Juan Pierre was the first guy to the ballpark every day. Chone Figgins wasn't far behind him.
Pierre and Figgins were the last guys to leave the ballpark too. No reason for their teammates to suspect anything. Probably another round or two in the batting cage.
But it's no fun hitting on an empty stomach, and there's no money at the lowest rungs of the minor leagues. And after every game, as players showered and dressed, concession workers would drop off a few unsold hot dogs for the coaching staff.
So, with the same combination of observation, patience and instinct that would help them develop into two of baseball's premier stolen-base artists, Pierre and Figgins would wait out their teammates, then stroll into the coaches' office and politely ask for a couple of hot dogs.
"They'd wait until no one could see them," said Jim Eppard, who managed the Portland (Ore.) Rockies that season. "We never really ate the food, so we always gave them some.
"They've come a long way from taking the coaches' food out of the clubhouse."
They've come to Anaheim, as best friends and opposing leadoff hitters in tonight's renewal of the Freeway Series. They can afford to eat well these days, and they'll eat together for three days.
With Figgins eligible for free agency this fall and Pierre longing to be traded somewhere he can play every day, this might well be the last time the buddies face off against each other in Southern California. Pierre won't need to commute from L.A. this weekend; he's staying with Figgins in Orange County.
Pierre, playing left field for the Dodgers while Manny Ramirez serves a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy, ranks among National League leaders with a .330 batting average and 16 stolen bases.
Figgins, playing third base for the Angels, ranks among American League leaders with a .320 batting average and 22 stolen bases.
Their friendship is extraordinary given the transient nature of their work. Pierre and Figgins played that one summer together, in the Northwest League, where the season barely lasts two months.
That was 11 years ago. They have yet to play together again.
"We still check up on each other," Pierre said. "It makes it easier now that we're on TV."
That was but a dream when they reported to Eppard's collection of Colorado Rockies prospects, hopefuls and fillers.
Pierre was 20. So was Figgins.
