Best Autograph Show Signers.....and Worst
BuffaloBisonsHockey
Posts: 123
Just wondering about your opinions on autograph shows you may have attended. I have been to quite a few and found some players to be extremely pleasant, while others won't even acknowledge your presence.. My favorites...in no particular order
Johnny Podres
Don Sutton
Gaylord Perry
Max McGee
Ron Santo
Frank Howard
Eric Byrnes
Earl Morrall
Bill Skowron
The Hanson Brothers..."Slapshot"
Mickey Mantle
Luis Gonzalez
The worst..
Larry Csonka
Jim Rice
Randy Johnson
Just my opinions based on personal experience
Johnny Podres
Don Sutton
Gaylord Perry
Max McGee
Ron Santo
Frank Howard
Eric Byrnes
Earl Morrall
Bill Skowron
The Hanson Brothers..."Slapshot"
Mickey Mantle
Luis Gonzalez
The worst..
Larry Csonka
Jim Rice
Randy Johnson
Just my opinions based on personal experience
0
Comments
Geordie
Dodgers collection scans | Brett Butler registry | 1978 Dodgers - straight 9s, homie
<< <i>Just wondering about your opinions on autograph shows you may have attended. I have been to quite a few and found some players to be extremely pleasant, while others won't even acknowledge your presence.. My favorites...in no particular order
The worst..
Larry Csonka
Jim Rice
Randy Johnson
Just my opinions based on personal experience >>
Larry Csonka... really?
I would love to hear that story. Ive never met the guy, just curious I guess.
"Sweet Lou" Johnson. A true gentleman!!
Robert
Worst: CAREW, Mays, Aaron, Mantle (had three bad experiences with him at shows), and dare I say my hero....Ted Williams (rolling balls across the tables freshly signed, and not speaking to anyone).
Not so much: Willie McCovey, George Brett, Cliff Branch, Vida Blue
D's: 50P,49S,45D+S,43D,41S,40D,39D+S,38D+S,37D+S,36S,35D+S,all 16-34's
Q's: 52S,47S,46S,40S,39S,38S,37D+S,36D+S,35D,34D,32D+S
74T: 241,435,610,654 97 Finest silver: 115,135,139,145,310
73T:31,55,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,80,152,165,189,213,235,237,257,341,344,377,379,390,422,433,453,480,497,545,554,563,580,606,613,630
95 Ultra GM Sets: Golden Prospects,HR Kings,On-Base Leaders,Power Plus,RBI Kings,Rising Stars
Cal Ripken - lets everyone take pictures with him. After you get his autograph, you stand to the side and after about 10 or so he comes over and takes individual pictures. I've actually seen him jog over to the group.
Jerry Rice - very friendly and accomodating with pictures, etc.
Willie Mays - very friendly at HOF this year. I had him sign a HOF fame ball..he looked at it and made a comment on the ball. Also talked to a child in front of me about playing baseball. Took his time signing the ball.
Worst:
Hank Aaron - got into dispute with promoters and left show in middle of signing. (who knows, may have had legitimate reason but still left very unpleasant opinion of him)
Kirby Pucket - was a real a**. The guy in front of me asked Kirby if he could sign his number. Kirby told him he didn't have a number, he was retired. He then told the guy to write it on himself. Not friendly at all. Granted, this was later in his life when he had several health-related issues, but still.
Not sports, but I met Jamie Lee Curtis at a book signing and she was great also. She made sure to engage every person for a few seconds. The signing was at B&N in a mall, and I was carrying a dress in a garment bag that my girlfriend (now, wife) had just bought and JLC saw it and said "awe, you brought me a dress, how sweet." Then she noticed I was wearing a Big Dog® logoed T-shirt and said something along the line of "Big Dog? So, you think your the Big Dog, do you?" I can't recall what I said back, though I think I just got real embarrassed (in a good way) and laughed. My wife likes to tease me about it still and say that JLC and I had a flirty moment.
Other good ones that come to mind;
Laron Landry
Chris Cooley
Ozzie Smith
Russ Grimm, Joe Jacoby and Jeff Bostic.
And a bunch of average; greet, sign, handshake and move on signings.
I really haven't had any bad experiences. Though I have heard multiple stories about Willie Mays turning multisigned bats upside down so his was the only signature upsidedown on it.
Commissions
Check out my Facebook page
He was signing right next to Don Drysdale in the mid 80s at a show. At the time, I had a fractured finger from basketball. Mr Koufax actually started asking me what happened to my hand/finger and how it happened. He actually seemed genuinely concerned. Nice, nice man. He spoke with me a bit and I had him sign my 1960 Topps card that I brought.
Don Drysdale was fine, but nothing stands out with my interaction with him. I had him sign a rookie card of his for me.
My most satisfying signing: I had always heard that Frank Robinson was not the most pleasant person as a signer. So, I went to a show where he was signing and had a picture or something to sign. Well, looking around some of the tables, I noticed a kinda beat up rookie of his. So, I bought it for like $7 and waited in line for him to sign it (since I had the Drysdale rookie signed, it would look nicely sitting next to it
Although he was being a jerk, that has to qualify as one of my favorite interactions.
* C. PASCUAL BASIC #3
* T. PEREZ BASIC #4 100%
* L. TIANT BASIC #1
* DRYSDALE BASIC #4 100%
* MAGIC MASTER #4/BASIC #3
* PALMEIRO MASTER/BASIC #1
* '65 DISNEYLAND #2
* '78 ELVIS PRESLEY #6
* '78 THREE'S COMPANY #1
WaltDisneyBoards
Some of my more positive experiences have been with Minnie Minoso, Hulk Hogan, Jose Cardinal, Dan Hampton and Tommy John. The one thing these had in common is that they were not very busy and the player had time to talk to the fans. In the case of Jose Cardinal it was 1987 at a car wash grand opening in Naperville, IL. I was 11 years old and I was the ONLY one there. He went through my binder of cards telling me stories about each player he remembers and new players. It was my first autograph and unfortunantly I didn't have a Jose Cardinal card. To this day I still have the 3x5 he signed for me that I trimed down to fit in my card binder.
Unique Chicago Cards
Wrestling Cards
Ellis Burks was nice, Todd Benzinger was fun to deal with.
Yaz was quiet, but pleasant.
Ted Williams was a riot, but I had a friendly connection to help the conversation, otherwise he was crabby to everyone else. They were quite jealous that I was able to have an actual conversation with him.
Bobby Doerr was a fine gentleman, very down to earth.
Johnny Mize was classy and friendly, same with Enos Slaughter and Lou Boudreau.
Dwight Evans, complete douche bag, on the two occasions i had a chance to meet him.
LOL Jamie
"rolling balls across the tables freshly signed, and not speaking to anyone"
He did that all the time to pretty much everyone....
I was fortunate that my Dad worked at the Ted Williams baseball camp and was best friends with a business associate and neighbor of Ted Williams. I broke the ice at the show by saying Bernie Cassidy says Hello! He stopped signing, looked up and laughed and wanted to know how that old bastigde was doing
stan musial at HOF, ernie banks at HOF this was when they signed for free circa 1983-4-5. banks walked around and greeted people like he was hosting a party. musial relized that everyone in line was not going to get authographs, he came down off the balacony where they were signing and started signing for people farther down the line. the security gaurd got him a chair and he sat about 30 yeards down the line and signed for as many as he could. Class A and will always be one of my favorite players for that. boy i loved going to the HOF then i got a lot of auto and great memories. i remember musial and ted williams arguing about who was a better hitter boggs or gwynn and now there both in the HOF, great moment.
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
Best
Billy Cannon he would sign anything brought to him no matter what it was, and had a story for everyone that would listen
Rayfield Wright, took his time with every auto, signed his name #, Dallas Cowboys, and years he played on the picture
Brooks Robinson -- just was a super nice guy.
Dick Butkus -- took time to shake my hand and talk to me for a sec.
Charlie Waters and Cliff Harris both incredible stopped and talked football with me for a while after signing.
Terry Bradshaw - Super nice guy
Roger Staubach - complete class act
Chuck Howley - talked about the old Cowboys with me
not as bad as I have heard
Tony Dorsett --
Jim McMahon
Bo Jackson -- seemed a little disinterested -- but nice enough, he is friggin Bo Jackson
I have dealt with other guys as well but no one was really that bad. Drew Pearson and Ed Too Tall Jones were not in the best moods but they were far from being jerks.
Dwight Evans was a class act, talking to everyone, shaking hands and taking pictures. The promoter allowed me to hang around the shop until after the signing to meet him because he was my childhood hero. What a thrill it was for me to spend a few minutes with him after. I wrote to him a few weeks later and told him my story about him being my childhood hero and what a thrill it was to finally meet him. A week or so later I got an unexpected large envelope in the mail. Dewey sent me a signed photo and a note thanking me for being a fan. Thats one of my favorite autographs.
Adam Vinatieri was another super nice guy. Met him 3 times after games, he stays and signs for everyone, usually a couple of hours. Talks to everyone, takes pics with fans, just a classy guy. I wish all athletes were like him. The last time I met him, he was leaving the stadium on a super cold December night after a home win. I wanted him to sign my jersey, but missed him at every turn. He drove by me in the parking lot and I hollered "PLEASE SIGN MY JERSEY!" Adam saw me in the rear view mirror, stopped and got out of his truck to sign my jersey. He also posed for a picture with me and thanked me for being a fan. His wife, then girlfriend, Val was with him. I peaked in the truck and thanked her for her patience with us fans and she smiled and said no problem. Dam, she is beautiful!
Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Tony Stewart both signed with heads down. Dale would talk to the kids. Rickey Craven was a jerk.
Joe Ferguson was a nice guy. Joe was the catcher on the field when Hank broke Babes record. I asked him what he called for and he replied, "A fastball, but NOT there!"
Cam Neely upon seeing me step back with a camera to take his picture while signing my stick said "Now there's a professional collector." I took that as a compliment.
John Hannah would not look up or speak.
George Scott talked to the people in front of me, but refused to reply to me or look at me.
Rich Gedman wouldn't speak and only signed balls on the side panels.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would have ripped the damn thing up right in front of him , stuffed a 100 in his pocket and pat him on his shoulder and told him to have a nice day , on top of his fee for the sig .
What a piece of garbage , God forbid my son were to ever see someone act that way toward him . . .
Anything can happen
We cheer for these guys , we bragg about them , some even worship, to an extent and when one of your childhood heros does something like that to you , that would be such a punch in the face .
I would never treat my fans that way , I would be the guy that stays and signs and talks to the fans , they would be what drives me , my whole motivation and everything .
I don't know if I could ever charge money either , I would have to do it for free
<< <i>Faves: Spawn, Musial, Mark Grace, Biggio, Killebrew
Worst: CAREW, Mays, Aaron, Mantle (had three bad experiences with him at shows), and dare I say my hero....Ted Williams (rolling balls across the tables freshly signed, and not speaking to anyone). >>
Could you share your experience with Mantle at the signing.
MY GOLD TYPE SET https://pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/complete-type-sets/gold-type-set-12-piece-circulation-strikes-1839-1933/publishedset/321940
Someone made a comment about Carew being "not so kind". Even though he was my idol growing up, I don't know who has the biggest ego. Him or Reggie....
Worst - for me it was Willie Stargell. I'm sure it was a bad day thing, but I took my father in law to a show in Pittsburgh where he was signing, we waited in line for more than an hour. My father in law still had a baseball that willie hit in forbes field (20 or so years earlier) and mentioned that to him. Stargell never looked up, gave him a "big deal, I hit lots of balls at that dump" and then said "next".
My father in law left the ball on the table and walked away. Willie had been his favorite Pirate.
Probably just a bad day for Willie, I guess nobody can be in a good mood every day.
Tony Dungy- Incredibly nice and genuine, talked with me and my girlfriend for a minute or so, shook our hands
Torry Holt- Worked at his foundation as an intern in college, signed a ton of stuff for me, one of the coolest guys I've ever met
Muhammed Ali- Wasn't in very good health, but was still taking time to sign for his fans
Jermaine O'neal- Very nice, signed some extras for me, talked for a little bit about the season
Ron Artest- Surprisingly, was very polite and fun to be around, signed anything put in front of him
Dwight Freeney- Met him when he was a rookie, very nice to everyone
My worst experiences:
Reggie Miller- Seemed like a real jerk, wouldn't talk to anyone, seemed annoyed about signing
Ernie Banks- After being an hour late to his own signing, wasn't talking to people, slammed my ball on the table and rolled it back to me.
HOF RC Auto Set
1955 Topps Football AA
1950 Bowman Football
1951 Bowman Football
1952 Bowman Football
ebay user- Jolt333
Please be sure to check out my auctions!
good
clyde drexler, terry porter, kevin duckworth,very nice guys signed everything (free)
i was recently at a book signing for sci-fi writer TERRY PRATCHETT and he was a jerk would only sign if you bought his newest book (would not sign even after the bookstore was out of the new book. though he would sign two old books with the new book purchase (so i slip[ped mine in with some really nice people) he was a jerk and at one point said "i want a doughnut or something sweet, get it for me"
carol berg (author) has lunch with fans before signings. and signs everything no matter how many books you bring i had over 9
looking for low grade t205's psa 1-2
I was there that very day. The show was sponsored by Tuff Stuff and I got official NFL game footballs signed by all of those Dolphins and Steelers that you just mentioned, along with the Tuff Stuff show COAs for each player that signed. The Dolphins all signed with clay-colored paint pens and the Steelers with silver paint pens. My wife has been nagging at me to sell all of my signed footballs to free up space in the top of the closet, so if anyone is ever interested in buying multisigned official NFL game footballs MINT IN ORIGINAL BOX with the dated show COAs for $200 apiece just send an email to mushro1@yahoo.com
How much would an Ozzie Guillen game-used bat go for? My wife wants me to get rid of it also...lol
The only other game-used bat I have is one that belonged to Enos Cabell. Also have a Cooper bat signed by Ferguson Jenkins.
Justin
As far as individual appearances I met Mantle around 1980 in the weirdest of places. He was doing a instore in a mall department store for LA-Z-BOY recliners. He was extremely kind to me. He signed a ton of stuff for me. Several promo pics of him in a LA-Z-BOY , my 69 Topps card , a old Yankees book , a photo and a ball. All of this was free + he talked to me for at least ten minutes. I still have all of those items along with a lifelong memory of those few minutes spent with him. Funny thing was there was hardly anyone there. If this happened now there would be a line a mile long.
Yes, I collect shiny modern crap
All your Shaq are belong to me
<< <i>"Worlds greatest Ozzie Guillen collector!"
How much would an Ozzie Guillen game-used bat go for? My wife wants me to get rid of it also...lol
The only other game-used bat I have is one that belonged to Enos Cabell. Also have a Cooper bat signed by Ferguson Jenkins. >>
Sorry to hijack this thread to answer an off topic question. Depending on the team he was playing for and the condition of the bat they usually sell for between 100-150 dollars. Send me a PM if you are interested in trading it.
Unique Chicago Cards
Wrestling Cards
Bert Blyleven and Bob Feller were the best. Eddie George not far behind.
George Kell and Robin Roberts were great.
Johnny Bench was surprisingly nice to me.
Joe Morgan came off just as does on TV: smug and arrogant.
Mike Schmidt was a jackass.
Ron
Buying Vintage, all sports.
Buying Woody Hayes, Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, and Jesse Owens autographed items
1957 Topps PSA
1961 Fleer SGC
Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva: I have met each of them at least 20 times and these guys are the two classiest guys I have met. Always willing to take the time and they have a nice legible signature.
Rod Carew: Met him at least 15 times. The best way to describe him is moody. He often times has little stipulations where he won't sign a bat unless it has been signed by someone else or won't sign the sweet spot on a ball if it is a free autograph. He has a pretty legible autograph.
Kirby Puckett: Met him at least 15 times. Before SI went public with his personal problems he was very cool and pretty much a class act. After his reputation went down hill he became a pain. The last time I met him was at a Sun Times show around 4-5 year's ago and he was bad. He wouldn't even acknowledge you. He had a consistent autograph for most of his career. It was more complete when he was younger.
Willie Mays - Met him 6-7 times. The first 5 times I met him and got his signature he was a jerk. I had him sign 5 baseballs for me (this was back in the 80's and the cost was $5.00 per ball) and he rolled them back to me instead of handing them to me. The last time I got Mays was a couple years ago at the HOF. He always signs down in the basement at one of the shops for around $115.00. He was much nicer this time and small talked with my son which was cool. He has a weird signature but it is consistent.
Other guys that have been very cool ( I have met them at least 3 times without an issue): Stan Musial, Duke Snider, Yogi Berra, Gary Carter, Bob Feller, Sandy Koufax, Pee Wee Reese, Don Drysdale, Bill Terry, Lefty Gomez, Cal Ripken Jr., Tony Gwynn, Monte Irvin, Gayle Sayers, Gaylord Perry & Bert Blyleven.
Magic Johnson was very cool the one time I met him.
Steve Carlton use to be a pain when he was playing but has since turned in to one of the coolest guys ever.
Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, & Mickey Mantle all had times when they were nice and other times when they were not so nice.
<< <i>My personal favorite was Sandy Koufax.
He was signing right next to Don Drysdale in the mid 80s at a show. At the time, I had a fractured finger from basketball. Mr Koufax actually started asking me what happened to my hand/finger and how it happened. He actually seemed genuinely concerned. Nice, nice man. He spoke with me a bit and I had him sign my 1960 Topps card that I brought.
Don Drysdale was fine, but nothing stands out with my interaction with him. I had him sign a rookie card of his for me.
My most satisfying signing: I had always heard that Frank Robinson was not the most pleasant person as a signer. So, I went to a show where he was signing and had a picture or something to sign. Well, looking around some of the tables, I noticed a kinda beat up rookie of his. So, I bought it for like $7 and waited in line for him to sign it (since I had the Drysdale rookie signed, it would look nicely sitting next to it
Although he was being a jerk, that has to qualify as one of my favorite interactions.
How many of us can say we insulted Frank Robinson!!
Nice work arny!!!
yf,
Josh
<Worlds greatest Ozzie Guillen collector!
PM sent
Bobby Hull: Will shake everybodys hand, kisses the Ladies, takes pictures from either side of the table, always has a smile on his face, worth every penny.
Jerry Rice: Shook hands with each person, and thanked them for coming out. Nothing but class as he signed
Brian Trottier: As he sat next to Gordie Howe, the older Gentleman that was helping him has always refered to me as Mr Hockey, so when I walked up he gave me a big, " hey Brian, this is Mr Hockey", I said hey Big Leo thats Mr Hockey over there, (pointing to Gordie Howe). Brian trottier then says to me, nice to meet you, I have a picture of my son with Gordie Howe, and at the bottom it reads "Mr. Hockey and Gordie Howe" . We shook hands and I said thanks. Trottier was up for hall of Fame induction also that year. A fellow collector wanted Brian to put HOF on the puck, he said I dont want to jinx myself, but if I get in, send the puck to me c/o the Penguins with a little note and I'll take care of it. Nothing but CLASS.
Worst: these guys wont even acknowledge the person is there: Montana-just a signing machine, Fisk- rolled the balls back across the table, Mays, Sterling Sharpe-what a jerk, Gordie Howe-has a list a mile long of things he wont sign.
randy
Willie Mays.
One of my favorites:
Johnny Bench
mike
Frank Thomas - Signed for as many as possible before every spring training game possible.
Johnny Lattner - Took the time to talk to my son and I for several minutes.
Stan Bahnsen - Spoke with my son about pitching, told a few stories.
Wilbur Wood - Seemed surprised that I had just finished telling my son that he was the last pitcher to pitch both games of a double header. Wood replied "heck they won't even let them throw more than 7 innings nowadays".
Dick Butkus - Took the time to say hello and take a picture.
Gale Sayers - Took the time to say hello and shake my son's hand.
Jake Plummer - Met him on several occasions always willing to talk.
Larry Wilson - Same as plummer, great guy for the game of football.
Pat Tillman - Met him during a Cardinals Fanfest when we flew our UH-60 Blackhawk there for display. Came over and asked if he could sit in the pilots seat. Took several pictures and hung around for awhile talking.
Others are Fred Lynn, Marcus Allen, Ozzie Smith, Ralph Kiner.
Not so nice - Pete Rose just seemed pissed, Ryne Sandberg did not ever look up, Troy Aikman seems to hate crowds and would not acknowledge anyone. Anyone from the Cubs especially Sammy Sosa.
Seems the old timers are always willing to talk. The new guys seem not to appreciate what they have.
Don Mattingly ( He really is a cool guy)
Clint Barmes (Took the time to talk for a couple of minutes)
Jamey Carroll ( he was cool)
Paul Hornung (Didnt speak)
Bob Griese ( never really looked up)
The best at the show was Bobby Plump (the real Jimmy Chitwood of Hoosiers fame) He was a really nice guy. Line backed up behind him because he talked to everyone.
Best signing experience: Braylon Edwards was signing at a small show shortly after he was drafted by the Browns. I took a Michigan mini-helmet to the show to have him sign, which he gladly did. I noticed that his dad, Stanley Edwards, former running back for Michigan was aslo there. So I asked Stanley if he would sign the helmet too. I thought it would be cool to have a Michigan mini with father and son sigs on it. He laughs and says sure - and signs the other side of the helmet. And he adds the inscription "(father of Braylon)".
It is my favorite signed item !!
- Jack
<< <i>Spahn, aaron, musial all were great. Only had one bad experience with joe D. He decided in the middle of the show he wouldn't sign any items with other palyers pictured, or other signatures on it. I thought it was a pretty arrogant thing to say. >>
I have met Spahn and Musial on many occasions and they were extremely nice every time. I've never had the opportunity to meet Aaron.
I did have a similiar bad experience with Joe D. It was the late 80's and he was in Houston signing in a hotel across the street from Hobby Airport. When I got there he was already signing and the line was pretty long. I had bought my ticket in advance and knew I was guaranteed an autograph, so I thought I would just walk around the show and let the line go down. About 20 minutes later, Joe bolted up out of his seat, walked out the door to his limo and drove off with people still standing in line. Come to find out he thought the promoter was screwing him and had oversold autograph tickets. The promoter did refund us our money, but I would have rather had the autograph at the time. I had the opportunity to meet him a few years later, but declined because I thought that he had acted like such a jerk before.