"Turd Throw" and other stories from the rancid NLC.

[ChuckD]

Thanks for posting this, Huey.

I was a massive Dawson fan as a kid, but I'd never seen the dispute with Davey Johnson about inspecting his bats.

[PenFoe]

Quick Penstory...(that some in the SBox/SlackBox have heard)

About 18 months ago my cousin got married in Florida. Her younger sister (also my cousin, as it were) is best friends with Andre's daughter, Amber since they were little kids. The families are really close.   

My uncle takes me aside at the wedding and says "there's someone I want to introduce you to."  So I follow him and we end up with Andre.  I'm basically speechless.  My uncle introduces me as "the biggest Cubs fan in the room" (not saying much in a roomful of Florida Jews who are inevitably a mix of Marlins and Yankees fans.) 

Even last year, at 60 years old, Andre was massive.  Hugely intimidating. Nice as could be, but a very significant presence physically. I mumbled a few words and we ended up talking about the Red Sox for some unknown reason but I just told him I was a huge fan and I hoped he was enjoying the wedding. 

My uncle, who is good friends with Andre muttered to me "Well, you nailed that one" and walked away. 
/penstory

[flannj]

Quick Penstory...(that some in the SBox/SlackBox have heard)

About 18 months ago my cousin got married in Florida. Her younger sister (also my cousin, as it were) is best friends with Andre's daughter, Amber since they were little kids. The families are really close.   

My uncle takes me aside at the wedding and says "there's someone I want to introduce you to."  So I follow him and we end up with Andre.  I'm basically speechless.  My uncle introduces me as "the biggest Cubs fan in the room" (not saying much in a roomful of Florida Jews who are inevitably a mix of Marlins and Yankees fans.) 

Even last year, at 60 years old, Andre was massive.  Hugely intimidating. Nice as could be, but a very significant presence physically. I mumbled a few words and we ended up talking about the Red Sox for some unknown reason but I just told him I was a huge fan and I hoped he was enjoying the wedding. 

My uncle, who is good friends with Andre muttered to me "Well, you nailed that one" and walked away. 
/penstory

Oh man, I envy you.
I'd be a babbling idiot.

And yes the guy is built like a fucking monster.

[SKO]

Awesome

[PenFoe]

Quick Penstory...(that some in the SBox/SlackBox have heard)

About 18 months ago my cousin got married in Florida. Her younger sister (also my cousin, as it were) is best friends with Andre's daughter, Amber since they were little kids. The families are really close.    

My uncle takes me aside at the wedding and says "there's someone I want to introduce you to."  So I follow him and we end up with Andre.  I'm basically speechless.  My uncle introduces me as "the biggest Cubs fan in the room" (not saying much in a roomful of Florida Jews who are inevitably a mix of Marlins and Yankees fans.)  

Even last year, at 60 years old, Andre was massive.  Hugely intimidating. Nice as could be, but a very significant presence physically. I mumbled a few words and we ended up talking about the Red Sox for some unknown reason but I just told him I was a huge fan and I hoped he was enjoying the wedding.  

My uncle, who is good friends with Andre muttered to me "Well, you nailed that one" and walked away.  
/penstory

Oh man, I envy you.
I'd be a babbling idiot.

And yes the guy is built like a fucking monster.

My cousin who got married is Venus Williams' executive assistant and both Venus and Serena were at the wedding as well. Serena was the single most physically imposing female I've ever seen in my life.  I can't even guess who #2 would be, probably Venus, but it wasn't even close. She's built like a linebacker.  I've never seen a woman like that.  I don't know if they even exist.  

And Andre was still the baddest person in the room.  

[Brownie]

Late to the party, but while young Huey was eating Junior Mints and a 48 oz Mountain Dew, I was watching it on the ol' T and V when said incident occurred. Dawson lay on the field for about six hours or so (or at least it felt that way), motionless while Harry Caray just carried on about how bad it looked. All of a sudden as Arne Harris focused tight on Dawson, you could hear the crowd erupt as 6-foot-6 Rick Sutcliffe came charging out of the dugout, fortunately sans firearm, looking for Show. Keith Moreland, Jody Davis, Sarge and a bunch of other Cubs tough guys came out. Conspicuously absent from the fracas was Tony Gwynn who knew Show threw at Dawson. Anyway, things seemed to calm down after a minute or two when Dawson came too, as Huey described and you saw, and all hell broke loose again.

Then the next inning Greg Maddux in the days of "oh shit, that 5-plus ERA scrawny guy is pitching" plunked Benito Santiago, getting himself ejected and then demoted. Later, Northbrook's Very Own Scott Sanderson hit another batter (Gwynn?) and got thrown out. Good times.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Late to the party, but while young Huey was eating Junior Mints and a 48 oz Mountain Dew, I was watching it on the ol' T and V when said incident occurred. Dawson lay on the field for about six hours or so (or at least it felt that way), motionless while Harry Caray just carried on about how bad it looked. All of a sudden as Arne Harris focused tight on Dawson, you could hear the crowd erupt as 6-foot-6 Rick Sutcliffe came charging out of the dugout, fortunately sans firearm, looking for Show. Keith Moreland, Jody Davis, Sarge and a bunch of other Cubs tough guys came out. Conspicuously absent from the fracas was Tony Gwynn who knew Show threw at Dawson. Anyway, things seemed to calm down after a minute or two when Dawson came too, as Huey described and you saw, and all hell broke loose again.

Then the next inning Greg Maddux in the days of "oh shit, that 5-plus ERA scrawny guy is pitching" plunked Benito Santiago, getting himself ejected and then demoted. Later, Northbrook's Very Own Scott Sanderson hit another batter (Gwynn?) and got thrown out. Good times.

Forgot about this.  Maddux was in his rookie season and he went 6-14.

He had a 3-run lead and was 4 outs from qualifying to stand in line for the Win when he instead decided to do his own small part to stick up for his teammate--another mark in Maddux' + ledger.

[CBStew]

Late to the party, but while young Huey was eating Junior Mints and a 48 oz Mountain Dew, I was watching it on the ol' T and V when said incident occurred. Dawson lay on the field for about six hours or so (or at least it felt that way), motionless while Harry Caray just carried on about how bad it looked. All of a sudden as Arne Harris focused tight on Dawson, you could hear the crowd erupt as 6-foot-6 Rick Sutcliffe came charging out of the dugout, fortunately sans firearm, looking for Show. Keith Moreland, Jody Davis, Sarge and a bunch of other Cubs tough guys came out. Conspicuously absent from the fracas was Tony Gwynn who knew Show threw at Dawson. Anyway, things seemed to calm down after a minute or two when Dawson came too, as Huey described and you saw, and all hell broke loose again.

Then the next inning Greg Maddux in the days of "oh shit, that 5-plus ERA scrawny guy is pitching" plunked Benito Santiago, getting himself ejected and then demoted. Later, Northbrook's Very Own Scott Sanderson hit another batter (Gwynn?) and got thrown out. Good times.

I watched it live on TV.  Seeing Dawson, who was my favorite player at the time, lying there motionless for such a long time was scary.  When he sprang to life and charged after Show I was cheering "Get him.  Get him."  I was really disappointed to see Show escape and I got the distinct feeling that several of the Padres were also disappointed.  

[CBStew]

From an ESPN story  "The Tortured Life of Eric Show"

"...Dawson chased Eric all over the infield, and even as first-base umpire Charlie Williams escorted Eric off the playing field -- honestly fearing for the pitcher's safety -- Dawson was still after him. "I think there was even a point where I kind of [would have] liked to have seen Andre get his hands on him," Gossage says.



Alone in the clubhouse, Eric was literally quivering. "I went back up there, after the game resumed, and I remember he looked like he lost a family member, like his dog got hit by a car," Grant says. "He was sitting at the picnic table, and he was writing a handwritten letter to Andre Dawson, apologizing."

But Dawson wouldn't accept the apology, and some insinuated the beaning was racially motivated. It was more Birch Society fallout; it had never gone away. Eric received a death threat and changed hotels. He didn't have the makeup to handle this alone. Dravecky and Thurmond were gone at the most inopportune time, and he was sinking. He didn't love the game enough to be able to stomach this."

[Shooter]

Late to the party, but while young Huey was eating Junior Mints and a 48 oz Mountain Dew, I was watching it on the ol' T and V when said incident occurred. Dawson lay on the field for about six hours or so (or at least it felt that way), motionless while Harry Caray just carried on about how bad it looked. All of a sudden as Arne Harris focused tight on Dawson, you could hear the crowd erupt as 6-foot-6 Rick Sutcliffe came charging out of the dugout, fortunately sans firearm, looking for Show. Keith Moreland, Jody Davis, Sarge and a bunch of other Cubs tough guys came out. Conspicuously absent from the fracas was Tony Gwynn who knew Show threw at Dawson. Anyway, things seemed to calm down after a minute or two when Dawson came too, as Huey described and you saw, and all hell broke loose again.

Then the next inning Greg Maddux in the days of "oh shit, that 5-plus ERA scrawny guy is pitching" plunked Benito Santiago, getting himself ejected and then demoted. Later, Northbrook's Very Own Scott Sanderson hit another batter (Gwynn?) and got thrown out. Good times.

The awesomeness of Sutcliffe going after Show while Dawson was incapacitated should not be underestimated.

[Canadouche]

Dawson sounds very awesome.

The awesomest.

[Canadouche]

Quick Penstory...(that some in the SBox/SlackBox have heard)

About 18 months ago my cousin got married in Florida. Her younger sister (also my cousin, as it were) is best friends with Andre's daughter, Amber since they were little kids. The families are really close.   

My uncle takes me aside at the wedding and says "there's someone I want to introduce you to."  So I follow him and we end up with Andre.  I'm basically speechless.  My uncle introduces me as "the biggest Cubs fan in the room" (not saying much in a roomful of Florida Jews who are inevitably a mix of Marlins and Yankees fans.) 

Even last year, at 60 years old, Andre was massive.  Hugely intimidating. Nice as could be, but a very significant presence physically. I mumbled a few words and we ended up talking about the Red Sox for some unknown reason but I just told him I was a huge fan and I hoped he was enjoying the wedding. 

My uncle, who is good friends with Andre muttered to me "Well, you nailed that one" and walked away. 
/penstory

Oh man, I envy you.
I'd be a babbling idiot.

And yes the guy is built like a fucking monster.

When I was a kid, I used to have dreams that consisted solely of talking to Andre Dawson.

[Quality Start Machine]

Late to the party, but while young Huey was eating Junior Mints and a 48 oz Mountain Dew, I was watching it on the ol' T and V when said incident occurred. Dawson lay on the field for about six hours or so (or at least it felt that way), motionless while Harry Caray just carried on about how bad it looked. All of a sudden as Arne Harris focused tight on Dawson, you could hear the crowd erupt as 6-foot-6 Rick Sutcliffe came charging out of the dugout, fortunately sans firearm, looking for Show. Keith Moreland, Jody Davis, Sarge and a bunch of other Cubs tough guys came out. Conspicuously absent from the fracas was Tony Gwynn who knew Show threw at Dawson. Anyway, things seemed to calm down after a minute or two when Dawson came too, as Huey described and you saw, and all hell broke loose again.

Then the next inning Greg Maddux in the days of "oh shit, that 5-plus ERA scrawny guy is pitching" plunked Benito Santiago, getting himself ejected and then demoted. Later, Northbrook's Very Own Scott Sanderson hit another batter (Gwynn?) and got thrown out. Good times.

The awesomeness of Sutcliffe going after Show while Dawson was incapacitated should not be underestimated.

So very much this. Sut even offered to give up $100K of his own pay so the Cubs would sign Dawson.

I hope they're both in Wrigley when the Cubs win it all.

[Armchair_QB]

Not only that, if memory serves, Bloody Cyborg Andre chased Show into his own dugout, and I'm pretty sure Show retreated all the way down the tunnel to the clubhouse. I mean, fog of war and all, I might be embellishing that a bit for all I know, and I can't find anything on Youtube. But the way I remember it, Andre went Full Hulk, Show knew it immediately, and to this day I don't know if I've ever seen a display of abject fear like Show in that moment. And I don't blame him. Andre might very well have legit murdered him.

Go to 12:30.

I'd forgotten just how fucking awesome that was.

[Armchair_QB]

Thanks for posting this, Huey.

I was a massive Dawson fan as a kid, but I'd never seen the dispute with Davey Johnson about inspecting his bats.

Reminds me of another great Dawson moment with Joe West.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oAKkHxkkCyA