Nick Williams forgot about me!

(Please note – this blog post is ALL in good fun and not serious one bit. Though it’s all true, this is absolutely funny and gave me a chance to have a story and a blog post. I thank Nick Williams for that. It’s better than any ball would have been. So … read on and remember, this is supposed to be all in fun!)

Nick Williams forgot all about me.

There I was, sitting in the PigPen seats at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown. I was there cheering on the future Phillies against the Rochester Redwings.

It was magical.

The PigPen seats are directly in front of the bullpens and you’re on top of the action in left field. So much so that you can get some good views of any action in left and center field.

It’s pretty cool.

On this night, one of the Phils’ top prospects, Nick Williams, was playing left. I thought that was pretty cool as I’ve watched several prospects during their rise through the system and I like Williams. He’s a solid all-around player. He hasn’t always been a prospect in the Phillies’ system as he came over in the trade for Cole Hamels, so I learned as much about him as I could and I liked what he seemed to have to offer the organization.

And Nick is playing for the IronPigs, the triple-A team for the Phillies. The Pigs give fans the chance to see the game from different perspectives, including the PigPen, which is where we got to be up close with Nick Williams. Well, close enough in that he was playing right in front of us and all.

When you are so close to the action, fans will often attempt to get the players to throw them a ball. Sometimes it will work, sometimes it won’t. It all depends on when they have a ball and if they think to throw one after warming up. They definitely won’t do it every inning, that’s for sure. But fans try, that’s for sure. Including me.

But Nick… come on, Nick.

Midway through the game, we (two of us, as well as two others sitting next to us) were kind of trying to get Nick’s attention. All in good fun, of course. One of the people next to was waving.

We, of course, were seeking a ball.

Around the eighth inning, we tried some more. We called his name. When he looked our way, he had already thrown the ball away for his warmups and shrugged with a smile. But that smile made us have hope! Maybe in the ninth! Did we have a chance? Would Nick hook us up?

I mean, I had my IronPigs hat on. I was decked out in a Phillies sweatshirt! I was supporting the big club and the minors! Come on Nick! HOOK US UP!

The ninth inning came. Nick jogged out and was warming up. We cheered. He threw the ball to his throwing mate and gave the sign that he was good.

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?

No ball.

Instant sad face.

So we yelled a bit (all with smiles) asking Nick what was up? How could he not soft toss us the ball? What could have happened? I mean, we connected… didn’t we? RIGHT?? We’re supporting the team!!

He jogged to his position and smirked at us and mouthed he was sorry… he forgot.

Classic!

In the years I covered pro baseball, many people asked me how many autographs and such I got. I always said if I asked for autos, I could get fired. But I have stories and memories that go well beyond autographs.

And this story… goes well beyond any baseball Nick Williams could have thrown into the crowd (with the possibility of me dropping it, anyway). It’s something a couple of us can laugh about a bit in the future, especially if Williams keeps climbing the ranks and becomes a member of the Phillies.

It’ll be then we remember how Nick forgot us. And maybe get a baseball!

This is why minor league baseball is so fun, too. Thanks, Nick, for giving us a memory a couple of us will always smile and joke about!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook!