing at someone while you're giving them an autograph...especially one you're being paid to sign.
I just think over the course of the years, the fraud element of the sports memorabilia industry has really taken a toll on him and his outlook towards autograph seekers.
There was an article in the North County Times in December detailing T's fight against forgeries.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/12/17/sports/professional/20_30_2812_16_06.txt

Not mentioned in the article was his work with the FBI in helping to identify forged autographs.

"We are in such a slump that even the ones that are drinking aren't hitting." ~ Casey Stengel

by Drama on Jan 25, 2007 7:53 AM PST reply actions

knowledge is key

YOU are the man (or woman!)

by ABY on Jan 25, 2007 9:18 AM PST up reply actions

Oh

Drama is ALL man!

by jbox on Jan 25, 2007 9:22 AM PST up reply actions

Blimey!

say no more... <nudge nudge, wink wink>

by ABY on Jan 25, 2007 9:32 AM PST up reply actions

I saw Tony yesterday

I was walking to my next class at SDSU and I was passing Hepner Hall (the one famous building) and I saw the Channel 4 crew and John Weisbarth. There was this van that was pulling out and in the passenger seat was Tony. I walked right by the window and briefly thought about banging on it and yelling "TONY GWYNN YOU'RE MY HERO!" but I didn't. Instead I just text messaged my friends and told everyone who would listen to me about it.

by Bryan on Jan 25, 2007 8:08 AM PST reply actions

Bob Chandler's book

There is a good story in Bob Chandler's book about a discussion between Randy Jones and Don Drysdale. Jones tells Drysdale that something he did that really affected him as a youth. Drysdale was curious as to what it was, thinking it was a pitching tip. Jones tells him how he tried forever to get Drysdale's autograph, but Drysdale would never give it to him when he was a kid. Jones vowed that he'd never turn down somebody asking him for his autograph. Drysdale grabbed a napkin and signed it for him and said "there's your autograph!"

by jbox on Jan 25, 2007 8:52 AM PST reply actions