Wow! I received one of the coolest items for my collection today. I had a ticket from the 05.01.2011 Phillies game for a while and decided to reach out to see if I could get it signed. I was told “The Operator” was having a private signing in a couple weeks so I quickly mailed in the ticket. You may not know who “The Operator” is but you surely know what he accomplished.
During the Phillies game on 05.01.2011, the crowd started chanting “USA! USA! USA!” Nobody directed them to do it. The cheer started organically. During the game, people saw the headline that President Obama was going to address the country announcing that the US Military conducted Operation Neptune’s Spear and took out Osama Bin Laden. I remember reading that the players in the bullpens had no idea why the fans were chanting “USA!” until they asked a fan. Word quickly spread throughout each team. Watching highlights from that game, and moment, gave me chills. It was an amazing moment tying American history with baseball history.
The Operator is Robert O’Neill and he is the Navy Seal who delivered the double-tap ridding the world of the 9/11 mastermind.
I sent in my ticket and asked for a couple inscriptions. I got “USA! USA! USA!” and “Operation Neptune’s Spear” along with his signature. It is one of the most expensive autographs I ever paid for but it is one of the coolest. The ticket goes perfectly with my 9/11/2002 game used hat that Doug Mientkiewicz wore for the one year anniversary of that fateful day. Doug had written a couple items on the hat and I was able to get it signed the following season at the 2003 Twins Autograph Party. I am very excited to add this to my collection!
Here are a couple pictures of the ticket, the hat, and Robert signing my ticket!
