Braves' Francoeur Visits Elementary School
By Ken Sugiura, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
August 15, 2008
Fresh off of a potentially slump-breaking night, Jeff Francoeur paid a visit to a most welcoming fan base — students and teachers at his old elementary school.
The Braves right fielder paid a surprise visit Friday morning to Camp Creek Elementary School in Lilburn, signing autographs, posing for pictures and fielding an offer from a child to be his agent.
“It’s always cool to come back,” said Francoeur, who was interviewed by the school’s morning announcements crew and then dropped in on several classes. “It’s a lot smaller than I remember it.”
During the announcements, Francoeur mumbled his way through the Pledge of Allegiance. Fifth-grade reporter Daniel Bracken scored a scoop when Francoeur told him that he thinks Major League Baseball should take a two-week break in Olympic years to send players to the Games.
Francoeur visited a few classes led by teachers who had him when he was a child. They regaled their students with tales of how Francoeur was kind and always smiled.
Judy Buchanan, wife of Francoeur’s high school baseball coach, told her students that Francoeur once threw a paper airplane that hit her in the face when he was in fourth grade, drawing “ooohs” from the students.
“Math and recess and lunch were my three favorite subjects,” said Francoeur, who was accompanied by his wife Catie.
Francoeur passed out bumper stickers and signed dozens of autographs on a variety of items, ranging from T-shirts, backpacks and hats to a few arms, a forehead and a Harry Potter book.
He interacted easily with the students. One girl gave Francoeur a tiny helmet made out of aluminum foil, which he put on his head, much to the delight of the class.
“Tell Chipper ‘Hi’ for me,” first-grader K.J. Day told Francoeur, who assured he’d pass along the message.
He made light of his slump, which he may have snapped Thursday with a three-run home run. One student asked him how many hits he got last night.
“Three — which is a lot more than I’ve gotten in the last month,” he said.
