29 Comments
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Mark Tomasik's avatar

Your writing is at the top of your game here, Gary; kind of like Pete Rose in his Big Red Machine years. The description of the handshake made me feel like I was experiencing it. Excellent capper to the story with Gabby’s reaction to Pete. As Gertrude Stein wrote, “A rose is a rose…” It all depends on one’s perspective.

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Gary Trujillo's avatar

Thanks for the kind words, Mark. I feel like you and Steve maybe kept me going when I wanted to just stop doing this thing all together. Thanks for that. I consider you a pal even though we've never met.

Speaking of Getrude Stein...I was living in N. Hollywood at the time and I regret not buying a copy of "The Autobiograpy of Alice B. Toklas" which looked to be from the 1930's. I didn't want to cough up the 100 bucks and I'm sure it's worth much more now. Another thing people don't talk about much is how she championed Picasso and undoubtedly cemented his legacy or we may not even be talking about him today. Money talks....even back then.

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AB's avatar

I’m surprised I didn’t come across this earlier. You’re a good storyteller Gary, I was attentive from start to end.

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Gary Trujillo's avatar

Thanks, AB. That means a bunch to me. I read somewhere that attention spans are short so writing has to be like eating a bunch of Oreos. I guess I took that to heart.

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Jason Mencini's avatar

Don’t ever stop….this all cracks me so hard! Watching October baseball and coming to the reason why i hate this time of year is hard enough! Thankyou for taking me from that pain by making me skip ab workouts due too lol while reading throughout!

Well done…I think i’m rooting Dodger Blue while watching Mookie go yard and reading this!

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Gary Trujillo's avatar

Thanks for your kind words, Jason. I’m watching the very same game. :)

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Jaap STIJL's avatar

Catfish, yes!

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C.S. Mee's avatar

this was fun. great description! very fresh.

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Gary Trujillo's avatar

thanks, c.s. that means a lot coming from a writer that I respect very much.

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C.S. Mee's avatar

don’t make me emotional. thank you, gary!

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Steve Myers's avatar

This is one of the best requiems about Rose, if not the best I've read on the internet. And that it being in Vegas adds to the lore of what Mark said, "your writing at the top of your game here." The metaphors are endless when I think of Rose. With me, it's that going after something with massive gusto no matter what it is. Gonna be a drunk? Then be a god damn good drunk and buy beers for the bartender for heaven's sake! Great job here Gary.

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Gary Trujillo's avatar

Thanks, Steve. That means a lot coming from one of my fave writing pals and overall baseball writers.

I watched that godforsaken game last night and found myself quite upset. It was clear that Devin Williams didn't have his good "stuff" yet the Brewers manager stuck with him. I was a bit mystified that they didn't have anyone else warming up. What a damn bummer, man.

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Steve Myers's avatar

Weird to feel depressed about a baseball team losing, but I can't seem to shake the bad feeling.

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Bob Martinez's avatar

Great story Gary, so glad you had a better encounter with Pete. Unfortunately, he was never that gracious when he came to Wrigley in the 70's.

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Gary Trujillo's avatar

Hey there, Bob. I never had that problem as a kid because we would heckle opposing players mercilessly and NEVER thought to get their autographs. There was one exception...and it was Kirby Puckett (what a great batting stance) who I admired as a player and was probably my favorite that didn't wear the green and gold.

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Adam Zucker's avatar

Another great piece of baseball writing. I've read so many posts about Rose in the wake of his death, and this is the first one that actually humanizes the guy. He was vile, very talented and a hard headed guy till the end. A good reminder that ball players complex human beings and we often don't see their full persona unless we encounter them in a very unique setting like you did with Rose.

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Gary Trujillo's avatar

Thanks, Adam. I strive to show the humanistic side in everything I write and hopefully this accomplishes that.

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Adam Zucker's avatar

You definitely do!

It’s ironic that Rose and Mutombo passed on the same day. Both very dominant in their sport, but they could not have been more different outside of the arena.

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Gary Trujillo's avatar

Full disclosure: I don’t know much about either guy’s personal life, but I fuckin’ LOVED the Mutombo finger wag when he blocked shots. Rose was a bit before my time as I only started watching baseball around 1986.

I bought a Mutombo rookie card about a year ago. I’m not even really sure why, but I’m glad I did.

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petrichor's avatar

always fun to prepare yourself for the worst only for it to turn out tame and pleasant. so who had the biggest dick in the end?

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Gary Trujillo's avatar

HaHa....neither of us wins...noted psychologist Carl Jung's philosophy calls for a balance of masculine and feminine qualities, encouraging men to embrace a fuller, more integrated identity that transcends traditional stereotypes.

Actually, maybe I'm over-thinking it and that's just how Boomers shake hands. Perhaps it's just a generational thing. Who knows?

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Dan Epstein's avatar

Awesome story. Given the Wisconsin guy's comment about your GF, do you think those drink tickets could have been a come-on for a foursome? Like, if you'd told the guy, "Your doughy Dairy Queen ain't so bad, either," would shit have been ON?

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Gary Trujillo's avatar

Ha! I was wondering if people would think that, but nah…they told me they were “already too wasted.”

Thanks for commenting, Dan. I’m a big fan and have read 2 of your books. Cheers.

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Dan Epstein's avatar

Awww thanks, Gary. Really appreciate it. Been digging your stuff since I started following Coco Crisp’s Afro on Twitter a million years ago. Keep on keepin’ on!

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Amos's avatar

Brilliant writing.....Brilliant

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Gary Trujillo's avatar

wow...that means so much. Writing is a tough gig. :/

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wildflower's avatar

I really enjoy your writing! 👏😁

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Gary Trujillo's avatar

thanks wildflower....I appreciate your kind words.

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Swing Thoughts and Roundabouts's avatar

I'm still haunted by sportsmen from my youth. They had a style now unseen. Dangerous but not necessarily criminal. Recently remembered Roscoe Tanner, the first tennis player to hit service above 150 m.p.h., looked him up. Regretted it a bit, but was also transported back to two-fisted dangerous tennis.

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