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	Russo and Met

The weather for the day was perfect. I got to the park about two hours early and met all the ball players, except for Mike Piazza, who wasn't standing around with the team. This was before Mike had decided to remain with the Mets. I asked the Met's photographer if he could get a photo of me with Piazza and he said after I threw the opening ball, to try to keep him at home plate so he could snap the shot.

Well the game was about to start and a booming voice comes over the PA system saying "Tom, this is your pitch." I run out to the mound, wind up, throw the ball, and then jog in to get it back from Piazza. He doesn't want to make eye contact and I see it's going to be tough to get a picture. When I'm about 5 feet away I say "Hey Mike, for $100 million, why don't you stay in New York for awhile?"

Got him. He stopped dead in his tracks for a second, and I saw the photographer snap the shot. The only problem was, he never sent it to me! That's ok, it was an incredible day, one I'll always remember.