Chapman President Reaches Out, Keeps Autry From Being Touched

At its best, baseball can bring out the kid in adults, even university presidents. Witness the story Jim Doti, a noted economist and president at Chapman University in Orange, is telling this week:

Doti, who helped mediate the deal between Disney and Anaheim that cleared the way for Disney to buy controlling interest in the Angels, was invited to watch Monday’s game against the Chicago White Sox from Gene and Jackie Autry’s private box at Anaheim Stadium.

Doti, 49, grew up in Chicago as a staunch supporter of the White Sox and had fond memories of Gene Autry’s musical and acting career, so he was doubly excited about the opportunity.

One of his first questions to Gene Autry was whether foul balls ever reached the owners’ box behind the plate where they were sitting. Doti said catching a souvenir baseball has always been one of his dreams.

“He said, ‘Very rarely, don’t count on it because we are at a funny angle,’ ” Doti said. “But later in the game one of those screaming foul balls is hit and it looked like it was coming back right at us, and instead of trying to catch the ball my immediate reaction was to duck and pull Gene down with me.”

Doti said he peeked over the edge of the table they had ducked behind and saw the ball hit the edge of the table and bounce up in a slow arch that enabled him to catch it easily.

“After I caught it,” Doti said, “I was out jumping wildly showing it to the fans. Sometimes you see those guys who are jumping around like maniacs--that was me. I just couldn’t control myself. It was a dream come true.”

Now, Doti says he is carrying the ball with him wherever he goes so he can show it and the autograph off: “To Jim, Many thanks for saving my life, Gene Autry.”