been a Yankees fan since he was a kid , even though he grew up in Iowa . `` My father was a Yankees fan , and it was just handed down through the generations , '' he said . Palmer has a baseball signed by about 20 Yankees players and other memorabilia , but said his biggest thrill was meeting relief pitchers Sparky Lyle and Rich `` Goose '' Gossage . `` It was also amazing to shake hands with one of the most feared pitchers of his day , Goose Gossage , and really see what a gentle person he could be , '' See what Palmer wrote on iReport.com . New Yorker Matthew Friedman said he met Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg last August after singing `` God Bless America '' before a Peoria Chiefs minor league game . Friedman was in town as part of the Broadway touring production of `` Movin ' Out . '' He said he would sing at the game only if he could meet Sandberg , who was managing the Chiefs . `` He was such a nice guy , '' he said . Friedman is a Mets fan , but
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Baseball 's biggest stars are in New York for Tuesday 's All-Star game , as the sport says goodbye to one of its most famous landmarks . Joseph Cornacchia , left , used to play with Babe Ruth when he was a kid , his son Jim says . It 's the Yankees ' final season at the `` House that Ruth Built , '' and MLB.com reports that 40 Hall of Famers are expected to attend the historic event . We asked CNN.com readers to share their baseball memories and to tell us about meeting their favorite players . iReporter Jim Cornacchia of Rye , New York , says his grandmother taught Babe Ruth to `` make a mean batch of chili . '' He said the legendary slugger would come to Greenwood Lake , New York , during the off season and would visit with his family . iReport.com : Ever met your favorite player ? Cornacchia 's father , Joseph , who just turned 76 , would play wintertime games with `` The Babe '' as a child , and even built a snowman with him . Patrick Palmer , 43 , has