Updated - Your Autograph Experiences (Good and Bad)

megatron

We had this discussion some time ago, but wondering if anyone had any updates. ALl of my experiences have been in regards to baseball and I have them posted below. Let's make this a fun discussion once again.

Here is my post (from another board)

GREAT SIGNERS

Fergie Jenkins will happily sign if you make a donation to his charity. I gave him $5.00 (made me feel good about helping out a cause) and he inscribed my ball.

Harmon Killebrew, Stan Musial, and Bob Feller are fantastic gentlemen.

Billy Williams is a great signer with a beautiful signature who signs on the sweet spot.

Ernie Banks is very nice, but appears to be a perv to me. I've gotten his auto three times and the line seems to stall each time a beautiful young girl asks for an autograph. Ernie suggests taking a picture and flirts. To me, it is just weird for an old married guy to do something that obvious.

Todd Helton is also great about signing.

Rafael Palmeiro was absolutely wonderful for a future HOF'er.

ARod was very nice when he came to Wrigley with the Rangers.

NO OPINIONS RENDERED

Bob Gibson, Bill Buckner, and Andre Dawson were courteous but very quiet.

WORLD CLASS JERKS

1. Mike Piazza - This guy never signs although people used to come to the Mets BP just to get a signature from this guy. He won't even acknowledge the crowd.
2. Gabe Kapler - For a nobody, this guy is a jerk and usually only signs for kids. Even then, he refuses the sweet spot or will sign upside down on a card not to (as he says) "diminish the value of his trading card deals". Have fun in Japan, jerk.
3. Mark McGwire - The media made this guy out to be some sort of American hero, but he is a jerk to fans in general. He refuses to sign, refuses to attend shows, and tells people to get out of his face. Won't even acknowledge kids watching him during BP. Nice charity work with kids, though Mark. Keep it up!!
4. Sammy Sosa - hard to argue that there is a bigger prima donna out there. Says he loves the fans, but then turns around and avoids the great mass of them. Yes, Sammy, "Bazball has been berry berry good to you."
5. Manny Ramirez - See Sosa
6. Kyle Farnsworthless. At a Cubs convention, the guy was the biggest jagoff that existed. He wanted nothing to do with the fans and seemed to be there to showcase his hot girlfriend. He was curt and condescending towards any fans who wanted to strike up a conversation. He wore a cap and looked down the entire time. After his problems surfaced, I'm sure he was wearing a cap to hide his glazed eyes from a hangover. I'm glad he's gone and won't miss his naps in the clubhouse. Good luck Detroit fans with this loser.

Axtell

I've heard that going to spring training is your best bet for getting autos.

And to be honest, I can't say I blame these guys (especially starts) for not signing...especially with the proliferation of ebay selling this stuff. But it doesn't excuse them being rude about it.

1420sports

Ernie Banks is very nice, but appears to be a perv to me. I've gotten his auto three times and the line seems to stall each time a beautiful young girl asks for an autograph. Ernie suggests taking a picture and flirts. To me, it is just weird for an old married guy to do something that obvious.

... Mr. Cub did the same thing to my wife! He was still very cool about the whole thing, as he signed several inscriptions for free - much to his promoters and others dismay.

DirtyDog48

A few years ago I embarked on a project to get some of my vintage football cards signed by NFL old-timers. The response was generally good with quite a few players signing the card I mailed to them and also including a note saying that it's good to see that players from the 40s, 50s and 60s haven't been forgotten.

The oddest response I got was from Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, the 1955 Heisman winner from Ohio State who spent 9 seasons in the NFL with the Lions, Browns and Eagles.

After mailing out Cassady's 1958 Topps card, I got a form letter from his personal business agent informing me that due to the fact that many of Hopalong's autographed items have been showing up on Ebay, Cassady is now charging $15 to autograph trading cards and that they are "holding my card" pending receipt of my check.

In other words, they were holding my card hostage and I don't negotiate with terrorists.

Gemmy10

Well, you could have threatened to sue them if they did not return your card.

yawie99

This was a good experience of mine 23 1/2 years ago. I'm obviously not in the picture, but that's my notepad.



Unfortunately, I have no idea what became of the autograph, but I figure if this photo was still at my parents' house after all those years, then Tom Herr's sig might still be there too. Maybe I'll unearth it one of these days.

SoFLPhillyFan

<< <i>I've heard that going to spring training is your best bet for getting autos.

And to be honest, I can't say I blame these guys (especially starts) for not signing...especially with the proliferation of ebay selling this stuff. But it doesn't excuse them being rude about it. >>



Spring training is great for autos and getting close to the players. I was all set to get some Red Sox and Twins autos this year since they train here in Ft. Myers, also some from visiting teams. Unfortunately I was called away to Ohio for most of March to work. I even have some inside contacts with the local Sheriff's department that provides security for the Twins. It's not uncommon to see players around town and some live here in the off season, Derek Lowe for one.

Another option here is the Twins Single A club, the Miracle. Joe Mauer, Johan Santana I think, and some others have played here and occassionally we get a big show player doing rehab. Trot Nixon visited with the Sox A ball team last year. The difference in skill was evident. His first at bat he drilled the first pitch for a triple.

Anyway, my worst experience has been with Mike Schmidt, unfortunately. He was an egomaniacal jerk when he played and hasn't changed. Last year he managed the Clearwater Threshers Phillies A ball team and came to town for a few games. My wife mentioned that I should get a card signed. Since I knew his demeanor I suggested that she should try. She waited by the dugout with about six kids and adults and he wouldn't even come out to aknowledge them. At one point during the game he went to the mound, I was about 20 feet away and yelled, "Hey Scmidtty, welcome back." He acted as if I had just insulted his mother.

In contrast, Tim Raines manages the (Expos)Nationals A ball team. Last year when they visited I again sat in the first few rows behind their dugout (as you may have surmised you can buy a ticket for 4 bucks and usually sit anywhere). A young boy, about 6 went to the fence during the game. Raines was standing on the steps. The kid very politely said "Mr. Raines, can I have a ball?" Raines motioned for the kid to wait a second and when play stopped he reached into a bag and gave him a ball.

Now that is a ball player.

Cubfan

Had a fabulous experience with Brooks Robinson a couple of years ago. He was at a very poorly attended small town card show. I had him autograph my childhood glove (which was a Brooks model) and, as there were no other people in line, I asked him a question or two and he asked me to sit down and talk with him. And I did so for about 15 minutes. He was one of the nicest people, famous or not, that I have ever met.

Im 45 now, but I felt kind of like 10 talking to him about his teammates, the famous games, life after baseball, etc.

He thought it was neat that I brought my childhood glove. But the real kicker was that, right as I was leaving, the next person walked up to him and introduced him to his son (who was about 12) whom he named Brooks after him !!!!

Ernie Banks was one of my favorite Cub growing up. I had posters, buttons, cards and everything of him. I had a chance to be around him at a benefit dinner a year or so ago and saw how he could switch the "Lets play two" guy into bitterness in a second. I was really disappointed at how he would pretend to be friendly to people and then turn around and say...everybody wants to be my friend and take up my time. It wasnt an official autograph session, just a talk, but still, I was disappointed. Maybe its the old age.

Skip2MyLou11

Well I had a few bad ones. One was warren sapp....I was at bucs training camp and he was out there. Well we all started chanting APK! APK! APK! which is where he was from. So he's like "Alright, Calm down, I'm going to sign but don't Push and shove" Well he's signing and some lady who earlier was like "Sapp will NEVER sign" shoves between a few people and says "CAN I GET A PICTURE!?" Sapp Flings his pen into the air and storms off. 2 PEOPLE AWAY! AHHHHHHHHHH! Seeing the tight sigs others got "WARREN SAPP" on there footballs not just WS or WSp or something but full names really irked me!
I got sapp eventually 3 years later at a magic game. Index card and not on my football but oh well ...

another one that sort of pissed me off. Was eric snow...I asked eric if he would mind signing an extra card for my friend and he sorta didn't say anything and just kept signing. Well then the next guy he goes to he's like..."He wanted me to sign 2 for him and he didn't even say thank you"...wtf?! I said thanks as he was signing my first card! maybe a little short of hearing mr snow? I wanted to throw the stupid card he signed for me at him. Then just decided to give it to my friend. F&@K@*YH* Eric snow!

Skip2MyLou11

oh and one other thing I had to mention. Most NBA players are nice these days. Guys like Jason Terry or Tony Delk or Steve Francis and Marcus Banks. I remember Jason Terry signed like 8 cards that I had with me. And I had asked him if I could get his shoes after the game. He said "You Sure can" where you going to be? So i said i'd be by the tunnel and that was that I thought. Well at the game I was watching them shoot around and he came off and as he was signing he said "I got some shoes for ya" and I handed him my pen and he ran back to the locker room. About 5 minutes later the ball boy came out with the signed pair of shoes ...
THAT IS WHAT AN NBA PLAYER SHOULD ACT LIKE....

Maybe not always give out his stuff but atleast be nice about things. I remember asking Tony Delk for some shoes and he said "I think I only have one pair but I'll check" I told him I had been trying since his days with boston. At the game I asked "So Tony did you see about the shoes?" and he said "Yeah if I remember" well that usually is like ah probably not. But after the game I yelled for him..it was so loud with everyone wanting josh smith's arm band and what not. "He looked at me and said hold on. So he stops in the tunnell and takes them off after taking the soles out. There are kids just clawing to grab those shoes and he made sure to put them in my hands. Kind of like I saw lebron do when he gave a kid his headband.

Biggest Jerks in the NBA? KG,Rasheed Wallace,Alonzo Mourning Etc...
these guys love to ignore you. And in zo's case he will only sign for a black kid. Made out to be a nice guy but he isn't.

iamthegreatcornholio

I used to work customer service at a hunting goods outdoor store and I'd see a few players every now and then - mostly Braves players. They'd usually sign after they were done shopping. The players I got to talk to were Kevin Millwood, John Rocker, Mike Remlinger and Ken Caminiti to name a few. By far the coolest nonsports guy was Jeff Foxworthy.

Brian

Skip2MyLou11

John Rocker? that's so tight! I'd love to get his auto. Jeff Foxworthy? he's not the guy you'd see in a store like that!

DirtyHarry

My personal experiences, in random order:

Pete Rose - incribes what you want, takes photos. Fun.
Mickey Mantle - kinda neurtral. But, he was dying.
Joe Dimaggio - wanted to please. No personalization, but photos.
Tom Seaver - ahole.
Sandy Koufax - a pleasure..photos OK.
Yogi Berra - talk to you all day..photos OK.
Don Larson - same as above
Reggie Jackson - nice auto and will talk to you.
Ernie Banks - everything you want from Mr Baseball.
Joe Morgan - great dude. Personalizations and photos OK.
Johnny Bench - same as above.
George Foster - same as above.
Tony Perez - same as above.
Hank Aaron - nice dude...likes to talk. Will take a photo.
Harmon Killebrew - great auto, takes pic and talks.
Steve Garvey - a little stiff, but personalizes.
Bobby Thompson - happy to be alive and does everything.
Ralph Branca - same as above
Phil Rizzuto - goofy but amialble. Takes photos.
Frank Robinson - whatever you want.
Bob Feller - whatever you want.
Brooks Robinson - whatever you want.
Stan Musial - great guy, but his agent won't let him personalize.
Hoyt Wilhelm - has hemmeriods. Sour man.
Sparky Lyle - talk to you all day long.
Ron Bloomberg - first DH and lucky to be same. Nice guy though.
Mike Mussina - a bit of a stiff. No photos or personalization.
Roger Clemens - you get what you pay for.
Warren Spahn - nasty old fart.
Catfish Hunter - great dude. The farmboy is what he was.
Bert Campenaris - whatever you want.
Paul Blair - whatever you want.
Tony Oliva - whatever you want.
Barry Bonds - ahole.
Willie Mays - was nice to me and personalized bat. No photo.
Frank Howard - whatever you want.
Bobby Richardson - great guy, photos and personalization.
Ron Cey - personality of a penguin.
Mel Allen - nicest man I ever met.

Sorry for the litany. Many others, but just tossed them up as they came to mind. Regards.

iamthegreatcornholio

Skip, Rocker was pretty cool. However, if I posted the contents of my conversation with him - I'd get banned.

Dirty Harry - wow man, you've really seen a lot - thanks for sharing.

Brian

Skip2MyLou11

lol! Would you PM me what you guys would talk about?

DirtyHarry

Skippy - we would talk about their baseball milestones, experiences, or specific questions. Or maybe an event I recalled and their view of it from their side. LOL - we may also talk about you and your limp dingus.