ONE AND ONE WITH DARYL STRAWBERRY

Though Daryl Strawberry will probably never make the BASEBALL HALL OF FAME he had a great career as one of the premier ball players in the Major Leagues during his tenure with the METS, YANKEES and DODGERS. With his big lefty swing he drove many a home runs in to the stands and graciously stroll the bases. After his career like so many that only shows that he is human and not a machine developed a drug problem that had taken his life in a downward spiral. With help and determination he beat the odds and now at 53 has opened drug rehab centers that are helping those with that same situation. With an announcement of a new facility bearing his name a couple of us took a nice drive to the open house hosted by Daryl and some of the best eats that I have seen in a long time.

Daryl was mingling and chatting with everyone so I approached him to sign 2 First Day Covers that I have had since 1986 with each cover gracing his picture. He hesitated then signed and said" THIS IS NOT AN AUTOGRAPH SESSION" and posed for a picture with no argument. BUT Then he sat at a signing table and everyone got on line and were given a signed photo that he had stacked up to give to everyone . My buddy went up to him with a ball ( a few had them) and again said THIS IS NOT AN AUTOGRAPH SESSION and only signed one though he must have realized we were only fans . But the stigma probably was we were the only ones with our own magazines and photos and did not swoon all over him as if he was on a pedestal. We came to the event as true fans and only wanted to have something for our personal collection and left feeling a little empty and uninspired to meet someone we all wanted to meet. Instead of a Home Run it felt only like a single. Well who knows maybe we will have another turn at bat in the future.