Biggest toolbag award goes to: TROY AIKMAN (runners-up include Stan Musial, Mike Ditka, Deion Sanders, Tony Dorsett, Willie Mays)

Others who didn’t disappoint: Ernie Banks, Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, Cal Ripken Jr. (actually most Orioloes players Ive met were stand up guys, even Eddie Murray), Tony Gwynn, Paul Molitor (SO humble), Ozzie Smith, Al Kaline, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Ryne Sandberg (signed for my son 3-4 times at spring training last year).,,

“HOF” jerks: Jackson, Seaver, Johnny Bench, Rod Carew (charged me $20 just to put his uni number next to his auto), George Brett, Wade Boggs, Cliff Lee, Mike Schmidt (boyhood idol, I was crushed), Bob Gibson (really no surprises here

Biggest surprises (given their reputations): Rickey Henderson (talked me up and gave me free autograph inscriptions), Eddie Murray, Cole Hamels (thought he’d be a brat, very nice, laid back)

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, my friend and I decided to head out to Bo Brooks for dinner that evening, and while we were waiting for our table, we noticed a rather rotund older gentleman heading out the door with another rather rotund younger gentleman. I did a double take and realized that it was none other than Tommy Lasorda. We watched him walk out of the restaurant, and I turned to my friend and said “We need to get a picture with him,” so I walked outside and politely asked him if he had a minute for a quick photo. The younger gentleman he was with immediately started to say that Mr. Lasorda had to get going and didn’t have time, but Mr. Lasorda interrupted him and said that he always had time for fans. He was VERY personable and we talked briefly about the Dodgers recent moves and what he thought about them them, to which he said something like “With all the moves they made they better win.” Here is the photo from my Twitter account: https://twitter.com/ssemerdjian/status/231903000384401408. That was a wonderfully unexpected experience.

You also weren’t even in Reggie’s “space” nor were you interfering with his “shopping”.

That said, you probably should have introduced yourself/exonerated yourself…he obviously had you confused with an earlier-in-the-day photographer…(somewhere out there is a Chris Olds look-alike troublemaker with a dozen Reggie pictures…)

Sorry to hear about your “baptism by Reggie.” I saw him in Spring Training years ago, and when a group asked him to sign, he said he had to do something but would be right back (the international sign that he is blowing off auto seekers). Sure enough, he came out 30 minutes later, walked right over and started signing. He took my ball and signed on the sweet spot. I thought: ‘This guy isn’t as bad as everyone says he is.’ After about ten autos, he starts walking away. Everybody is calling him. He turns around, and as sarcastically as possible, says “Yeah, Reggie, thanks for signing. Well, you’re welcome.” Yep, some things never change.