A Story Werth Telling?

Jayson Werth had a big game for the Phillies tonight: Three big flies and eight ribbies. Why is this news in Yankeeland? Well, it’s not. But, it’s a good excuse to tell a story.

Jayson Werth is the son of Kim Schofield and a former NCAA football star. Kim is also the sister of Dick Schofield - who played a lot of shortstop for the Angels back in the 1980’s. She later married Dennis Werth, the former Yankee, who became Jayson’s step-dad.

Whenever I hear Jayson Werth’s name, I think back to something sorta-cruel that I did around 1980 or 1981. (I think it was 1980, but, I’m not 100% sure.) Back then, I used to have a Yankees road jersey - just like the players wear on the field. You know it - gray with “New York” across the chest (but with no number on the back). Those days, it was a rare thing to own - and, to be honest, I think I had to special order it (or something) to get it.

Back in the day, I would wear ‘the roadie’ to the Stadium when going to games. I would also wear one of those plastic Yankees batting helmets - without the ear flaps, like Bobby Meacham and Tony Pena wear now on the field, and, like Tim Raines wore when playing in New York. In the late ’70’s, it was not uncommon for fans to wear those to the park. (But, you never see them now.)

So, that one day in 1980 or 1981, I’m going to a game and I get there way early - before the Stadium even opens. (I was meeting some friends to go see the game and they were not there yet.) Basically, I’m just walking around the outside of the Stadium, by myself, killing time, and there’s just about no one there.

Suddenly, a few small kids - about three of four of them - come up to me and I guess they were confused by seeing me wearing the road jersey and the batting helmet. They ask me if I play for the Yankees.

Now, keep in mind, I was 18-years old at the time and a bit of a smart-ass. So, I tell them “Yes, I’m Dennis Werth” - knowing that he’s on the team and there’s no way these kids would know what he looked like or whether I was telling the truth.

After I told them that, they got excited and started asking me for my autograph. That line, well, I could not cross. So, I ‘fessed up and told them that I was only kidding around. Know what? They wouldn’t believe me and thought I was trying to get out of signing for them. In the end, I had to ’shoo’ them away - and I made sure that I got out of there too.

I really meant no harm at the time. I was just goofing around. Like I said, I was eighteen then - and a bit of a loon.

It’s a story that I really didn’t think much about from the time I graduated college (1985) until 1997. I just filed it away with the rest of my ‘toys in the attic.’ When I started reading about Jayson Werth, in ‘97, in Baseball America - since he was a 1st round draft pick that year by the Orioles - the memory came out of storage. Seeing the name “Werth” reminded me of my brief imposter moment. Still does…like when I saw it tonight in the news.

Consider this your WasWatching.com “Good Night” story for today. See you in the morning. Sleep tight. Sweet dreams. And, don’t let the bed bugs bite.

May 16, 2008 | Filed Under Trap Door Items

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One Response to “A Story Werth Telling?”

Jayson Werth’s Fantasy Future « Imaginary Diamond on May 16th, 2008 11:42 pm

[...] More thoughts … WasWatching.com uses Jayson Werth’s outburst as a springboard for a Dennis Werth story. [...]

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