Autograph etiquette question

digicat · May 17, 2011 3:47AM

I'm serve on a board with a guy who's the uncle of a major league baseball player. He's taking a trip to go visit him in a few months.

Would it be tacky for me to ask him to get me an autograph?

72skywalker · May 17, 2011 3:51AM

I don't think so as long as you don't ask for several autographs or try to sell it after you get it. Just tell him you are a fan and would love to have his auto. Who is the player??

VitoCo1972 · May 17, 2011 3:55AM

Depends what you were asking for I think. I have a good friend who's brother played in the majors in this decade and I never asked because I wasn't a fan of the team that he played for and didn't collect a signed set of cards that he was in. My friend knows I'm a sports nut and that I collect this stuff. If I had anything that was really fun for him to sign I would have done it very politely with a "if people ask you for this all the time, please feel free to say no" attitude. I don't think I would have asked for a bat or anything big. Maybe a ball or a card (cause you don't want your friend carrying something big with them).

Your other option might be to say to your associate that you'd like to donate a few dollars to the players charity in exchange for a couple of signatures and were wondering if he would be able to arrange that.

scooter729 · May 17, 2011 3:55AM

I've got the same question at work right now myself - there are a couple of very senior people in my organization whose autographs I would like, but they're not people I deal with on a daily basis, and don't want to slide a paper and a Sharpie across the table during a large meeting.

Hopefully I can figure out the right approach to take on this one as well!

daveverdo · May 17, 2011 3:56AM

You could ask the uncle what he thinks. He may say right away he doesn't like to ask or he may say "no problem, I do it all the time."

Dave

VitoCo1972 · May 17, 2011 4:02AM

<< I've got the same question at work right now myself - there are a couple of very senior people in my organization whose autographs I would like, but they're not people I deal with on a daily basis, and don't want to slide a paper and a Sharpie across the table during a large meeting.

Hopefully I can figure out the right approach to take on this one as well! >>

Again, I would tread carefully when working with people that you would like autographs from. I work in the entertainment industry and it's pretty much a HUGE no-no to ask celebrities that you work with for signatures. Pictures are sometimes ok depending on the situation (usually the last day of a project if they're in a good mood).

daveverdo · May 17, 2011 4:11AM

My mom just retired form the NBA league office. If an employee asked a ballplayer for an autograph when the player was visiting the employee became an ex-employee.

Dave

leathtech · May 17, 2011 4:16AM

<< My mom just retired form the NBA league office. If an employee asked a ballplayer for an autograph when the player was visiting the employee became an ex-employee.

Dave >>

wow so much for a fan friendly league... I can understand the policy but it sounds harsh!

daveverdo · May 17, 2011 4:19AM

<< 

<< My mom just retired form the NBA league office. If an employee asked a ballplayer for an autograph when the player was visiting the employee became an ex-employee.

Dave >>

wow so much for a fan friendly league... I can understand the policy but it sounds harsh! >>

The problem was many people weren't fans of basketball just fans of money. Too many people selling stuff.

pclpads · May 17, 2011 5:39AM

<< I don't think so as long as you don't ask for several autographs or try to sell it after you get it. Just tell him you are a fan and would love to have his auto. Who is the player?? >>

+1 . . . but, absolutely no equipment! That has eBay resale written all over it. Limit your request to one card or one 8x10. I'd also include a handwritten letter of request and thanks!

Autograph etiquette question

Comments