Feeding the baseball addiction without games. Chapter 1 Tony Larussa

10-2-2012

Tattered Cover, Lodo, Denver, Colorado

This was a little different from other times I have been to the Tattered Cover for book signings. Usually you can go up to the room and see the presentation and talk than grab a book have it signed and pay for it. Today you needed a little more commitment you had to purchase the book and you were assigned a number. Since I had 2 books my number was 84 and 85.  I than headed up to the meeting room.

Tony Larussa did a talk, Q&A and autograph signing. Tony Larussa was the manager of the White Sox, Oakland A’s and St. Louis CArdinals. He has won 3 World Series championships. 1 with the A’s and 2 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He played 10 years in the Majors with the Kansas City/Oakland A’s, Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs.

He spoke about many thing from the book including what he said to his team after game six last year how he motivated them to win game 7. After speaking about the book he did over an hour of Q&A. He was asked about his year as a Atlanta Brave. Playing with Hank Aaron and One night that Hank Aaron called him over to talk on a plane trip back to Atlanta. It was basically Hank was one of the few people awake and Hank wanted to talk about something that Hank did during the game. Another question was about him being a 18-year-old called up to the majors. He spoke of the strategy that he used during the years. He was also asked if players from the steroid error should be in the Hall of Fame. Which he did answer with a yes. It was part of the game and that with some substances like HGH, how they were prescribed legally by doctors for injuries. He also said he did not know of anything else being done in the clubhouse but had suspicions especial after the ban and guys showed at camp smaller than the year before. Tony spoke of his friendship with his long time pitching coach Dave Duncan. How they met in 1963 when Duncan came into baseball. He also said that Duncan should be one of the first coaches to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of fame.

He than signed copies of his book.

Here he is signing copies. He shook everyone’s hand as they approached and spoke with everyone. Many asked questions. One question I heard during this point was how much did the squirrel have a part in them winning the World Series!

This was very cool he had all 3 of his Championship rings. That he wore during the talk and took them off had them on the table.

Since I had a high number I waited around while everyone else had their books signed. I got photos of everyone I knew there.

Here is Kevin shaking hands with Tony before having his books signed.

Here he is signing Kevin’s books.

Chris “Smitty” Was in the next group since they called you up in groups of 10.

Mariano meeting Tony.

Eric “EB” Shaking Tony’s hand.

Everybody who was there from our group, except me someone had to take the photo. Left to right EB, Kevin, Brian, Smitty and Mariano. Matt from the Denver Browns and SABR was there also. Along with many others I have seen around baseball events in the last couple of years.

As I was waiting for my group to be called we noticed tony got a little comfortable. If you look he took off his shoes!

Final my group was called and I had my opportunity to meet Tony. He was standing by this point. He saw that I was wearing my All-Start game hat and commented on that. I really did not have any questions for him. It was really cool meeting him. As I walked away I said thank you Mr. Larussa and he said call me Tony. So that is why I have Tony written in this post. I keep the general rule of, If the person, player/coach played when I was in high School I call them mister. If they are a player now I call them by their first name. So since I was in one of the last people to have my books signed we headed out and waited outside. Since he did not sign memorabilia inside the bunch of us waited for him to come out and we had him sign a few Items. Most of us had baseballs signed Smitty had a really cool World Series piece signed. I had a 2012 All- Start ball signed.

So that is it for this one it was a great talk with a very interesting person. Can’t wait to read the book. As always it was agreat night hanging with Coors Crew. Well that is it for this one. To everyone who was not there you were missed!

Thanks to the Tattered Cover for holding this event. The Tattered Cover is located at 16th and Wynkoop in Lodo.

If anyone wants a copy, I have an extra let me know. Email: roxaddict@yahoo.com

til next time see you around. About 5 months 2 weeks til I head to Spring Training!!!!