The Intern: Signing Autographs
Part 2 takes Javier to the clubhouse to obtain autographs
Signing Autographs is Part 2 of the five-part serial The Intern, which sets up the April 2 release of the novel Lose Yourself. (Read Part 1)
By Vince Wetzel
One month into the season, Javier felt he finally had a grip on his role as an intern for the Oakland A’s. It was all he expected. He worked in the press box. He visited both team’s clubhouses and interacted with the players and coaches. When he wasn’t actively running down something for anyone in the front office not an intern, he found a few minutes to sit and watch the game. It was the best summer job a 20-year-old could have.
Well, except for the long days during homestands.
For night games, he left his Hayward apartment at 2 p.m., walked four blocks, boarded BART, got to the stadium by 3 p.m., four hours before game time. Javier enjoyed the energy in a ballpark before a game, even when his tasks included the mundane – printing, sorting, and distributing media credentials; making copies, tabulating attendance figures and all jobs that the salaried staff didn’t want to do.
Javier didn’t mind. To him, all of these odd jobs were important. He approached them all with the same youthful enthusiasm and hope that it might lead to a job with the A’s or another pro team. It was his dream to work in sports information and handle media access, act as spokesperson, and write team press releases and notes.
Each day, he watched the A’s Pete Henderson move about the stadium, his iPhone in his right hand, a notepad and pen in left, schmoozing members of the media, conversing with the broadcasters, talking to players and managers and making sure the media operations ran as smoothly as possible. Javier knew his role was to make his boss look good and he did everything to perform that task.
Javier sat at the intern desk placing the final media comp tickets into envelopes when Henderson approached.
“Jason is out today,” Henderson said. “I need you to handle the autographs. Think you can handle it?”
Javier nodded. Typically, Jason, the clubhouse attendant, put out the boxes, balls, and photos the team wanted players to sign for the team to donate for various charitable events and causes. But often that responsibility became an unofficial duty of the interns. Partly because it allowed the players to blow off the intern rather than the clubhouse guy. At least, that’s how Javier felt.
Javier gathered a stack of photos, balls and pens to bring to the clubhouse. The best time to catch the players was before batting practice as they were dressing at their lockers. They were the most relaxed and willing to take a few moments to sign.
His first stop was JT Berman, the A’s centerfielder and one of the keys to the team’s potential success this year. Unfortunately, a week ago, Berman twisted his knee and was out two months. Today, he was sitting at his locker just to be around the game, his braced knee elevated on another chair.
“Hey Berman,” Javier said. “Got time to sign a few balls and photos?”
While Javier had built a rapport with Berman, the injured player looked at him with annoyance. Javier raised his shoulders, trying to portray sympathy and youthful brashness. Berman shook his head. He was only six years older than Javier.
“I’ve got nothing but time,” Berman said, taking the box of balls and photographs Javier offered.
Next, Javier approached reliever Gary Mauro. At one time, Gary was considered one of the top closers in the game and was nicknamed “The Thunder Down Under,” partly because you could only hear the roar of the crowd after he blew his 100-mile fastball by you and partly because of his supposed prowess. That rumor only grew because of his relationship with a high-profile TikTok star.
“What do we have today,” Mauro said. Javier always smiled when he heard the breezy ease of Mauro’s accent.
Javier handed a box of 12 baseballs, along with a stack action shots taken by the team photographer. Mauro took the items and pulled out a green Sharpie from the top of his locker. Javier liked Mauro. Because of his ties to social media, Javier thought he might try to monetize every opportunity. But to his credit, he never brought that life into the clubhouse.
“I’ll be back in a few,” Javier said. Mauro nodded and sat down to sign.
Javier stopped by Oakland superstar Brett Austen’s space. It wasn’t so much a locker than a family room. He had two lockers, a recliner and a desk. As the team’s best-known player and All-Star, Austen was having a fantastic year just a month in. He was close to hitting .400 and already had 5 home runs.
Unfortunately, he broke off contract extension talks with the A’s until the end of the season. Javier hoped both the team and Austen could find a way for him to stay in Oakland, but one thing Javier learned as an intern – the business side of the game was unforgiving.
For his all-star performance on the field, Austen also wasn’t the best signer. It was understandable. His signature commanded big dollars on the open market. Even giving items away to charity, diluted the value of the items. The contract situation didn’t help and now he rarely signed during the week and preferred to have a whole stack on Saturdays. Still, Javier approached Austen with the hope a lazy Tuesday evening might induce him to sign a few.
As Javier approached Austen, he took a deep breath to gain the courage to ask. Of all the A’s, Austen was the one who intimidated him the most
“Mr. Austen? Up for signing today?”
Austen turned. He was pulling off the polo shirt he wore to the Stadium, his body cut and sculpted out of marble. At 5-foot-11, Javier stood the same height as Austen, but his knees shook hoping Austen wouldn’t yell at Javier for bothering him.
“Who are they for?” Austen asked.
“I’m not sure. Henderson just said to get them signed,” Javier said. He wasn’t sure if this would be considered throwing his boss under the bus, but he hoped this statement wasn’t career limiting.
“I’ll sign these, but for the rest of the season, I want you to get Henderson to share exactly who I’m signing these ‘charitable’ autographs for the team, ok?”
“Sure, Mr. Austen,” Javier said and placed the stack of balls and pictures on his desk. Javier wanted to expand the conversation, asking, “So, you’re hitting ball really well now. Is there something you’re doing more of this season?”
Austen began using the Sharpie and didn’t look up from the photos.
“See ball. Hit ball kid,” he said. “The hitting gods will it where they want it to go, and I just try to keep the demon away.”
“Demon?” Javier asked.
“Move along kid so I can sign your autographs,” Austen said.
Javier went around to the rest of the players and delivered their boxes and photos, then took the same route to collect the autographs. Berman placed his completed pile on the stool next to his raised leg.
“Thanks JT,” Javier said.
“No problem,” Berman replied.
Next, he went to Mauro. Mauro’s pile was also completed, but Mauro still had the pen in his hand and looking down. Javier’s eyes glanced down. Mauro’s pants were down along with his jock strap and Mauro was using the pen to color his penis. The reputation was well earned. Javier looked back up, embarrassed, shocked, and a bit disturbed by what he saw.
Mauro sensed Javier’s presence. He turned his head and looked right at Javier. His mouth turned up in a large smile and said, “Go Big Green!”
Releasing April 2, 2024, Lose Yourself follows six separate, but interweaving stories amidst the backdrop of the last game of the baseball season with All-Star Brett Austen on the verge of a historic achievement. Told in real time, Lose Yourself captures the essence of taking in a baseball game in Oakland, CA.
