Now that I’ve got your attention, allow me to add a ‘not really’ to that headline, but it’s a fun story nonetheless.

As most loyal ThinkBlueLA followers and certainly anyone who follows me on Twitter (@Think_BlueLA) knows, I have a strong liking towards the popular fast food chain In-N-Out Burger.

…Okay, I admit it, it’s an obsession – but I can quit anytime.

On Thursday afternoon, as I was walking to the Camelback Ranch press box for the game between the Dodgers and Kansas City Royals, I was blessed – and make no mistake about it, it was a true blessing – to walk with former Dodgers great and current SportsNet LA broadcaster and analyst Orel Hershiser, who is about as nice (and approachable) of a human being as you will ever meet.

As a matter of habit and because I am ‘follicly challenged’ (as they say), you will rarely find me outside without a hat on, especially under what can be an unbearable Arizona sun. On this particular day I was wearing my favorite In-N-Out Burger hat.

After exchanging pleasantries, Hershiser, out of the blue, said quite emphatically “I love In-N-Out Burger!”

As you might expect, I replied “Who doesn’t?”

But it’s what the holder of MLB’s all-time consecutive scoreless innings streak (59) said next that actually caused a pause in my stride.

“In fact, after every home win, I would always take my family straight to In-N-Out to celebrate,” Hershiser added. “And if for some reason I didn’t make that day, we would go the very next day, without fail.”

Needless to say, this was huge news for an In-N-Out aficionado such as myself.

During spring training 2017, I saw Hershiser driving one of the Dodgers spring training carts. I said “Hey Orel, can I ask you a quick question?” He said “Sure, get in and ask me on the way.” I did and he answered. I didn’t realize it at the time that I had been duped by ‘The Master of the House’ … I had to walk all the way back from the minor league practice fields.

But why only after home wins, you ask? The answer is quite simple, actually.

Hershiser’s brilliant 18-year MLB career occurred between 1983 and 2000, during which time the popular family-owned, non-franchised hamburger chain (which it still is today, by the way) only had restaurants in Southern California surrounding it’s original store in Baldwin Park, California, which opened in 1948. In other words, if you didn’t live in the greater Los Angeles area, you were just plain out of In-N-Out Burger luck. Fortunately, the Hershisers did.

The first In-N-Out opened in 1948 in Baldwin Park, California. The first store to open outside of California would not occur until 1992, when they opened a store in Las Vegas, Nevada. The next non-California stored didn’t open until 2000 in Arizona. They now have stores in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas, Oregon, and will soon be opening stores in Colorado. (Photo courtesy of In-N-Out Burger)

Obviously, this entire In-N-Out thing is all in fun and had absolutely nothing to do with Orel Hershiser breaking Hall of Fame right-hander Don Drysdale‘s previous record of 58.2 scoreless innings streak.

…or did it?

I think I’ll ponder that over a double-double … animal style, of course.