When I was eleven years old and my father was still a regional manager for Toys ‘R Us, a guy walked in looking to buy some early Christmas gifts.
As I’m told, his card was declined at check out and they had a policy that you couldn’t try another card if there was a decline.
My father was there and was called to the register area to speak with the customer. Upon getting to the register, he knew exactly who the man was and was shocked that the checkout clerk didn’t.
Dad told the clerk to let him use another card, because he knew that the man had the money for the gifts. Then he asked the clerk, “don’t you know who Tommy John is?”
The clerk said, “yeah”, but it still hadn’t clicked with him yet. So my father said, “Well, say hello to him, cause that’s who is standing in front of you.”
Tommy was very kind throughout the situation and never created a scene or tried to use his athlete status as leverage (at least according to my father).
Before leaving, he asked my dad if he could do anything to thank him for his help. Because of that declined card, to this day – now sitting in my oldest son’s bedroom – is a baseball signed by the entire 1988 Yankees team.
On it are all of my childhood heros: Don Mattingly, Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson, Ron Guidry, Willie Randolph, Lou Pinella, Dave Righetti, and of course – Tommy John, along with the rest of the players from my favorite team.
That is still, hands downs, the greatest Christmas gift I have ever received.
When he turned 11, I gave the ball to my oldest son. It was a full circle moment for me, fathers and sons and that same Yankee signed baseball.
Hearing about Tommy John’s passing today filled me with sadness, but also made me smile with this memory. My father passed 17 years ago, but that baseball has traveled with me since age 11. For the last 37 years, Tommy John connected me to not only to the team that I love, but the man that I lost. I hope they find each other and have a chuckle over a sale that almost wasn’t and a gift that has lasted a lifetime.
My condolences go out to Tommy John’s family, friends, and fans.
Thank you for the memories Tommy John.
