Autographs

Anybody have good stories on getting autographs? What was your best get?

I remember my son when he was 10 following Wade Boggs into the men's room in the lobby of the hotel in Anaheim and coming out with a signed picture. It was a hoot.

Our best get was Jerry Seinfeld at a Mets game and John Denver at an Orioles game after he sang the National Anthem.

 

My favorite autograph is an andy van slyke one from when he played in pittsburgh. Me and my dad were in the locker room with my uncle and nobody was around. All of a sudden this guy walked out of the shower but naked, it was andy van slyke. He took this poster out of a frame above his locker, signed it, put it back in the frame, and gave it to me.

 

This year at the AAU National Championship game Cal Ripken watched the whole game and then signed baseballs for every kid on our team.

 

A coach from Utah swung a bat and broke 8 bones in my son's face at Copperstown when he was 12U. And then the coach left the scene and never returned. It happened back in the barracks area, not on a field. However when we were walking downtown he got the autograph of his favorite player at the time. Nolan Ryan.

Others, got jack nicklaus and Arnie Palmer same day at the 1st tee at TPC Sawgrass. Got tons of other PGA players.

Got Papelbon, Big Papi, and manny this summer at Fenway

Best picture was 1991 Ryder Cup at Kiawah. Got to attend players dance and meet most of the players but teh coolest thing was when Calcavechia was 4 up on Monty after 14 and Monty got a draw we ran into Calc. on the beach with tears in his eyes and some other players joined him . This was after teh cup had been presented and we got a picture with Couples, Azinger, Calc. on the beach at Kiawah. My wife was there but she was pregnant at the time with our 1st.

 

DT's sig

got David Thompson's autograph back in '73 or '74 at NCSU.

 

"when he was 12U".....Hey Putt, is that what's meant by New Age?

 

Several favorites....

Aaron Rowand worked some camps for me before he was an allstar and just a Warthog, My sons got Jim Abbotts autograph when he was making a comeback with the White Sox - what a great inspiration. Frank Thomas was a very nice person, he even posed for a picture with my oldest son even though he wasn't suppose to. We have Dr. J's(one of my sports heroes growing up). He owned a racing team beside my father-laws business. Unfortunately, he saw the name on the side of the box and signed the ball to my wife.......

 

A couple of good stories here to start with:

1. A parent of a player at the time worked at the old Brendles in Durham. Roger Staubach was in the store while in town to watch his son play ball, who was playing baseball at Duke. He knew I collected autographs. He took a football off the shelf and asked him to sign the ball (which he gladly did). The funny thing is that he forgot my first name and had him sign it to Tom (incidentally, my wife's name is Tommie). What a funny story!!

2. My family was in Atlanta watching the Braves vs the Orioles. My daughter,Dee and I were waiting at the dugout for autographs. Darren Bragg was playing with the Bravesand signing... I had told Dee to always say please and it would help her get one. (hopefully) The guard told the crowd to leave as Dee asked if she could please have an autograph (she was 9). He told the guard to let us stay and he would sign b/c she said please and he thanked me for teaching her to say that... classy guy. We went to the Orioles side and Sidney Ponson was standing near the foul line with his glove on top of his head. I told Dee I knew who he was and she said "Mr. Ponson, may I please hava an autograph?" The usher told us we had to leave, but we both received autographs when he also said he would sign because she said please. IN fact he told us to drop the balls and he "would have to give them back to us". He was very nice to us and as a parent it was nice to be rewarded for teaching "please and thank you".

My favorite autograph that I received was from Bobby Richardson. HE spoke at a hot stove banquet in Roxboro several years ago. we had a 5-10 minute conversation, and he is a heckuva man, left a lasting impression on me. I also have been fortunate to have met President Carter at a book signing in Durham and Brooks Robinson at a charity event in Danville, VA. I was able to get autographs from both... what an experience!!

 

have a ..

1/2 dozen of baseballs signed by Cal Jr!

 

I have a ball signed by cal Jr., and dated on the night that he broke the record. My uncle was playing for the Angels then, which happened to be the team that the orioles were playing that night. I also have one of the commemorative programs that they gave out that night signed.