Why I choose to remember Drew Storen's Nationals days for more than everyone else

"My dad and I got to the stadium early to watch players warm up and get autographs--we were in the stands down the right field line. It was drizzly... There were almost zero fans in there at the time. It had rained the night before, but neither team was outstanding by any means, so attendance was low as a result. I got the full attention of the players."

"The Nationals players were not wearing their jerseys with names on the back at that time; however, I was studying the 2011 edition of a book that I believe was called "who's who in baseball," which had pictures of every player as well as their career statistics. I was studying their faces to know who I was asking for autographs from, which paid off big time."

"I saw him warming up... and I said in my pre-pubescent voice, "Hey Drew, can I have your autograph?" He came over and signed for me. We were talking for a few minutes. 14 years later, I forget what the subject was we were talking about, but as the conversation was nearing its end, I asked for his hat. He told me that he "only has one hat on roadtrips, but see me at a home game, and I'll give you my hat.""

"I think my dad and I had our doubts on whether or not he'd remember--but a few weeks later, we attended a game against the then-Florida Marlins. We saw Drew warming up and came over to us. He did, in fact, remember me. That made me feel so special; however, he was on a really good streak at the time--so he wanted to keep his hat. Instead, he went into the clubhouse and got his Phiten Necklace for me,"

Spring Break 2011 involved a road trip to Pittsburgh to see Nationals games at PNC Park with a father. Early arrival during drizzly, low-attendance conditions allowed close access to players warming up. The fan studied a 2011 who's who book to identify players and collected several autographs from Nationals, including Drew Storen. A friendly conversation with Storen led to a promise of a hat at a home game. Weeks later, Storen remembered the fan and, while keeping his hat, retrieved his Phiten necklace from the clubhouse and gave it to the fan, creating a lasting keepsake.

Read at District on Deck