John Crook’s Wild Story from Mexico City
During a Phillies game against the Blue Jays on Wednesday night, broadcaster John Crook shared a rather entertaining personal tale. Known for his storytelling flair, Crook recounted an unforgettable experience from 1986 when he found himself stranded in Mexico City on his way to Venezuela for the Caribbean Series—thanks to the lack of a passport.
“A kid approached me… he was around 19 and spoke no English. He asked me to accompany him, and I thought, ‘What the heck?'” Crook recalled during the broadcast on NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Climbing into that car, I figured, ‘I might die here, but hey, I had a good run.'”
He went on to explain how the team had flown from Mexico City straight to Venezuela, leaving him at the airport in Mexico.
Crook played in the major leagues for teams like the Phillies, Padres, and White Sox between 1986 and 1995, hitting 100 home runs and earning three consecutive All-Star nods with Philadelphia from 1991 to 1993. In 1986, he was with Águilas de Mexicali in the Mexican Pacific League, which led him on a challenging trip to Venezuela.
He added, “When I went to the U.S. consulate, they outright told me I couldn’t fly to Venezuela. This was back when the FBI was keeping tabs on me, so I assume there was a no-fly zone in effect.” After some back-and-forth, the U.S. consulate finally granted him a six-day work visa the next day.
Crook’s humorous nature has always been part of his charm, and he even touched on a story involving a prison team he faced in the Mexican League, although he didn’t delve into that on Wednesday.
Arriving in Venezuela later that evening was another whirlwind; someone picked him up, but he had no idea who it was. They tried to put him on a flight back to Mexico City, giving him only his gloves and uniform—things he definitely didn’t need at that moment.
Once at the stadium for Game 1 of the Caribbean Series, he found himself in a left-handed pitcher’s glove and mismatched running shoes. However, despite the rocky start to his journey, Crook and his team ultimately clinched the Caribbean Series title.
