Susan and Ken Batten pose with Randy Johnson and Dennis Haysbert at the Yokosuka Fleet Recreation Center gym Oct. 11, 2011. Hundreds of fans converged on the gym to meet Johnson, a retired Major League Baseball star, and Haysbert, star of the TV show "The Unit." (Trevor Andersen/Stars and Stripes)
Susan and Ken Batten pose with Randy Johnson and Dennis Haysbert at the Yokosuka Fleet Recreation Center gym Oct. 11, 2011. Hundreds of fans converged on the gym to meet Johnson, a retired Major League Baseball star, and Haysbert, star of the TV show "The Unit." (Trevor Andersen/Stars and Stripes)
Retired Major League star Randy Johnson signs a baseball for a fan at the Fleet Recreation Center gym at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, on Oct. 11, 2011. Dennis Haysbert (partially seen on the right) from the TV show "The Unit," was also there to sign autographs and take photos with fans. (Trevor Andersen/Stars and Stripes)
Randy Johnson, retired Major League Baseball star, and actor Dennis Haysbert, star of the TV show "The Unit," smile for the camera as they have their picture taken with a fan at the Fleet Recreation Center gym at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, on Oct. 11, 2011. Fans brought baseball caps, DVDs and other memorabilia for the two stars to autograph. (Trevor Andersen/Stars and Stripes)
Fans line up to meet retired Major League star Randy Johnson and actor Dennis Haysbert at the Fleet Recreation Center gym at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, on Oct. 11, 2011. Hundreds of fans turned out to meet the stars and get an autograph. (Trevor Andersen/Stars and Stripes)
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Hundreds of people lined up Tuesday in the Fleet Recreation Center gym at Yokosuka to meet retired Major League flame-thrower Randy ‘The Big Unit’ Johnson along with Dennis Haysbert, star of the TV show “The Unit.”
Fans of both celebrities brought baseballs, jerseys, baseball cards, DVDs and other memorabilia to be signed. There were parents with their children and sailors who just got off work chatting excitedly about their favorite baseball moments and what a great president Haysbert made on the TV series “24.”
By the time the doors to the basketball court opened, the ever-growing line had snaked around the gym.
Johnson and Haysbert signed autographs, posed for pictures and answered questions about their careers. They were also open to hugs.
Navy spouse Susan Batten was thrilled that she had the opportunity to see Haysbert.
“I got to meet him,” she said through a giggle. “I’ve seen him in so many shows and so many movies, and he’s an ambassador for the RainCatcher organization (a charity that provides clean water to impoverished locations). It’s just so exciting.”
Her Navy chief husband, Ken, had his DVD of “The Unit” signed.
“I’ve been a longtime fan,” he said. “It’s really nice when somebody comes out to support the troops, and I always respect that.”
