I'm going this Saturday to try and get Nolan's autograph, (I got him, twice!! Scans added)

thenavarro

I'm going this Saturday to try and get Nolan Ryan's autograph on a couple of his rookie cards. I have sent one to his foundation, and it is still down there, turnaround time is about 12 weeks. I have a couple more that I want to try in person before I send them down there to wait another 12 weeks.

I've always been very good at getting close enough access to get graphs, so assuming that I'm able to get him to sign, what should I have him sign my rookie cards with??

Black sharpie, blue sharpie, thick point, thin point, or ballpoint or flair pens??

I will be going with a check in my hand payable to his foundation anyway, so I'm not just trying to get "freebies", just trying to save myself some time. I should be able to use the donation to lure him over to sign for me. The Rangers organization has always been very good to me in helping me get autographs (if you saw the thread I had regarding my Rangers collection you can see that).

What is the most desirable writing implement to have them sign with these days on a card?

Thanks,

Mike

rube26105

id do a think sharpie, i got one of his in blue on my thread somewhere,hes got a good sig

JeremyDie1

I know lumocolor pens are really nice. I can not really tell the difference though from them and sharpies.

DeutscherGeist

Use one of the archival pens so the autograph does not fade. You can get them at art supply stores.
The ink in these pens is UV resistant and acid free. In the long term, you will be glad you used one. I have heard enough people on this boards complain about disappearing sigs.

Ladder7

Save the rookie and bring along his first card. '67 Topps Mets team card, it has a large clear background . Then find Seaver (rookie) and get his sig. May be regretable inking up a Ryan r/c years from now.

Ahmanfan

I like ballpoint pen on vintage cards.

ajw

<< <i>I like ballpoint pen on vintage cards. >>



Agreed completely. Looks more like a vintage auto.

RipublicaninMass

"what should I have him sign a rookie card with"


Ask him to use his foot, seriously..like the ball point on vintage stuff

ripkenintheminors

I like the fine tip sharpie markers, but it's a personal preference.

Allen

yeah I like the lumocolor markers. Like a fine tip sharpie but it flows better and more even. That is what most card companies use.

ripkenintheminors

BTW, please ask Nolan to go to the Foundation to sign his stuff.

thenavarro

I got him!!! Twice!!! I made it there early and sat on the front row, and I made me a sign that said, Nolan please sign my rookie cards, I've got a check for your foundation. After the Q&A session, he signed about 10-20 graphs, and I got 2. I gave him the $35.00 check for his foundation as well. Worked out awesome. Here's the scan.

Mike

thenavarro

<< <i>BTW, please ask Nolan to go to the Foundation to sign his stuff. >>



The foundation stuff will be signed at the end of March, give or take a week in either direction, I asked. Usually, they take the stuff from the foundation up to him in Roundrock, instead of the other way around.

Mike

Bosox1976

Spectacular!

Steviedoobie

Nicely done Mike......those Auto's look great....good choice on the pen!

Elemenopeo

Congrats! Thiose look great. He didn't leave much room for Koosman to sign, though.

bhl2359

<< <i>I got him!!! Twice!!! I made it there early and sat on the front row, and I made me a sign that said, Nolan please sign my rookie cards, I've got a check for your foundation. After the Q&A session, he signed about 10-20 graphs, and I got 2. I gave him the $35.00 check for his foundation as well. Worked out awesome.
Mike
>>


Wow! A whole $35!

Just for comparison's sake, how much does his Foundation (Which I assume donates the money to charity) charge for his autograph?

thenavarro

<< <i>

<< <i>I got him!!! Twice!!! I made it there early and sat on the front row, and I made me a sign that said, Nolan please sign my rookie cards, I've got a check for your foundation. After the Q&A session, he signed about 10-20 graphs, and I got 2. I gave him the $35.00 check for his foundation as well. Worked out awesome.
Mike
>>


Wow! A whole $35!

Just for comparison's sake, how much does his Foundation (Which I assume donates the money to charity) charge for his autograph? >>



My $35.00 was better than the people that gave him nothing I'm board treasurer for a 501 (c)3 charity myself and trust me, we wouldn't scoff at a $35.00 donation. It all adds up.

His foundation charges $35.00 for him to sign a card, so in effect, I paid for one, and got one freebie.

Mike

Mike

ripkenintheminors

<< <i>

<< <i>BTW, please ask Nolan to go to the Foundation to sign his stuff. >>



The foundation stuff will be signed at the end of March, give or take a week in either direction, I asked. Usually, they take the stuff from the foundation up to him in Roundrock, instead of the other way around.

Mike >>



Thanks for the feedback on the Foundation signing. Knowing all of that I may just send something else in.

Either way, great stuff!

TNTonPMS

Really Nice and Neat too .
I have a few of Nolan Ryan, only signed on baseballs .

I don't think I have ever seen a sloppy or rushed Ryan .

thenavarro

Thought I'd share some of the answers to the questions people asked him.

He was asked what he was thinking during the Robin Ventura incident, Nolan said that he really didn't have time to think, that he just went on reaction, and that he was really surprised that Robin charged him. Said that he and Ventura had never had a problem in the past, and that they never faced each other again after that game and that they haven't bumped into each other since then either.

He was asked about the steroid situation, and he replied that it was getting really rampant the last couple of years that he was in the league. He mentioned something that I was not aware of, he said that currently, there is no reliable test to test for HGH.

Someone asked him about his favorite moment outside of the no-hitters, and he said hitting a home run of Don Sutton was his favorite. Said he had 2 career homers, and then joked that 50% of his home runs were hit off of hall of famers.

He was asked what was his favorite pitching game, and he said his 2nd no hitter against Detroit. Said through 7 innings that he struck out 16 and had complete mastery of his game. Said he tired the final two innings but finished with 17 strikeouts. Claimed that his good friend Norm Cash came to the plate in the ninth inning with a table leg from a clubhouse table instead of a bat. Nolan said he was focused in game mode and walked to the ump and told him Cash couldn't hit with that. He said Cash chimed in that he might as well because they couldn't hit with bats either that night. Don't know if its true or not, that's just what Nolan said.

He said he never remembered any really funny moments in baseball and said his most embarrasing moment was when a hitter hit a shot to the gap, but it was caught. However, when Nolan went to pitch to the next batter, although the bases were empty, he pitched in the stretch and looked back to second to check the runner, only to realize that it was not a double and there were no runners. Said his teammates gave him grief over that one.

Mike

TNTonPMS

That is pretty cool Mike , thank you for sharing that .

How is the old guy lookin these days ??

thenavarro

<< <i>That is pretty cool Mike , thank you for sharing that .

How is the old guy lookin these days ?? >>



TNTonPMS,

Here's a pic, it's not the best as I only had my camera phone with me and I don't know how to work the zoom, he was on a chair in the bullpen and we were in the stands. Great proximity. He actually looked better than I expected. He was smiling the whole time, looked happy.

Mike

prscott933

awesome

edited to add: that awesome was done in the voice of Peter Griffin

mrmint23

ESPN must have been there also. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3284030

TNTonPMS

Cool Pic !
Your phone/camera takes some pretty decent pics .

Not bad at all !

He looks good . . .I can't help but wonder how and if he still throws the old bean, Like at old timers games or charity functions or with family and friends ?

He looks like a happy guy

thenavarro

I just joined the PSA Collectors Club earlier today so I can finally submit items. The Nolan's will be sent tomorrow to be slabbed and authenticated. When I get them back, I will have one of them available for trading for other vintage signed TOPPS rookie cards if anyone is interested.

I just picked up a 65 PSA/DNA Carlton tonight so I don't need that one.

Mike

baseballfan

well done

congrats!!!

ripkenintheminors

I thought I would drop a quick note to let you know that I spoke with someone at the Foundation about the upcoming signing in hopes of adding something to my order. I was told that Nolan has not confirmed a date for the signing but they are currently negotiating a date with him.

thenavarro

Oh well, at least they are working on it, I guess Nolan's a little busy with his new job with the Rangers, I did send them another rookie Saturday so now I'm waiting on 2 from them.

Mike

ripkenintheminors

<< <i>Oh well, at least they are working on it, I guess Nolan's a little busy with his new job with the Rangers, I did send them another rookie Saturday so now I'm waiting on 2 from them.

Mike >>



The reason that I spoke to the rep was in regards to a rather lengthy inscription that I was wanting. They said that they would have to get back with me in regards to the cost. I'm hoping that since I'm yet to hear back that it's safe to say that there's not a signing date locked in place.

Stone193

Congratulations Mike.

Thanx for sharing.
mike

ripkenintheminors

<< <i>bring along his first card. '67 Topps Mets team card, it has a large clear background. >>



That wasn't a bad idea so I picked up a copy of it for the big price of $1. Not sure if there will be enough time to get it to the Foundation for the next signing, but it'll still be sent.