For those of you who have been going to baseball games since before some of us were born, what were the players like as far as how they treated the fans? Did the majority of them act as if the fans didn't exist, or was there more interaction before and after games? Just wonderin'.

For those of you who have been going to baseball games since before some of us were born, what were the players like as far as how they treated the fans? Did the majority of them act as if the fans didn't exist, or was there more interaction before and after games? Just wonderin'.

AFJF-
It has ebbed and flowed.

During the 80's, players got particularly more salty and surly and were less appreciative of fans. MLB did a HORRIBLE job of promoting th eplayers in its sport, and they were not seen as one. It was a real "me" era.

It peaked right up to the strike, in my opinion.

The strike was a turning point in term of MLB fan/player relationship. The sport had to earn back its fans and the way to go was through player relationships with fans. It is actually at a peak more than I can ever remeber.

These are broad sweeping generalizations I made, but it is my general feel.

Can remember in the 1970s that at least in Brooklyn, almost every baseball awards dinner(usually held in the fall then) for most little leagues had a MLB player. In fact, Lee Mazzilli, Gil Hodges(who lived blocks away)Joe Torre or Ed Kranepool were pretty much there every year(though Torre's son Mike played in the same league and went to the same school, so that may be a little different than most). They were always polite and approachable.Same for Chris Mullin, but again, a little different-he grew up around here and was still friendly with tons of people.It wasn't unusual when I was a teen or 20-year old to see Chris Mullin and assorted friends hanging out in a local gin mill.

I see this kind obsessive autograph stuff though and I wonder-who really is the bad guy in this fan/player equation? Charles Barkley caught a world of sheet for saying he wasn't a role model and parents raise kids. And he was right. If you are going to obsess over hanging out with some athlete or getting an autograph(other than Brad Johnson falling asleep on your couch!) there's something wrong with you. Aren't the games themselves enough?

Like all the the stuff with A-Rod. The guy's a great ballpayer; isn't that enough? And since that inevitably brings up Jeter, by comparison, does anyone really think Derek Jeter is really a nicer guy than A-Rod because he's a "true Yankee"? Heard a story on the radio alst week how Jeter ducks guys looking for autographs, but will talk to decent chicks in a heartbeat. And this is a surprise? Many of these pros aren't wonderful people. They've been warped by years of being indulged and catered to. There are some good guys, but don't kid yourself.

Some woman on JI about a year or 2 back posted how she was upset because she drove 8 hours to the Yankees' road hotel out west so her 8-year old could get an autograph and was pissed they all blew her off. And my question now and then is who really is effed up in that situation? That's not being a good parent, and there's no way an 8-year old gives a fart about an autograph. That's a bad parent. And there's always the"he didn't sign my autograph"-when and where does that end?

AFJF-
It has ebbed and flowed.

During the 80's, players got particularly more salty and surly and were less appreciative of fans. MLB did a HORRIBLE job of promoting th eplayers in its sport, and they were not seen as one. It was a real "me" era.

It peaked right up to the strike, in my opinion.

The strike was a turning point in term of MLB fan/player relationship. The sport had to earn back its fans and the way to go was through player relationships with fans. It is actually at a peak more than I can ever remeber.

These are broad sweeping generalizations I made, but it is my general feel.


Interesting take SD, I went to games in the late 80s/early 90s at the stadium but for some reason the conduct of the players now bothers me more than it did then. I wonder how it compares to players of the 40s/50s and on. Just wondering if there was a time when the players honestly did appreciate the fans because in all honesty they don't seem to nowadays. I'm not even talking about the older fans like myself, but when I go to a game and see players ignore a few kids or a little league team in uniform begging for an autograph it really irks me.

Can remember in the 1970s that at least in Brooklyn, almost every baseball awards dinner(usually held in the fall then) for most little leagues had a MLB player. In fact, Lee Mazzilli, Gil Hodges(who lived blocks away)Joe Torre or Ed Kranepool were pretty much there every year(though Torre's son Mike played in the same league and went to the same school, so that may be a little different than most). They were both always polite and approachable.Same for Chris Mullin, but again, a little different-he grew up around here and was still friendly with tons of people.It wasn't unusual when I was a teen or 20-year old to see Chris Mullin and assorted friends hanging out in a local gin mill.

I see this kind obsessive autograph stuff though and I wonder-who really is the bad guy in this fan/player equation? Charles Barkley caught a world of sheet for saying he wasn't a role model and parents raise kids. And he was right. If you are going to obsess over hanging out with some athlete or getting an autograph(other than Brad Johnson falling asleep on your couch!) there's something wrong with you. Aren't the games themselves enough?

Like all the the stuff with A-Rod. The guy's a great ballpayer; isn't that enough? And since that inevitably brings up Jeter, by comparison, does anyone really think Derek Jeter is really a nicer guy than A-Rod because he's a "true Yankee"? Heard a story on the radio alst week how Jeter ducks guys looking for autographs, but will talk to decent chicks in a heartbeat. And this is a surprise? Many of these pros aren't wonderful people. They've been warped by years of being indulged and catered to. There are some good guys, but don't kid yourself.

Some woman on JI about a year or 2 back posted how she was upset because she drove 8 hours to the Yankees' road hotel out west so her 8-year old could get an autograph and was pissed they all blew her off. And my question now and then is who really is effed up in that situation? That's not being a good parent, and there's no way an 8-year old gives a fart about an autograph. That's a bad parent. And there's always the"he didn't sign my autograph"-when and where does that end?


I get not signing for adults, at some point you have to grow up and not hound players for autographs as a grown up. But watching the players snub the younger fans who would kill for a ball during BP or an autograph is wrong IMO.

Interesting take SD, I went to games in the late 80s/early 90s at the stadium but for some reason the conduct of the players now bothers me more than it did then. I wonder how it compares to players of the 40s/50s and on. Just wondering if there was a time when the players honestly did appreciate the fans because in all honesty they don't seem to nowadays. I'm not even talking about the older fans like myself, but when I go to a game and see players ignore a few kids or a little league team in uniform begging for an autograph it really irks me.

Pre-strike, you couldn't get a ball boy or girl to throw you a foul ball that did not go in the stands. It was against the rules.

Players flip them in regularly now. Before, there were toio many Albert Belles of the world who were only concerned about themselves. They were making a mint, and wanted to live like it without any bother. The fan was considered secondary.

I see an improvement in the sport, I really do. It has a long way to go, but it is a start.

AFJF-
It has ebbed and flowed.

During the 80's, players got particularly more salty and surly and were less appreciative of fans. MLB did a HORRIBLE job of promoting th eplayers in its sport, and they were not seen as one. It was a real "me" era.

It peaked right up to the strike, in my opinion.

The strike was a turning point in term of MLB fan/player relationship. The sport had to earn back its fans and the way to go was through player relationships with fans. It is actually at a peak more than I can ever remeber.

These are broad sweeping generalizations I made, but it is my general feel.
We used to live next to cardinal player in the early 60s. He was like a regualar guy who would play on street, particpate in street gatherings come over and play cards with my parents etc.
From wha tthey say you would never know he was a ballplayer,, back then they didnt make a whole lot and had offseason jobs which kept them humble and normal

AFJF-
It has ebbed and flowed.

During the 80's, players got particularly more salty and surly and were less appreciative of fans. MLB did a HORRIBLE job of promoting th eplayers in its sport, and they were not seen as one. It was a real "me" era.

It peaked right up to the strike, in my opinion.

The strike was a turning point in term of MLB fan/player relationship. The sport had to earn back its fans and the way to go was through player relationships with fans. It is actually at a peak more than I can ever remeber.

These are broad sweeping generalizations I made, but it is my general feel.

I agree. The late 1980s into the strike were teh years when players, in general, were obnoxious. In NY, we knew about the Rickey Henderson types ("I don't need no press man.............Back off") and there were many others throughout Baseball.

In the early 1970s, players were very approachable. I recall speaking to tons of guys during batting practice at Yankee Stadium, both Yankee players, and visiting players. Harmon Killebrew was a very polite guy, as was Frank Howard (and boy, was he big!!) There were many others, including Brooks Robinson and Mark Belanger of the Orioles, Ron Hansen of the Washington Senators, Orioles, etc. You had your snide types also, and Eddie Murray comes to mind, although he came up in the latter portion of the 1970s.

Since the strike, players became friendlier, but it seems that more and more of them travel in public in groups, making it difficult to approach them for a smooze, or an autograph.

In the early 1970s, players were very approachable. .
agree, ,i remember in 60s at a mets/cubs game before game started we were on 3rd baseline busting ron santo's balls unmercifully,,
he actually started runnin towrds us and scared the hell out of us and we ran a few rows back,,he laughed his arse off and then waved us down and BSed with us for awhile,, nice guy,, he had me as a semi-fan for life, Ithink thats somethin players today forget, a real gesture willstay with that fan for life

I've grew up in the 50's and 60's and players today are readily available for the fans...sport shows, autograph sessions, ect. Media wasn't as involved as they are today like with ESPN. The players were more of a mystery to the fans and that's why when Jim Bouton came out with his book, Ball Four it kind of blew the lid off. And that book was mild compared to what some players today write.

For example, I never knew Mantle drank like he did and womanized until later on in life.