Harmon Killebrew

RyanFan34

All,
I just have a question for all. I am going to an autograph sesion with the GREAT KILLER and was wondering if I got a baseball or baseball bat signed would it worth it to send it to get it authenticated by someone or just put it in a case and on a shelf? I am not looking to sell it but if I have to later on then would this be a wise move for the future?

mcholke

I cannot answer your question directly but thought I would share a story about Killebrew. A few years back I was seated next to Harmon on a flight from N.Y. to Phoenix. He was in NY for a card show and lives in Phoenix. I was traveling back home from a business trip. He was extremely nice and had some great stories. We talked alot about the charitable things he does, etc. I have been a fan of his since. Ironically enough I never asked him for an autograph. Sorry to derail your topic.

alohaet

I really don't know if the bat/ball will be worth anything in the future/present, but you will be meeting a real nice person. I met him at a show here in Hawaii a few years back and he was down to earth and very friendly. Enjoy your encounter with a real star of the game.

Ed

RyanFan34

he is doing a little signing here in Goodyear, AZ. The ad in the newspaper said that he would sign baseballs for $15 and you get a buffet for the new pizza joint that is opening up. I thought that it would be interesting to meet a HOF player. I have heard from many people that he is a really nice guy. I usually don't ask for auto's from people unless they are doing a signing or something like that. Thanks for all the input.

fiveniner

I seen Harmon at the 1984 HOFers Induction ceremony.He seemed to be a very sincere fellow.

Stone193

<< <i>All,
I just have a question for all. I am going to an autograph sesion with the GREAT KILLER and was wondering if I got a baseball or baseball bat signed would it worth it to send it to get it authenticated by someone or just put it in a case and on a shelf? I am not looking to sell it but if I have to later on then would this be a wise move for the future? >>


Hi Steve
He's a great HOF'er, was a great ballplayer and from all accounts a good guy.

Also, he has one of the best sigs in the autograph world IMO.

But, he's signed enough for everyone in the free world, the not-so-free world and the un-free world to have a pair of his autos! Very plentiful.

Important: if you are getting it yourself, I see no reason to need it authenticated.

On the fun side: get someone to take your pick while he signs it in front of you!

I agree with Ed - "enjoy your encounter...."

I think it's a privilege to have a personal encounter with one of the greats of the game!
mike

RyanFan34

I am looking forward to it. I think that it is going to be a small signing since it is at a grand opening of a pizza place in a small suburb of Phoenix.

NewJerseyMeatHook

One of the nicest men you'll ever meet. A real peach. Enjoy.

envoy98

Harmon signs all the time here in Minnesota and he is always a joy to talk to. He takes great pride in his signature, will chat you up if the line isn't too long or he's not in a hurry to be somewhere else. On occassion, you can get him to "stat" the ball. Usually you'll have to be the last person or catch him before he leaves, but I've seen him do it. He'll inscribe his Hits, RBI, HR, BA, HOF yr etc. Makes for a very cool ball...

I have a ball and bat signed by him. His autograph isn't "worth" much but meeting him is. I don't think I'd spend the $20 to have it authenticated just because he's an easy auto to obtain and in most cases, the forgeries are very easy to spot...

Enjoy the signing.

-Josh

mudflap02

See if he'll autograph a pizza box for you. I bet he doesn't get that much. See if he'll personalize it to "My little pepperoni lover."

TNP777

Bob Feller'd sign a pizza box - he'll sign anything.

Hope he gets better

Geordie

NewJerseyMeatHook

He personalized mine . . . "Lost another loan to Ditech."

RyanFan34

<< <i>See if he'll autograph a pizza box for you. I bet he doesn't get that much. See if he'll personalize it to "My little pepperoni lover." >>


I am already going to try to get a couple of balls signed by him but I might also try the pizzabox thing and I will send it to you Jeff!

JoeBanzai

No matter what you decide to do and no matter how many times he has signed, you will be getting something special.

Harmon was the greatest home run hitter in the decade of the 1960's even though he was hurt in 1965 and 1968 and missed large parts of those seasons.

For the rest of the decade he won (or tied for) the AL home run crown in 62,63,64,67 and 69. He hit 46 in 1961 and 41 in 1970 but didn't win in those years.
He hit "only" 39 in 1966, the only time in those 10 years he hit less than 40 home runs while getting 500 or more at bats.

More importantly he was and still is one of the kindest, most down to earth people you will ever have the pleasure to meet.

He has signed for me on several occasions and he made me feel that I was special each time.

Not the best ballplayer ever, but to me he's the GREATEST!

JoeBanzai

HoofHearted

I had the privilege of seeing him play in the old Metropolitan Stadium. His homers -- and even his flyball outs -- had to be detected by airport radar they were so d@mn high!

It was a thrill watching him swing the bat!

hh

RyanFan34

TOMORROW IS THE DAY!!!!!!! CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!

originalisbest

Always good to hear such positive stories about a Hall-of-Famer - hope you have a great time at your signing.

RyanFan34

<< <i>Always good to hear such positive stories about a Hall-of-Famer - hope you have a great time at your signing. >>


Thanks for the support! I will let everyone know how it turns out.

mj23kg21

To me, Harmon is the nicest HOFer ever. I have to share one Harmon story which is pretty cool. After it was announced that Harmon made the HOF he did a card show at the Metrodome. This was in January of 1984. I was in middle school at the time and I had a shirt made up which said "Minnesota Loves Harmon" on the front and on the back it said "The Killer is in". I wore that shirt to the show and Harmon loved it. Believe it or not, autographs were $1.00 each. I told him how I was going to be in Cooperstown for the induction ceremony. He told me to wear the shirt and he would do something special for me. I was going through the autograph line in Cooperstown (autographs use to be free out there) and saw Harmon. He introduced me to Koufax, Drysdale, Pee Wee Reese, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella along with many other guys which allowed me to get all of there autographs except for Campanella multiple times. It was an experience I will never forget.

RyanFan34

wow that is an outstanding experience! You are one lucky person.

RyanFan34

I just wanted to let everyone know that my experience was one that I will remember for the rest of my life. I only got to chat with him for about 5 or 6 minutes but it was the best 5 or 6 minutes ever. when I get the pictures on the computer I will post them.

Stone193

<< <i>I just wanted to let everyone know that my experience was one that I will remember for the rest of my life. I only got to chat with him for about 5 or 6 minutes but it was the best 5 or 6 minutes ever. when I get the pictures on the computer I will post them. >>


Heck Ryan
That's actually a lot of time! Sounds great.

I've heard nothing but great reports on him at shows.

That's contrasted by a rather cranky Willie Mays.

I have heard all kinds of stories...

Here's a surprise: gymnast Mary Lou Retton was signing at a mall and someone came up to her with two items to be signed. She says to the person: "what two things?" "what are you gonna do, go out and sell them?" Her tone of voice was not flattering. The person responded: "no, one is for my daughter and the other for her friend...they're both in a program like yours and couldn't make it..."

Like everyone is just dying to have Mary Lou sigs to sell? Go figure?

mike

RyanFan34

I had my 2 1/2 year old daughter with me and I had bought 3 of the baseballs that Eatza Pizza had on hand and he signed all three without even taking a second thought about it. He signed one with KILLER and the other one he inscribed HOF 84. The third ball was just his sig. he was a wonderful person to talk with. I am a huge Longhorns fan and have been for most of my childhood life and he made a comment on how good they did this past year and we talked about the team and Vince Young. He brought up the conversation because I had my worn out tattered Longhorns cap on. That is amazing to me that he would notice soemthing like that and begin carrying on a conversation about it for a few minutes. I could have spend all day talking to him but I figured that I would be nice since there where other people in line behind me. I shook his hand got a picture and this is something that I will never forget!!!!!

rw2win

Does anybody know how to get a signing schedule for HOF's, where and when???
Thanks

originalisbest

Sounds like a great time, Steve. Great that even with the buildup of high expectations, Mr. Killebrew came through so nicely - geez - I pity the person who now catches him on a bad day or something (it's gotta happen sometime?) In any case, what a refreshing thing to hear about a person who might have found any number of reasons to not be down-to-earth, friendly and approachable.

Certainly makes me like the Killer's cards I have just a bit more than I did already.

BigRedMachine

Steve,

Sounds like a great day!! What an experience, one you'll treasure forever, I'm sure. I'm jealous!!! Can't wait for some pics too.

shawn

magellan

I've always heard Harmon was a super nice guy.......another who comes to mind is Brooks Robby.........did an auto show with him as signer back in the late 80's , early 90's.......very affable & nice also.

Enos Slaughter (RIP) was another who took the time to talk with auto seekers at yet another show, as a matter of fact he talked my ear off outside while I was haveing a smoke break.

Bob Montgomery , while not a HOFer was another I enjoyed. At the time he was the Red Sox color man and being a Sox fan, that was great.

Congratulations Steve on a real nice experience.

RyanFan34

<< <i>Steve,

Can't wait for some pics too.

shawn >>



I am hoping to have the pictures up tonight!
Thanks for all the comments and support.

RyanFan34

Herre you go guys. this is the only picture that I have right now but I am going to take pictures of the baseballs too and post them later. Enjoy because I did!

RedHeart54

I can still remember when he came to a card show here in Wichita about 1987 or '88. A very nice man indeed. (And I remember him taking out a large wad of cash when he purchased several of "his" cards from a dealer.)

envoy98

I've never heard anyone ever say a bad word about Harmon. Every time I've met him he's smiled, been very polite and depending on the circumstances, will chat you up if you are willing. (And who wouldn't want to chat with a 500hr club and HOF member?

Great pic of you and Harmon too. Nice to see a guy actually smiling in a pic, half the time the guys are so sick of taking pictures they barely get rid of the scowl on their faces. Glad to hear you had a great experience and he didn't make a liar out of me.

Edited to say: did you also notice he didn't cancel the event after Puckett died? He was in the Twin Cities on Sunday night, gave a great speech about Puck and everything. He's a class act.

RyanFan34

He is someone that I can't wait to meet again. I will be at all of his local signings if I am aware of them!
I agree that he is a class act 100%!!!!!!!!!!!!!

envoy98

<< <i>Does anybody know how to get a signing schedule for HOF's, where and when???
Thanks >>



Check out this site SigningsHotline.com

You can also check out the Tri-Star site as well. They have special agreements with many HOF'ers in different sports.

Hope that helps.

-Josh

HoofHearted

<< <i>Herre you go guys. this is the only picture that I have right now but I am going to take pictures of the baseballs too and post them later. Enjoy because I did! >>



Steve,

Thanks for sharing the photo of Harmon! I hope you don't mind that I saved a copy to enjoy at a later date...

hh

HoofHearted

In case anyone's interested, here's a nice Killebrew program at a reasonable BIN price...

Killer program link

hh

fyi, the BIN has been removed from the linked auction above...or my sense of obversation has totally left me...

Downtown1974

Steve, That picture is awesome!!! Your lucky to have had the chance to meet him. He is one player I would like to meet someday too.

originalisbest

Too bad Willie probably won't ever learn anything from Harmon in the P.R. dept.

originalisbest

ttt that we might focus a little more on a class act - fun though it is to gnash and wail about the need to "understand" professional player/jerks.

kcherevka

Sorry for the late post but it took a couple days to get my login set up.

I just wanted to thank Steve for posting about this signing. I was able to go meet Harmon and get a few things signed and wanted to echo everyone's feelins that he is a great guy!

I threw together a blog on myspace about it if anyone is interested.

Ken
(Long time reader, first time poster)