Jerry Owens and the cub scouts

I see that the White Sox waived Jerry Owens a few days ago. My son, Computer Boy has a very slight connection with Mr. Owens as I will explain.

A few years ago, my son's cub scout pack and their families went to Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio to catch a Toledo Mud Hens AAA game. They got to go on the field before the game and most of the kids stayed after the game and camped overnight in the outfield with fireworks and a movie etc. A good time had by all.

Computer Boy and I had been to our share of Mud Hens games before this. At Fifth Third Field, they have an elevated walkway just beyond the left field fence and in the later innings, Computer Boy likes to go out to the left field fence and watch the game looking down at the players and the field. If you stand in the right spot, you will be very close to the left fielder and fans frequently try to make conversation with him and many times they will oblige.

At this game, the Mud Hens were playing The Charlotte Knights who are the AAA farm team for the Chicago White Sox. Around the 7th inning, Computer Boy asked if we could go out to the left field fence and a few of his cub scout friends said they would like to go too so off we went. We went out to the fence and the 4 boys were standing at the fence right above the left fielder. This was old hat for Computer Boy but I could see that his 3 friends were kind of excited about being so close to a player.

After a few minutes, a somewhat inebriated man walked over and stopped. He said, "Cub scouts! You guys are great! You are a true American institution!" That is ok, I guess. He then proceeded to gush over the kids and while I was a bit uncomfortable with this, for the moment it seemed harmless. This was during between innings warm ups and the guy yelled to the Mud Hens left fielder (I forget who it was) "Hey there are cub scouts up here. Right here. They are an American institution. Look at them. You gotta throw them a ball." The fielder turned around, smiled and at the end of warmups, threw the kids a ball. The drunk guy then said, "Thanks! Do it next inning too. These kids are an American institution. This is America!"

When the Knights came out to the field, Jerry Owens was their left fielder. I was familiar with Owens as he had been up with the White Sox previously. The drunk guy was still there and he gave Owens the same spiel that he gave to the Mud Hens outfielder begging for a ball for these young Americans. Owens did not pay him any attention and I don't blame him as this was not their home park or fans and the guy was a little obnoxious after all. After being ignored, the drunk guy, screamed very loudly "Owens, throw these cub scouts a ball. Don't you understand? They are true American heroes!" (They are good kids and all but this guy was going over the edge now). This was just too much to ignore and Jerry Owens turned around with a big smile on his face and held up the ball to the group and said "Five bucks". Everyone laughed.........except the the drunk guy. He yelled at Owens a little longer and then wandered away, I am guessing to the beer stand or a urinal. The kids all thought the episode was funny.

Fast forward a few months to my parents house where we were having a family get together. The Tigers were playing the White Sox on television and Jerry Owens was up to bat.

"Hey Computer Boy, there is your friend, Jerry Owens."

"Oh, Yeah, there is Jerry."

One of my sisters said "How does he know Jerry Owens on the White Sox?"

"Owens tried to sell him a baseball for 5 dollars."

"Say what?!"