Meet The Fans - Charlene Westbrook

By Diane Stanley
February 7 2003

Baseball fans. Who are your favorite teams and players? What is your favorite baseball memory. I decided to ask a few of our fellow fans in my new series "Meet The Fans".

Today I would like to introduce to you Charlene Westbrook. A 46 year old mom of 2 who has been married for 27 years who loves the Blue Jays, Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team, (she even named one of her kids after one of the players!) Charlene lives in Whitby, Ontario Canada.

How long have you been a baseball fan?
Almost 40 years. I used to go see the Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball team as a kid.

How many games do you attend in an average season?
15 - 20

Who usually accompanies you on these trips?
My husband and 13 year old daughter.

Have to ever been to a game alone?
Yes

When you went to the game alone did you enjoy it as much as going with a group.
I think I enjoyed it just as much because I like to pay attention to the game and sometimes the distractions of people talking to me etc. take away from the game. I find that the loud music and constant need for entertaining the audience to be more than irritating as well.

Have you visited any other ballparks apart from Skydome?
Yankee Stadium in 1963 with my parents and sister.

Which player do you think has done more to change the face of baseball than any other?
Jackie Robinson

Why Jackie?
He broke down barriers so that now we have players of all colours and nationalities in MLB - for the betterment of the game. He was a gentleman and a class act besides being a great player.

If you could meet any player in baseball who would it be?
Dave Stieb - former pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Why did you choose this player above all of the others?
He was so intense as a player when he was with the Jays. He was young and wanted to win and at times was almost disliked by his team-mates for the way his intensity showed itself to them. He played a major role into getting the Jays recognized as a team to watch and was key in their first World Series win. I still love to see clips of him pitching.

If you could meet and player living or dead who would it be?
I mentioned Dave Stieb earlier but I would have liked to have met LouGehrig.

Why did you choose this player?
Besides being a terrific player he was also a man with dignity and grace in a very difficult position. He seemed to be an honourable sort of person andI admire that.

Have you ever written a fan letter to any player?
Yes. Shawn Green and Joe Carter

Did they reply?
Yes

What is your favorite baseball memory?
Joe Carter smacking his World series winning home run for the Jays.

What is your least favorite memory?
Catcher Buck Martinez getting his leg broken at home plate.

Have you ever met any of your favorite players?
Yes - Shawn Green and Pat Hentgen

Was it as much of a thrill as you had hoped it would be?
Yes - I had read about Shawn Green as a person and how respectful he was of his fans. He was very accommodating to everyone wanting autographs, he smiled, talked with people and posed for pics with a grace and charm that was very impressive. It was only for a few fleeting moments a couple of times but it was very impressive to watch him with all the fans before and after he spent a moment with my daughter and myself. I also found Pat Hentgen to be the same sort of unassuming, polite young man.

What made it so special?
It was special to meet Shawn Green because he had come back toToronto after being traded to LA for a couple of pre-season exhibition games and we knew he wouldn't be back playing at the Skydome again. We attended both games and had signs out in right field welcoming him back. He's what a role model should be like. His parents raised a very special son.

Who would you say would be top of your all time best player list?
I was a Yankee fan as a kid and Mickey Mantle was the hero of the day for me so I'd have to say him. DiMaggio and Ruth had better stats but Mick was The Man around our house.

Why?
He had the hitting and talent at centerfield but was held up in the press asthe golden boy of baseball and certainly the Yankees. At that time the off-field antics of baseball players were part of their legend in the making and they, for the large part were not held accountable as players are today. He seemed like he had it all and back then he was a hero. We now know that being a baseball player does not make anyone a hero - it's who they are as people and how they handle themselves that gets them respect nowadays, not just their talent on a baseball field.

Who is your favorite active player?
Jose Cruz of the Jays AND Shawn Green of the Dodgers.

Why Jose and Shawn?
Jose is hitting his stride and improving so much that I enjoy seeing how he handles new situations as a fielder and a batter.
I've followed Shawn's progress through the years as a Blue Jay and the maturity and talent he possesses now is wonderful to watch. He and Shawn are a lot of fun to watch. I also enjoy Alex Gonzalez and a couple of the new, young Jays, Izturis and Lopez as well.

Who do you think will win the 2001 World Series?
I think the Yankees will win.

Why did you choose the Yankees to win the World Series over the Mariners who have played superior baseball to the Yankees all season?
I "think" the Yankees will win because they have a determination that seems to always pull them through. I "want" the Mariners to win for the sake of John Olerud. I still follow him and could watch him hit the ball all day. He's got a great swing.

 

So now we know a little about one of the Blue Jays biggest fans. I would like to thank Charlene for taking the time to talk with us and giving her thoughts and views on the greatest game on earth.

If you would like to be the next interviewee, please contact me (Diane Stanley) at greenfan@shawngreen.net