Among his many talents, my best friend Chase was an expert at one in particular. He knew how to draw attention and generate an uproar. The video clip of me explaining the baseball trade to Rudy exploded across the Internet.

Soon, we were a frequent topic of conversation well outside of the sports world. Talk show hosts expressed their opinion. News anchors threw in their two cents, too. Media trucks began camping outside our apartment building and near the Yellowjackets’ stadium even though it was November. Reporters battled each other to find out the smallest details of the emotional upheaval between Harley and me.

When I returned from Chicago, the hubbub seemed to grow exponentially almost every hour. Harley asked, “Are they going to follow me to Indiana for Thanksgiving? I don’t know if my parents can handle that. There’s no room in the hills for crowds like this.”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. I thought it all would have died down after a day or two, but I think it’s still growing. Chase unleashed a monster.”

A few hours after my comment to Harley, Chase called and told us that a baseball fan in Kansas suggested on Twitter that baseball fans stage a boycott until the league decided to reunite Harley and me. He suggested that people consider returning any baseball paraphernalia they’d already bought for Christmas gifts.

I said, “That’s crazy. Isn’t it?”

Chase shook his head. “I think it’s a fantastic idea. What do you think, Harley? It’s brilliant, isn’t it?”

Harley said, “This whole thing makes me nervous. I didn’t want to be a national cause. I like the sentiment, but it’s overwhelming. Where will it all go?”

I said, “I’m not angry about the trade, and I’m worried that we’ll be targeted by the league if there’s a boycott.”

Chase disagreed. He said, “Do you think they would do that? If they try and retaliate against you, the fans will be even more upset. Ride this wave, boys. We will win in the end. Eric, you once told me there’s always a happy ending, no matter how long it takes to get there. I believe you.”

Harley and I found out more about the size of the issue when we tried to walk Rudy in our neighborhood. A reporter followed us down the street, and soon other people on the street realized it wasn’t just Harley and me. They wanted to see Rudy. He was the true celebrity in the video.

Total strangers walked up to us and wanted to pet him. They wanted to take selfies with him. After almost an hour of pleasing random fans, we turned back for home. That night, Mo helped us smuggle Rudy out of the apartment building, and he spent the next several days away from home.

I turned down multiple offers for interviews, and Harley did the same thing. My agent called me, and he was excited about the crush of publicity. He said, “Eric, wherever you end up next season, fans will come to the ballpark to see you. Your presence is an asset for any team. We can negotiate massive contracts in the future.”

I asked, “What do you mean wherever I end up? I’m playing in Chicago.”

He said, “You might not be in Chicago if fans have their way. I think it’s hard to predict where this ruckus will take us. I’m not sure the trade is a settled deal. By the way, I have an interview request I think you should take.”

“What one is that? I’ve had so many.”

“It’s next Tuesday. One of the national morning TV shows wants an interview. I think it’s a great idea. It will be two days before Thanksgiving. With that kind of exposure, this reunion movement might have a chance of succeeding. You want that, don’t you?”

I grumbled, and I said, “Of course I do.” Eventually, after consultation with Harley, I said yes to the interview. The network sent plane tickets for a trip to New York. They asked me to bring Harley, but he said no. He said, “That local show was fine, but this is too much. You will do well on your own. I’m happy for you to go, and I will do everything I can here to help push this forward, but I can’t go to New York and sit on those couches. I can’t do it.”

At the last minute, I thought about somebody who was happy to join me. I knew that he would be a great guest. Chase didn’t have to think it over. He practically shouted through the phone, “Yes!”

When I arrived at the New York studio, I was happy to have Chase at my side. He was thrilled with the attention, and he happily engaged everyone in conversations. He introduced me with lines like, “This is Eric Hinsdale, the best center fielder since Mickey Mantle.”

I appreciated the comparison to one of my baseball heroes, but I hoped I wouldn’t be attached to the tabloid-ready lifestyle that he led. I shook hands with well-wishers and glanced at Chase when I said, “I hope you don’t mind a big helping of hyperbole.”

On the air, the morning hosts asked about both Harley and Rudy. I said, “Harley is overwhelmed by all of this attention. He grew up in a small town. He decided to stay home. Rudy is escaping the crowds by staying with friends for now, and no, I won’t tell you who they are.”

Chase eloquently spoke about rules surrounding trades. He said that big league baseball didn’t prepare for the possibility that a player could love another player. It was up to them to update their rules. He called on the baseball establishment to act immediately to reunite Harley and me and demonstrate the humanity of the national pastime.

One of the hosts asked, “How should that happen? What can they do? How would you reunite Eric and Harley?”

Chase said, “That’s not Eric’s and Harley’s issue to work out. That’s a question for the owners and general managers. I suggest that they act quickly, or this boycott will grow. If they fail to respond, next year could be a very sad year for all of us who depend on this great sport for our lifeblood.”

My right hand began trembling when Chase adopted a confrontational tone. He led the studio audience in a chant of, “Together now!” The hosts even joined in. Finally, the network cut to a commercial, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

When we returned from the break, the hosts had a surprise caller. I was shocked. Chase and I smiled when we heard Harley’s voice from home. He sounded fiery on the phone. His declaration, “We’re going to win this!” broke the dam holding back my tears. I lowered my head while I wiped at my eyes, and Chase put his arm around my shoulders. As the network cut to another commercial, Chase led another round of, “Together now!”

Fortunately, our interview was over, but the audience was still buzzing. Chase was an expert at whipping them into a fury. I was exhausted and didn’t want to hear or see much more of it for the moment. I only wanted to be in Harley’s arms. I got my wish when we returned to Charlotte late that night.

Harley asked, “Is it still okay for me to go to Indiana tomorrow? This is all crazy. If it works, I’m thankful to Chase forever, but I can’t believe it. I never thought something like this would happen. We’re a news story all over the networks, and everyone is shouting, ‘Together now!’”

“Your flight is early in the morning, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it leaves at something like 6:00 a.m.”

I said, “I think we can handle the airport, and the reporters might mostly leave us alone. They are focused on the movement, and Chase is a national celebrity again. It’s all far beyond you and me now. I think you should go to Indiana. They want to see you.”