The Loop

Army veteran gets entire Washington Nationals team to sign his golf cart

March 28, 2016

We're not sure if we've ever heard of a golfer signing an autograph on a golf cart. But an entire baseball team? Yeah, we're going to go ahead and declare this a first.

The Washington Post ran a nice story on Monday about the Washington Nationals signing disabled army veteran Joe Stanfield's golf cart. Why did they do this?

“I’d lose a baseball,” said Stanfield, who served in the military for 20 years and did three tours in Iraq. “I don’t think I’ll lose a golf cart.”

There's an extra push to get autographs this year in Viera, Fla., the Nationals' spring training home. The team is moving to West Palm Beach next spring. But Stanfield's autograph request stood out for obvious reasons:

Stanfield lives a few blocks away from Space Coast Stadium and he often uses his golf cart to get around. He said the parade of autographs started with Nats superstar and reigning N.L. MVP Bryce Harper, who overheard a conversation between Stanfield and Washington's manager, Dusty Baker.

“I said I had three tours in Iraq, and baseball, every day here’s a good day," Stanfield said. "Bryce heard that. Then he wrote ‘Every day’s a good day. Luke 1:37, Anything with God is possible.’ It went from there. I’ve enjoyed it.”

Here's to many years of you enjoying those autographs, Joe. And to your golf cart's roof being durable in the rain.