Today the 94 WIP Morning Show hung up twice on Lenny Dykstra, first during an argument with Angelo Cataldi and the second time after an exchange with Ray Didinger, who was in the studio with the regular crew.

The subject of the latter spat was $7,000 that Didinger claims he’s owed by Nails, after writing two stories for his magazine, The Player, at some point in the past.

Obviously that situation remains unresolved, and if I had to go out on a limb here, I’d say Ray is probably never getting that money. I’d also like to know how I can be paid* $3,500 per story, so if you’ve got a lead, let me know.

But anyway, Ray does the best radio show on WIP right now, weekend mid-mornings alongside Glen Macnow, and today Glen shared an article he originally wrote a few years ago titled “Philly’s biggest sports creep? That’s easy, it’s Lenny Dykstra.“

In the piece he tells this story:

My personal experience with Lenny was trivial compared to the issues that put him in jail. We had no run in and I wasn’t the victim. But I think it’s a telling story.

In August 1993, The Philadelphia Inquirer sent me to Atlanta to help cover the Phils pennant drive. I was waiting outside the hotel when Dykstra suggested we share a taxi to the stadium. He even offered to pay.

An older cabbie stopped and was thrilled to see Dykstra climb in. The driver, a huge fan, explained that he kept a bat in his taxi, and asked any star player to add his signature. He planned to give it to his young grandson as a family heirloom. He handed the Louisville Slugger over the seat. We saw the names: Tony Gwynn, Andre Dawson, David Cone.

Dykstra took the bat and a Sharpie from the driver. He agreeably signed, and then flashed me a conspiratorial grin. As he handed it back over the seat, he showed me: Rather than his name, Lenny had written, “Suck a D—” The driver, not noticing, put his cherished bat back in a protective case, anticipating how much his grandson would appreciate it.

“We got him good, didn’t we, dude?” Dykstra chortled to me as we left the cab. Like an idiot, I said nothing. All these years later, I still feel lousy about the incident.

Lenny, come on man. You can’t be pulling that kind of stuff.

I know there’s a decent human being in there somewhere, like the version of Nails who offered a message of kindness and love to the Angry Bagel Guy.