Ballplayers take different approaches in dealing with the loud drunks sitting in the outfield cheap seats. Josh Hamilton wins them over with his honesty, while Curtis Granderson passes the time looking for funny signs. Toronto's Vernon Wells, though, actually fires back. From the Toronto Sun via Home Run Derby comes this funny story about a group of hecklers in Cleveland: :"It was the usual stuff," Wells said yesterday. "Stuff like 'You suck' or 'You like men'.Not surprisingly, it worked: the fans went from obnoxious hecklers to Wells' personal cheering section just like that. It's an awesome strategy, since most of the time all the hecklers really want is to get some kind of reaction out of a player. But will it work now that everyone knows about this? Seems to me that he might be setting himself up for an endless stream of abuse from fans who suddenly feel entitled to some free swag.
"One guy was also yelling at me to give him a ball. He said that Torii Hunter (of the Twins) had given him a ball."
So Wells decided to do something. Between innings he got a new ball and wrote a message to the fan, then when he went back on the field the next inning he tossed it to him.
The message?
"Here's your ball, now please tell me what gas station you work at so I can come and yell at you when you're working. Please sit down, shut up and enjoy the game. From your favorite centre fielder, Vernon Wells."
(hat-tip: Ballhype)
Update: A picture of the signed ball has been located!

















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
5-07-2007 @ 1:17AM
Larry Brown said...
As a full-service station attendant, I have to say I am offended. I guess things are lonely in last, eh Vernon?
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5-07-2007 @ 1:33AM
Jon said...
I sat in the center field bleachers for a Sox-Jays game at Fenway a couple weeks ago and Vernon made funny gestures towards us all game. He handles it well. In the bottom of the ninth, between pitches he would reach his hand behind his ass and make a "talking out of your ass" motion. Quite funny.
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5-07-2007 @ 1:33AM
Jon said...
I sat in the center field bleachers for a Sox-Jays game at Fenway a couple weeks ago and Vernon made funny gestures towards us all game. He handles it well. In the bottom of the ninth, between pitches he would reach his hand behind his behind and make a "talking out of your a ss" motion. Quite funny.
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5-07-2007 @ 3:04AM
crazydaddy.net said...
I used to get a kick out of Jose Canseco standing there with his glove on his head.This was the worst in my opinion, if anyone remembers the game where he bounced the winning run off his head when the Rangers were tied for AL West!!!
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5-07-2007 @ 10:32AM
charlie Hedbring said...
Ah, do you really believe all that
text would fit on a baseball? Not
bloody likely, mate!
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5-07-2007 @ 10:44AM
sedgwrick said...
FANS SHOULD SHUT THERE MOUTHS UP, SIT DOWN AND LEAVE THE PLAYERS ALONE.
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5-07-2007 @ 11:06AM
Left Coaster said...
Pro athletes are what they are and the sport is what it is -- i.e., an over-rated business! Players are part of the franchise. And whether sober or drunk, in a box seat or the bleachers, Fans are what makes the game survive. Players just have to learn to take the bitter with the sweet as far as verbal abuse is concerned. They are being paid handsomely to do that.
You know, if pro athlete's exuberant salaries were cut in half for all sport, very few of them would quit the sport. The owners are millionaires who just enjoy owning an expensive past time. I prefer the now-fading amateur variety where they play just for the love of the game and not for money. Very few of them left!
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5-07-2007 @ 11:18AM
Jason Nunez said...
Hecklers are low class, w/o a life, wanna be's. You think you're making a difference? Grow up, losers.
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5-07-2007 @ 11:21AM
Left Coaster said...
Professional sports in general are a business venture. Millionaires own most franchises. They need something to do with their time and money. I prefer what's left of the amateur sports scene. Not many left! Colleges are semi-pro. Just imagine ... if all pro salaries were cut in half, 99% of the players would stay with their teams. It's an ego deal. But then, the owners would rake it in piggishly. That's the American way! The fans, whether sober or drunk, in box seats or bleachers, are the only reason the game exists. Players claim love and loyalty to "the fans," and then, with the first offer of more money by another team, they are gone! I see where Clemens has returned to the Yankees. Haha. What a waste! The Vernon Wells' story notwithstanding, the fans can still vent their spleens or gush with praise. It's all the same. If it bothers Wells, he isn't paying attention to the game!
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5-07-2007 @ 11:39AM
millie said...
I think the message was great, people need to chill out.... and I think that anyone thats offended but such a comment should stand in line behind the GIECO cavemen with thier complaint lol...
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5-07-2007 @ 11:44AM
cadrinrlct said...
Larry I hope your only a kid if you are working at a gas station.That isn,t one of the best careers.
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5-07-2007 @ 11:43AM
Gen said...
WOW. Now how much do you think he'll get for that on Ebay??
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5-07-2007 @ 11:59AM
Marvin T. said...
BASEBALL IS GREAT FOR FAMILIES. I HAVE HEARD EVERY OBSCENE WORK IMAGINABLE BUT THEY ARE NOT NEEDED BY DRUNKS WHO FORGET THAT THERE IT IS A GAME WHERE YOUNG CHILDREN ARE THERE TO LEARN GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP. TOO BAD MANY ADULTS DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.
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5-07-2007 @ 12:12PM
John said...
Hecklers are self important louts. I go to watch the game. I didn't pay for and don't want to hear or see someone trying to take center stage or detract from the game.
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5-07-2007 @ 12:19PM
Michael said...
Paying for over priced tickets so we can help support the millionaires, gives us the right to heckle them if we feel we're not getting our money's worth. Personally, I don't heckle the players. I feel, for the most part, they are trying their best, and most of them probably feel bad enough because they lost, or didn't perform well. I'm sure their ego takes a hit, at the very least.
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5-07-2007 @ 12:47PM
myhathaswords said...
the gieco comment was hilarious!
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5-07-2007 @ 12:55PM
Greg said...
True he IS at work; but hes making Millions to play a sport where a gas station attendant is making minimum wage- you Cant compare apples to oranges Vern.
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5-07-2007 @ 1:00PM
Devynn said...
i once had a professor who told us, "don't sleep in my class or i'll lecture you in your bedroom." the thing about ANY job is that someoe has taken what they love to do and gotten paid for it. some of us, quite handsomely. what fans need to remember, is that if it wasn't for their fave whatevers, they'd lead a VERY boring exisistence. YOU try amusing yourself for hours at a time. it's hard, ain't it!? let the man do his job! if the hecklers would stop being such jerks, i'm sure the stars would have more fun at work. think of it this way: you don't like when someone comes into your work place harrassing you all day b/c they have nothing better to do what their lives, so don't do it to other ppl!
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5-07-2007 @ 1:02PM
rjz895 said...
I would love to see Vernon Wells in a Red Sox uniform. The Sox are a high market team and he would get the attention he deserves. He's one of the best in the game.
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5-07-2007 @ 1:13PM
JOEL said...
I FRESENT THAT CAVEMAN CRACK, AND IF I WASN'T SO BUSY KILLING A M
SABRE TOOTHED TIGER FOR LUNCH I CERTAINLY WOULD CLUB YOU SILLY
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