In the mid-1950's the Braves moved their AAA team to Wichita, Kansas. I got the job as visiting team bat boy. One of the first teams that came to town was the Denver Bears managed by Ralph Houk (players included Tony Kubek and Bobby Richardson). I guess it was apparent that I was new to the job because Mr. Houk str
uck up a conversation with me, asked me about myself and explained to me that although I certainly should be for the home team Braves, it probably was not a good idea to loudly cheer for them from the Bear's dugout. Although I was pretty young, even then I knew he was very classy man.
Another manager in the league, Eddie Stanky of the Minneapolis Millers, not so much. After his team lost a game Stanky actually started an argument with me in the clubhouse that subsequently resulted in the team trainer having to restrain me from taking a swing at him. I got the last laugh however when the following spring the Dodgers barnstormed through Wichita to play the Milwaukee Braves and I was treated like a hero by the Dodgers (Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, etc. who, it turned out, were vehement Stanky haters). A reserve catcher for the Dodgers, Joe Pignatano, who had played for the Millers the previous season, told them a greatly enhanced version of the "fight" that had me emerging as the victor.
As a final aside, this is the same Joe Pignatano that told a very wild young lefty named Sandy Koufax that if he slowed it down a little and got it over the plate he could probably still win in the big leagues. Wonder how that worked out?