"I'm a little emotional tonight," he told me when we met Monday for the first time since the memorable one-game playoff last fall. When I asked why, he explained that his streak would come to an end today (Wednesday).
Robert, who lives in a group home in Roswell, used to clean an Old Navy store before coming to the ballpark. However, a new job at a nearby Kroger offered more hours but would require him to miss the second game of the season and some others.
Perhaps that will not happen, I thought. But tonight there was no Robert — transforming into Chief — at the season ticket holder gate. And no headdress on the first row just over Jason Heyward's shoulder in right field. And no traditional walk around the stadium in the second inning. No Chief tonight.
But it was an amazing record — and one that was continued despite the challenges of public transportation and all kinds of weather. On Monday I urged him to focus on his accomplishment rather than the end.
No other fan has never missed a game at Turner Field, to my knowledge. And Robert's streak would go back much further had he not missed just one game 15 years ago when his grandmother and her twin sister celebrated their 90th birthday and he was present.
So hail to the Chief! See you back at the Ted soon.
Since you pointed him out in another blog a couple years ago, I always look for Robert in right field on TV.
ReplyDeleteI really hope the Braves organization know about this streak ending. That is pretty amazing.
Maybe a Chief bobblehead
ReplyDeleteRobert might be working at "my" Kroger in Roswell. A nearby group home runs a shuttle to the small shopping center, and several other employees live at the home. But I might not recognize him without his "normal" attire.
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