Bobby Valentine Explains the Backstory of the Time He Returned in Disguise After Getting Ejected
On today's Pardon My Take... BOBBY VALENTINE! The former Major League Baseball manager joined Mr. Cat and Mr. Commenter to discuss how he invented the wrap, UFO's, running for mayor of Stamford, CT, and much more. In addition to all of that, the trio also talked about the time Valentine was ejected from a game as manager of the Mets and came back out into the dugout in disguise. You've seen the pictures and the GIFs before, but not Valentine is here to provide the full backstory:
Mr. Commenter: So, you brought it up, wearing the fake mustache, coming back into the dugout after you got ejected from a game. One of the all time visuals in the history of the sport of baseball. You come back in incognito, in disguise, trying to blend in. Did you have the mustache ready to go because you knew that you would be ejected at some point and you're like, "I'm going to pull this stunt out?" Or was it just like a crime of opportunity where you walk back and you saw the the mustache in the clubhouse? You're like, "You know what? This feels like a good thing to do."
Bobby Valentine: I wish I could take credit for that one, I can't. You know, it was Orel Hershiser and Robin Ventura who were in the clubhouse after I got ejected, and after I got through kicking a few of the stools, they said, "Hey, you've got to go back out there." Because we had a situation where I had some new coaches in the dugout who didn't really know our team. It was extra innings. Maybe there's going to be an important managerial maneuver and they want to be out there.
Bobby Valentine: I said, "I can't go out there, guys, I can't do it." And they said, "Yeah, here, put on this hat, put on these glasses, take off your uniform and go out there in just a t-shirt." And I did thee glasses and the hat and the t-shirt. I went into the training room and I looked in the mirror to see what it would look like. And then I looked down, I saw the Stick'Ums that you put underneath your eye, you know, to keep the reflection of the sun.
Bobby Valentine: And so, I took one of them and I put it over here, and I took another and I put it over here. I looked at them and Orel said, "Oh, they'll never know." With that, I went down there, it cost me $10,000. They fine me $10,000 and a three day suspension and I got it reduced to a $5,000 fine suspension for some ridiculous reason.
And that, folks, is the story of Bobby Valentine's disguise. Personally, I had seen the picture and the clip plenty of times, but never thought of how that moment exactly arrived. If you reside in Stamford, Connecticut... VOTE VALENTINE!