dmbfan
08-17-2007, 07:06 PM
So, back in March, my wife and I purchased tickets to the Mets/Pirates game in Pittsburgh for August 16th. As some of you know, I have been pen-palling with Frank Thoms, former Pirate/Met from the 1950's/1960's. So, he tells me that he will meet my wife and I at the game. Yesterday (Thursday), my wife and I drive out to Pittsburgh and stay at the Renaissane Hotel which is directly across the river from Roberto Clemente Bridge and PNC Park. We get to our room on the 8th floor and the view out the window is directly onto PNC Park. Perfect. After changing, we head across the bridge and have a quick bite to eat and then it's into the stadium. First spot we hit is Manny's Bar-B-Q to catch some quick autographs from Manny Sanguillen. Then we check out the Mets' BP. Only two Mets' players signed that I saw, which was Jorge Sosa and Damien Easley. We then head to our seats along the 3rd baseline. Around the start of the game, Mr. Thomas comes over to say hello and chats with my wife and I for a bit and takes a few pictures. He then asks me what I brought for him to sign. So he signs a MLB ball for (which he says to my wife that he only signs official MLB baseballs) and about 5 cards. After about an inning or two he heads back to his seats to sit with his wife. After the third inning, Mr. Thomas returns and tells my wife and I to come sit with he and his wife as a few seats open up. When we arrive, he introduces us to his wife along with Bobby Del Greco, who is wearing his 1960 World Series ring, Bob Friend and a few other Pirates' Alumni. The rest of the game was spent talking with Mr. Thomas and his wife about baseball and family and listening to former MLB players razz each other. Simply a great time at the ballpark. Mr. Thomas is truly a gentleman in every sense of the word.