It was around 1990. The Red Sox were staying at the Cross Keys Inn in Baltimore, and manager Joe Morgan had done a radio show with the Orioles flagship station on the first night of a three-game series. After the interview, he’d been handed a $50 gift certificate for free clothing at Jos. A. Bank.
When Morgan saw me doing the same radio show in the O’s dugout the next night, he hunted me down and gave me his certificate, saying, “They know I’m never going to use this thing, but maybe you know how.”
I did. I’d worked in Baltimore, had rented a car for the series, and knew the store.
Late in the morning the next day, I drove there, picked up $50 worth of stuff for myself, then called Joe at the hotel and asked if he’d like me to grab him a sweater or something.
“Thanks,” he said. “What I could really use is some new underwear. Size 42.”
I can’t remember who won any of those games, but I’ve never forgotten the time I bought underwear for the manager of the Boston Red Sox.
Read more from Dan Shaughnessy at BostonGlobe.com/Sports. | 
