Diner Question: What would you ask an Orioles legend?

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• My first question is what makes one become an Oriole legend? There is the obvious choices that are in Cooperstown, but what about the ones that are in the Orioles Hall of Fame, some of these guys I wouldn't know who they are if I met them in person.

  I think if I ever met one of the legends that you mentioned, I would ask him if he never played baseball what type of career would they have pursued?

  • Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken, Jr., Jim Palmer and Earl Weaver have statues, Devo. They are the Orioles legends.

    • Where do you think they will put the Mike Mussina statue?

      • Since he won't go in as an Oriole it doesn't matter. He either goes in with no team or the Yankees. It won't and shouldn't be as an Oriole. He will go in but doesn't deserve it. He is highly overrated as a pitcher.

  • Pigtown, statues have been built only for Hall of Famers and winners of a World Series.

    Owen, the Mussina issue is for next week.

    • He could have won 20 and a WS in 1994.

• I’ve always wanted to ask Brooks about his evolution as a hitter. What did he do to make himself a better hitter over time? He obviously ended up having some really nice seasons at the plate after struggling early on.

  • I hope you get to ask that, Steve.

• Almost every time that I had the opportunity to meet my childhood hero, Orioles Legend, Cal Ripken I couldn't get a question out. I was too busy being star struck. Most times I would mumble a thank you for an autograph or something. One day I just told him how I felt like a kid again when I saw him. He told me, without missing a beat, that's how he feels when he sees Brooks Robinson.

  I was lucky enough to buy a Brooks autograph voucher yesterday. I'd want to ask him how many times Boog saved him from a throwing error.

  I missed out on an Eddie autograph voucher but if I'd want to ask him about his favorite wine. I heard he had some wine made but I could never find a bottle.

  • Pigtown, I know Brooks will be fun to meet.

• Don't want to meet any Orioles legends, Rich, nor do I have questions for them. Met one who was a huge childhood idol. HUGE, HUGE, HUGE. Our chance encounter took place in a Baltimore-are diner, where my hero was all but foaming at the mouth over an unimpressive, pimply-faced, frizzy-haired young lady easily 30 years younger. Yuck! (just threw up a little in my mouth recalling that tragic, incredibly sad meeting).
  My inner fanboy died forever that day. My question for him would be: "Why were you acting like a desperate, lecherous old fool who'd never gotten laid in his entire life? Why'd you burst my bubble so brutally?" Left with no autograph. Didn't want it.

  No, the Oriole I'd love to question is Chris Davis: "What are you doing to ensure that you never embarrass yourself, the Orioles or Baltimore again like you did in 2018??"

• I would like to ask Palmer to describe the feelings he had when he faced Sandy Koufax as a 20-year-old in Game 2 of the 1966 World Series, and the feelings he has now about it, knowing it was the final game that Koufax pitched.

  • Jack, I think that’s a great question.

• I would ask Palmer to give an assessment of Cashner, Cobb, and Bundy's pitching mechanics and how they can improve them.

  • I think that’s also an excellent question, Grand Strand.

• What's the atomic weight of cobalt?

  No seriously I'd ask each of them who they thought was the most underrated or unappreciated of their Oriole teammates?

  • Boog, I bet Boog Powell and Paul Blair would be common answers. I think Dave McNally and Ken Singleton would be good choices, too.

• My question would be "Who was the toughest pitcher/hitter you faced?"

  Not to burst anyone's bubble, but if you're not familiar with the autograph voucher system you may be disappointed in how little time you have to interact with each player. The Orioles sell 250 vouchers per station, and they allow one hour total per time slot. The volunteers who manage these stations are generally very polite, but if you attempt anything more than a "thank you" they can turn into Santa's lady helpers from A CHRISTMAS STORY ("Get movin', kid!").

  Don't get me wrong, I think this is a great feature of FanFest, one I've taken advantage of the past four years. I'm grateful for the opportunity to get stuff signed by my favorite players. But I learned fast not to lollygag. Your best opportunity for asking a question of one of the Legends (or non-Legend) is the Q&A portion of the on-stage interviews.

  • Thank you, Major. I wasn’t trying to imply fans can engage in detailed q and a with players, but FanFest procedure is pretty standard at most autograph shows.

    • Appreciate the clarification, Rich. I don't go to any of those autograph shows - I'm not willing to shell out hundreds of bucks for autographs - so I wouldn't know. FanFest vouchers are a real bargain (assuming you get them for $20 and not pay a premium on eBay), and it's great knowing the proceeds go to a charity.

  • I don’t go to autograph shows, either, but I think the Orioles way is more upbeat.

    • Agreed. The only thing that can spoil the offer is when people buy up the vouchers as soon as they're available to re-sell on eBay. I wonder what happened to the fans last year who paid a premium for the Machado and Schoop vouchers on eBay.

• Tell me a story about a game, season or other circumstance you or teammates are well known for. What did the media or the O's get wrong or misunderstand about it, and what was the real circumstance of the story?

  Jim Palmer's relationship with Earl Weaver comes to mind, but doubtlessly there were others. Eddie Murray for one can share real insights about how he felt about the team's struggles after the '83 World Championship and how it seemed ownership zeroed in on his performance. Etc.

  • Good questions all, Mark.

• I have actually met three Orioles who are in the baseball Hall of Fame. Brooks Robinson multiple times, Jim Palmer twice, and Frank Robinson once. My 1st meeting with Brooks Robinson will always be something special. I won the local hit, pitch, and run competition as a youth. At the regional competition Brooks Robinson's sporting goods company was a sponsor at the event. He personally autographed a ball for of the competitors, which I still own to this day. "To ??? Good Luck, Brook Robinson". Class act all the way. Jim Palmer was very nice as well, but Frank Robinson was very impersonal to the point of being almost rude. If I could ask them a question it would be "with such a great career, what is the one thing you wanted to achieve as a player but didn't"?

  • ClyOs, that’s another good question.

• I'd probably ask them how they feel about the death of the stolen base and if they think 2019 Major League Baseball is as boring as I do.

  • Bancells, who won the 2019 World Series?

    • I'm aware of the Red Sox numbers Rich, which stick out in comparison to todays teams, but it doesn't match up with the 70s and 80s style of play, with it's vast outfield spaces, artificial turf and track stars flying all over the paths.

  • Bancells, I too miss the stolen base and enjoyed the Royals aggressive style of play of just a few years ago.

  • Hey BanMo, there's a funny parody quote in tomorrow's Washington Post (page E15): Trump alleges that the influx of Latino baseball players has led to an epidemic of stolen bases.

• I would ask Brooks how all his success didn't spoil him rotten. It couldn't have been an accident, and even we who are much less successful could learn something.

  • Right you are, Will!

• As my idol growing up as a huge fan. I would love to ask Brooks about his 1958 Topps baseball card picture, it’s a beaut . What a pix, what a humble man!

  • I’d ask Eddie Murray about the influence on Cal Sr on his career.

  • 5brooks, I’m not a card collector, so I’ll go look it up.

    Briski, that’s a fine question.

• I have had a few positive interactions with O's legends. A few that pop out are with Palmer and Murray. When I was very small (toddler) there was a commercial with Palmer on it (financial services maybe the Money Store?) and I would run to the tv and stare. When I met him (I was about 12) he recited the entire commercial after he signed my baseball. Also, at the same event I met Murray, who is notoriously quiet and to himself. I was very tired, and I was very quiet and looked down at the mouth. Murray noticed this and asked if I "needed a friend." This was shocking due to Murray's infamous quiet to surly demeanor. On what I would ask an orioles legend, it would either be Brooks or Boog. I would ask either of them about the evolution of the game and comparing their era to the current era. I would especially like to know what Boog would say about the increasing emphasis put on home runs and home run hitters and if the era is similar to when he was playing.Frank Howard and Boog are both very similar to the pre-slump Crush Davis.

  • Excellent post, BirdsCaps. One of the best I’ve seen in the six months I’ve been here.

    • Thanks Rich! Gwynn (though not an Oriole) was also at the event. He was also exceedingly friendly and commented (jokingly made fun of) me celebrating after getting his auto. It's a shame he went so young.

  • Tony Gwynn was a very nice man.

• I would ask Cal what his mom said about Billy’s baseball card prank.

  • That's a good one. What an iconic card.

  • Or if she even knew about it...

• I worked for the C&P tell company where I was a General Sales Manager,,,
  I was holding a Sales Management meeting in Baltimore and had Managers fromMd,Va,W.Va andcD.C. present. As a season ticket holder I loved the winning O's. With all the stars Ripken, Palmer, Robinson But the guy I admired most was
  Weaver the Manager...So, I called and asked him to appear as a guest speaker
  To my Sales Management meeting...he did accept and gave a great talk on how to
  Manage to have winners. He got a standing ovation from the group. That is my
  Memory of the winning O's

  • Bernie, I’m sure Earl was an excellent speaker.

• I never met Brooks. When I was about 12, I wrote him a letter telling him I saw him on game of the week talking about fielding. I asked him for an autograph and he sent me a team issue picture and autograph.

  I’ll miss meeting him this year because I’m on call. I’ll never forget seeing him play. His love for the game inspired me. I coached with his advice and the advice of Mr. Palmer. Brooks will always be my favorite

• So my question would be, who was most influential in your baseball life?

  • I think that’s a good question, Frankly.

• Cal, how successful would you have been if you went all out with basketball?