• @niktemadur@lemmy.world
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      16 days ago

      Reminds me of 1970s ace pitcher for the Oakland A’s, Vida Blue. One time in… I think it was '72… he got fined $250 for some harsh behavior or comment, maybe it was to the umpire or an opposing player. Already a superstar, Vida Blue was an aggressive competitor, known for speaking his mind, took no shit from anybody.

      Anyway, he paid it all in quarters, dimes and nickels. Asked about this at the time, he replied - “I wanted to pay it all in pennies, but they’re hard to come by”.

      I wish I could have seen his face when he committed to the prankster bit. “Oh, you wanna fine me, motherfuckers? I’m gonna make even that a hassle for ya.”
      The man was a legend. A monster on the mound, too, in '71 he won both the AL Cy Young and MVP.