A Disappointed Child Is Something to Think About

Everyone knows that children are the real fans for which baseball is made, and I thank people like Tom Niedenfuer, who signed autographs, and Jerry Reuss, who passed out baseball cards, and Steve Sax, who smiled and waved as he walked to his car, after a recent Dodger game.

Kenny Landreaux, on the other hand, chose not to participate. Instead, he quietly drove away, not a crime in itself. But he didn’t leave the park. He chose, rather, to park a short distance from where the little fans were waiting, so a few ran over to his car hoping for an autograph. He then drove away, farther out into the parking lot. One brave child, pen and paper in hand, watched him go, then ran the distance reaching within two yards of his destination, only to have Mr. Landreaux roll up his window and leave again. The child was crushed.

Why didn’t Mr. Landreaux leave the park, instead of causing all that disappointment to everyone watching, even me, a 32-year-old with no aspirations of baseball of any type.

The Dodgers are celebrities, more so than any other baseball team in the United States. If one of them wishes not to acknowledge this great privilege, then perhaps he should single himself out and park in the back. I hope he thinks about who he is, and when he was young, mitt in hand, eyes large with amazement, going to the ballpark for the first time and seeing those great men who love to wear their uniform and play for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

TERRY MERRICK

Cucamonga