400 saves

I got off the subway at Shea Stadium and sensed that someone was following me. I didn't want to turn around. I didn't want to stop. It probably wasn't a big deal though. I mean, it was broad daylight, and other people had a right to be there, too. It might have been 1996. I can't remember for sure, but every other detail is vivid.

I walked faster. So did the person behind me.

What the heII is this all about, I thought, finally glancing back. The dude was huge. Six feet tall. Thick muscular legs. Tight jeans. Broad shoulders. Loose sweatshirt. Goatee. Dirty baseball cap pulled down over his eyes.

I slowed down and took another look.

"Trevor?" I asked quietly.

The guy raised his head.

"What's up," he said.

It was Trevor Hoffman.

Shea wasn't open yet. The game was still three hours away, and we were the only ones walking beneath the elevated tracks. I asked him for an autograph, and he signed.

"You need a ticket?" he asked.

Of course I did. I never buy my tickets ahead of time. But I remembered that the "will call" window opened at the same time as the gates...so if Trevor left me a ticket, I'd be picking it up and sprinting halfway around the outside of the stadium while everyone else would be entering. That could easily cost me a ball or two.

"Wow, thanks so much," I said, "but I already have one."

We kept walking and chatting. My mind was racing. In less than a minute, he'd be disappearing into the players' entrance. What should I say? How could I make the most of this opportunity? He was so nice. Would he remember me an hour and a half later? It was worth a shot. I asked him if there was any chance that he could toss me a ball if I was in the left field seats when the Padres came out for batting practice.

He said he would.

And he did.

There's something about 400-save guys. Lee Smith and John Franco were also good to me, but never did anything like that. There's not much that competes with being one-on-one with a major leaguer who makes you feel special.

(NOTE: I'm flying back to NYC later today and going straight to work from Laguardia. When I get home around midnight, and if I'm not completely zonked, I'm going to post some pictures into the entries that I've written from the road. Just wanted to give you a heads up so you can look for them.)