Guerilla Signing

At the Pacific League East/West game in Shizuoka on Saturday afternoon (November 9), the West (Daiei, Kintetsu, and Orix) all stars defeated the East (Seibu, Nippon Ham, and Lotte) all start by a score of 9-7. Torigoe hit a two out 2-run home run in the bottom of the 9th for the dramatic victory.

Attending the game in the VIP booth behind home plate was returning Lotte manager Bobby Valentine. In the middle of the game, Bobby decided that he wanted to go out and meet some of the Lotte fans in center field. So he excused himself from the Lotte staff and went for a walk.

He managed to get about half way to the outfield before a surge of fans surrounded him, asking for autographs. Security thought that a fight had broken out, and about 10 security guards were disatched to the spot. But what had happened as a inpromptu "guerilla sign meet" (to quote Nikkan Sports) there in the stands. The article states that Bobby signed sign cards and balls for about 500 of the 27,000 fans, but doesn't say if he ever made it to the Lotte fans in center, which was his goal.

During the sign fest, Lotte player Hori hit a pair of home runs, bringing the East to within two runs of the West. Valentine-kantoku joked that Hori was trying to help him out with a distraction.

When asked about the "incident," Lotte officials said that they though Bobby had stepped out to go to the restroom.

I don't know if Groucho glasses or a mustache will help Bobby get to his destination in the future.