Bat Boy Day

Today is Bat Boy day. On this day in 1975 I was a Honorary Cardinal bat boy for a day after winning an essay contest sponsored by the Cardinals and Kentucky Fried Chicken. No, it wasn't KFC then. No political correctness existed at the time that discriminated against the word "fried".
Anyway, the essay contest was to describe in 25 words or less why you should be a honorary Cardinals bat boy. I remember writing something about pride and the community, sending it off and forgetting about it. A few months later I come home from school one day and Mom is waiting for me outside. She hands me an envelope with a Kentucky Fried Chicken return address on it and told me I won an honorable mention in the contest, and my prize was a free chicken dinner. I was pretty happy with that! Wow, I actually won something! Then I read the letter telling me I won and I was to report to Busch Stadium on Wednesday, May 14 for my special day!
I broke down and cried.
I took the letter to school with me the next day and showed my teacher, Mr. Goldsmith. He said he was jealous, but I could tell he was happy for me.
About 2 weeks before the big day, Mom and Dad went shopping for a new car. Mom called me and told me to get cleaned up in a hurry, they were coming back by the house to pick me up to bring me to the dealership to take a ride in the new car when it was ready, as well as to meet someone who was there.
At the dealership signing autographs for a promotion was none other than Cardinals relief pitcher Al "The Mad Hungarian" Hrabosky and all star catcher Ted Simmons, my two favorite players. Somehow I was able to tell them about my upcoming big day but I was pretty much star struck and tongue tied. Since then I have met many big time celebrities--movie stars, rock stars etc, and it doesn't really faze me, but ball players turn me into a total basket case. I met Ozzie Smith back in the mid 90's and could barely speak.
Anyway, on May 14 we went to Busch for the afternoon game against the Dodgers. Now as honorary bat boy you don't actually perform any bat boy duties. Me, Mom, Dad, and my brother Robert were able to spend time in the dugout before the game and meet several of the players. Jack Buck was interviewing some rookie pitcher from Hawaii a few feet away. I was given an autographed ball, cap, shirt and program. I had the opportunity to pick 3 players to have an official photograph with. I chose Simmons, Hrabosky, and Lou Brock. The photographer was Jim Herren from Collinsville. 10 years later his son Tim would be a drummer in my band the Rockouts. Simmons and Hrabosky both remembered my name. I was impressed. For the picture with Brock, we moved to a different area, and in the stands flirting with the usherettes was none other than Steve Garvey of the Dodgers. Brock made a joke about it. We were then escorted to our excellent box seats. My name was flashed on the scoreboard and announced over the PA during the game. Brock stole a base. Simmons had a double. Hrabosky got the save. Cards won 7-4. It was a great day.
Flash forward to late 1999. Me and friend Kelly Laster stop by Jim Herren's studio to take care of some business. Who shows up? None other than Lou Brock. I tell him we met once before and I had something to show him. I pulled out my wallet and the photo of us from '75. He then signed it for me.
Here you can see the photo's. Look closely and you can see Garvey with the usherettes in the background. Photo's by Jim Herren.
PS-I didn't realize this was May 14. I was at the doctors office today and brought along a book I bought last week about Tommy Lasorda. Lasorda was a coach for the Dodgers in '75 and later became their manager. I figured sitting in the doctors office would be a good time to start reading the book. A nurse asked me what I was reading just prior to sticking a needle in my arm for my blood work, and then I realized what day it was.
My life is weird.