I bought a blank HOF bat when I was about 12 years old, and got all of these sigs myself.
jamesryanbell
Posts: 1,115 ✭✭✭
1) I will never sell it (so I don't care at all about my choice devaluing it), and I know some of you might think this is a bad move on my part, but I think it's a fun story: About halfway through this autograph journey (I was maybe 16 or so?), I decided that it was idiotic that Pete Rose was banned from the HOF. He was at a card show, and I decided I was going to get him to sign the HOF bat because he should be in it. He saw the logo on the bat while holding it, looked up at me, and said "Are you sure you want me to sign this?". I said "Absolutely. It's ridiculous that you aren't in the Hall of Fame". He stared at me and smiled for probably 3-4 seconds, and said "Thank you kid...I really appreciate that", rolled it around to the other side, and signed it. At that time, he told me only "about 3-4 other people have ever asked me to do that" and "thanks again". For me, that was priceless. Don't regret a thing, and I never will.
2) Another note: I know some of you might not know who Al Barlick is, but I assure you he's a HOFer.
3) I specifically asked everyone to sign it in blue, and Gaylord Perry literally heard me say it, looked up at me, and didn't do it. Signed it in black. Whatever.
4) Everyone always asks who the sig underneath Eddie Murray is. It's Hal Newhouser. Inducted in 1992.
5) I think the only one I've gotten since these pics were taken (around 2007) was Jim Bunning. Maybe one more. Can't remember.
Just sharing my most coveted piece of memorabilia. 
Comments
Very cool! You've got some all-time greats on there! I think you should keep going and get some more.
I think I added Yount too. Need to get it back out and look it over.
I want to do that, but life as an adult is expensive, and sigs these days cost a FORTUNE, as we all know. But, yes, I want to do that as I get older. Tons of newer players that I don't have.
That is an awesome item. Just beautiful and having them (mostly) all the same color is cool.
Who is that between Musial and Morgan?
I love that the signatures are real signatures and not unreadable autographs.
Now that is a cool piece to have in your collection. Thanks for sharing the story about Pete. Priceless.
Al Barlick, Umpire
Only to a real purist would getting Rose on that be considered "ruining" it and of course those kinds of people who are just around to try to make money anyways and probably use the term "comp" when speaking of hobby items excessively. One of the best hitters ever, he may not be in officially and maybe he never does get in, but he is a Hall of Famer without a doubt. I'd have no issue doing the same thing if it were mine.
G. Perry was the grouchiest old f%@k I ever met in person. Scowled the entire time and even made some dumb comment about how he wasn't asked his permission for GU cards to be made of him. He was signing at a minor league game and by the time I ran out of items for him to sign with multiple trips through the line, he had at least 30 minutes to go and there was hardly anyone in line. Made me regret not digging deeper for stuff. Even had him sign 4 stubs from the game with various inscriptions, something I have almost never asked for before. I was glad for the opportunity though, especially since he has since died, but he really didn't seem happy at all.
Makes me wonder how different (or the same) his brother is. Anyone ever met Jim?
Great signatures on that bat.
How could you not get Bobby Doerr? He was active at shows during that era and signed anything for anyone.
I am very familiar with Al Barlick (HOF umpire). Years ago I sent him a Rawlings OMLB to sign, but it never arrived back to me. I wrote to him to inquire about it and he told me that neighborhood kids sometimes stole his outgoing mail out of his mailbox, and he sent me another autographed baseball at his own expense to replace it.
Al Barlick. HOF Umpire.
i've met Jim Perry a couple times, not at all like his brother
IMF