My Autograph Signing Didn’t Go So Well
By Aaron James Sutch
This past homestand the Pirates hosted the LA Dodgers and the Miami Marlins. The Buccos had a rough week, and so did I. One bright spot was the block party on Saturday afternoon.
There were bands, games, and appropriately enough, a former Pirate signing autographs who ripped our hearts out in 1992. He was slated to sign autographs during the block party until around 3:45 about 15 mins before game time. What he and the Pirates didn’t know is I was slated to sign autographs from the time he left until I decided to enter the ballpark. And I honored my commitment.
I sat there, under that tent and was approached by only one fan. One!? After all I have given this fanbase! He pretended like he knew who I was god bless him. We shook hands, and I even offered him an autograph. He offered his jersey for me to sign, and I unfortunately didn’t have a pen, nor did he.
After minutes of people looking over at me, trying to place who I was and deciding it wasn’t worth their time to come chop it up with a 38 year Pirate fan veteran, I entered the ballpark without signing a single autograph.
After a day or so of sulking, I decided to get back to where it all began and remember what made me fall in love with this game to begin with. So, I took a page out of our Ace’s book, and I visited a Little League field. Not one of these young ball players knew who I was. Countless games at Three Rivers Stadium and PNC Park and where’s my national media coverage?! At least they let me get on the field. I went 0-5 with 3ks and two errors in right field. In my defense I wasn’t allowed to challenge any of the strike calls via ABS, and had that been disclosed to me before stepping in the box, it could’ve been a different story.
What do I have to do to get some respect in this town? Score a game winning run to send my team to the World Series? Win Rookie of the Year and a Cy Young? I’m the guy who has come up with countless ballpark shenanigans that are PNC Park staples. These players come and go, I’ll never leave.
So next block party, after the guy you came to see gets up to leave, there will be a far less athletic guy there afterwards. Come say hi. Maybe even bring him a cold beverage and a pen if you want an autograph.
