Who's the earliest HOF you met in person?

[keating3620]

Satchel Paige.

I was a kid in the late 70's. My dad took me to a minor league baseball team banquet he was at. It was a couple of years before he died.

I think I had him sign a ball and then played with it it the back yard :(

[scottglevy]

For me it was Eddie Mathews. He was signing cards at a local card show when I was around 10...but I didn't have any of his cards and also didn't have the money for the autograph.

I simply waived as I saw Eddie leaving. At which point he came over, shook my hand and asked me what I was holding (it was the flyer for the show). He took out a blue sharpie, signed his name, shook my hand again and told me to enjoy the show :)

Scott

[smrtn240]

Johnny Bench
Also met Pete Rose the same day, not a HOF though...

[frankbmd]

An in person autograph obtained in 1957.

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images/show/frankbmd/autographs/7559/stengel-casey

He was pretty old then, 67.

I'm pretty old now, 67.;)

[slipk1068]

Johnny Mize at Gloria Rothstein Card Show. I was talking to him and asked him a question. He seemed to be completely ignoring me. Then I got to thinking the guy is 80 years old maybe he is hard of hearing :(

[clydepepper]

An in person autograph obtained in 1957.

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images/show/frankbmd/autographs/7559/stengel-casey

He was pretty old then, 67.

I'm pretty old now, 67.;)

Great Share, Frank...just remember 'not to be (67) again.'

As for me, I'm sure Aaron, Mathews, Niekro, and Torre were in the dughout when cousin Whitlow lifted me down from the stands on Opening Day, 1966, but I was far too starry eyed to recognize them. . and that was my one and only 'known' meet...guess I need to go to some card shows, huh?

[Hot Springs Bathers]

Luke Appling late 1980's, he was very nice.

[bbcard1]

Mantle and Ford. They used to tour as an attraction to minor league baseball parks and sign autographs. One of the cooler things I got to do is Bob Feller would actually pitch to you for $2 with contributions going to youth organizations. Blooped a single over second base at the Charleston Charlies game in 1976 or so. I am 1-for-1 career vs. hall of famers.

[Stonepony]

Paige, DiMaggio in 70s

[packs]

I remember in the early 90s I was at a Gloria Rothstein show with my dad and Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, and Joe DiMaggio were all signing at the same show. We didn't get any autographs, but my dad talked the attendant into letting us into the room for a minute so we could see them.

I was maybe 9 or 10 at the time.

[Beatles Guy]

Mantle and Whitey in 1987.

[darwinbulldog]

I met Bob Feller at a card show just outside of New Orleans back in about '89.

And though he won't ever make the Hall of Fame, I likely saw Will Clark play in a high school game or two back when I was still on my first set of teeth.

[Prince Hal]

Back in the early '90's the Congressman who represents the Cooperstown area had a fundraiser every year during induction weekend and he would bring in several HOFers to meet and sign autographs. The best person to interact with was Harmon Killibrew but the oldest was Bob Feller. The man's grip even in his later years was freaking amazing and he was always cordial. Not a HOFer but a very cool person who would go was Buck O'Neil. The worst was Gaylord Perry.

[darwinbulldog]

Back in the early '90's the Congressman who represents the Cooperstown area had a fundraiser every year during induction weekend and he would bring in several HOFers to meet and sign autographs. The best person to interact with was Harmon Killibrew but the oldest was Bob Feller. The man's grip even in his later years was freaking amazing and he was always cordial. Not a HOFer but a very cool person who would go was Buck O'Neil. The worst was Gaylord Perry.

Did he spit on you?

[kmac32]

Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ryne Sandberg, Fergie Banks all at Cubs Fantasy camp

[Paul S]

At the Martin Luther King, Jr. East-West All Star Classic (1970) at Dodger Stadium. Had to cut across the section that separated us, as the usher wasn't letting anyone down the aisle.

[tedzan]

I first met Phil Rizzuto in 1953....he was my nearby neighbor (2 blocks away) in Hillside, NJ. Phil would drive his 1953 Nash Metropolitan past our home on his way to Yankee Stadium.


http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan77/images/websize/1953BowmanRizzuto.jpghttp://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan77/images/large/49LRizzuto50DRizzExhibit.jpg




Visited with Johnny Mize in his hometown (Demorest, Georgia). A really great guy to talk baseball with. One of my all-time favorite Yankees players.

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt113/zanted86/autog49b50bphotomize.jpg




Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio....and, many, many more HOFers....that I have stories of.



TED Z
.

[vthobby]

Stan Musial and others....(Appling & Aparicio I think) were at an armory in Manhattan at a card show in the 1970s.

My grandfather used to send Stan Musial Maple Syrup that he tapped from Vermont in the 1950s.

I mentioned this to Stan and he remembered my grandpa. That was pretty cool.

Peace, Mike

[Hankphenom]

I met Clark Griffith in 1955, and remember it very well. I was nine.

[John V]

On 2 or 3 occasions, in the mid-60s we would wait for Roberto Clemente to exit from the Forbes Field press gate after a game. We would walk with him to his car parked at an Atlantic gas station a block or so away.

[PMSeevers]

Mickey Mantle. He was at a signing somewhere in Cincy. My grandpa took me and we got a ball signed. Still have it. I was nine at the time and can still remember the size of his hands when he shook mine. Great memories and great thread!

[btcarfagno]

Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, Willie Mays, Bob Feller would be the older ones. Mel Allen as well.

I struck out Craig Biggio when he was in college and I was in high school. Their field over at Seton Hall had been deluged by rain that night and they used the field that our town team (in South Orange) used as a backup. We were practicing and they came in and we broke out into a scrimmage. I struck out Biggio before Mo Vaughn hit a ball so hard off me that I ducked. It went over the center field fence and I don't think it got higher than 20 feet the whole time.

This same field was used for a Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig barnstorming event. There was a ball at auction recently signed by both with writing on it stating it was from that game in South Orange. Tried to get it but it went too high.

Tom C

[t206blogcom]

Hank Aaron and Tom Glavine. Met them both back in the late 80s/early 90s when my Dad took me to a card show in Richmond, VA. They were doing a signing and I got two balls signed. Unfortunately, the balls have toned pretty badly, but still have the memories.

[cubsfn01]

I haven't met any baseball hall of famers. The most famous baseball player I met was Paul ONeil. The oldest athletes I have ever met were football legends Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen when I was a senior at Richmond High School in Indiana. They were super nice, but I did not know who they were at the time. If I knew then what I know now, I would have had so many questions.

[gregr2]

I've never met a HOFer or a non-HOFer. I need to get a life... :(

[peterb69]

I went to Ted Williams Baseball Camp in the mid 70's. My friend and I were walking back from a game to our bunk house and Ted was strolling across the field by himself straight towards us. My friend had a ball in his glove, I only had some paper, but Ted signed both. When the other kids saw Ted signing, they came running over but Ted told them sorry, no more autographs today.

I still have the piece of paper with his signature.

[Prince Hal]

Did he spit on you?

Ha! At least that would constitute a form of interaction. He just sat there looking at his watch. I wonder why his cheating doesn't come up more often during the steroid discussions...

[oldjudge]

When I was a kid my dad used to take me to Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium and we would always sit behind the announcers booth. After the game many old timers would come up to the booth to chat on the air. I once met, and got the autographs of, Dizzy and Daffy Dean. Unfortunately, the ball is long gone.

[Cozumeleno]

For seven years, I was a tournament director for a celebrity golf tournament in Pittsburgh, where I live. Most of the guys were veterans or guys that made a few All-Star teams, but my lone HOF experience from it was Bill Mazeroski. Really shy/quiet guy, but extremely nice.

[SteveMitchell]

Visiting Earl Averill at his Snohomish, Washington home for the purpose of interviewing him for a Sports Scoop magazine article in January 1973 was my first meeting of a Hall of Famer - though he was not yet elected to the Hall of Fame.

At Earl's 1975 Hall of Fame induction a variety of older HoF'ers were met and/or spoken with (briefly) including: Edd Roush, Burleigh Grimes and Rube Marquard, among others.

A 1977 Washington State Sports Collectors Association show featured Earl Averill (HOF 1975), Johnny Mize (1981) and Indian Bob Johnson (20??) signing free autographs. And a 1982 Connecticut show headlined Ted Williams (reportedly his first-ever show) but Duke Snider stopped by to see Ted and should-be HoF'er Smoky Joe Wood was brought to the show by his son to visit with Ted.

Ah... the memories.

[iwantitiwinit]

Ralph Kiner in 1979. I was friends with one of his daughters. We went to several Mets games together, sat on the Kiner's Korner set then had dinner. Saw him put down 6 double scotch's is about 20 minutes one time. Great guy, super friendly and as you can imagine great stories.

[paul]

I think we have a winner. How could anyone beat Hank Thomas' meeting with Clark Griffith. He has an Old Judge card for god's sake.

[rats60]

Hubbell, Gehringer and DiMaggio

[sulldux]

For me it was Jesse Haines. As a High School senior in Dayton, Ohio in 1970 I was writing a history paper on baseball that required 3 primary sources. He lived in Clayton, just a few miles away. I spent about an hour with him at his home--he couldn't have been more gracious. And for the record, he insisted that Alex wasn't drunk in the 26 WS Game 6. The other two interviewees were Roy Highes and Jim Fridley, both in the area at that time, and equally pleasant

[Kawika]

I think we have a winner. How could anyone beat Hank Thomas' meeting with Clark Griffith. He has an Old Judge card for god's sake.
Griffith was born in 1869. Anyone met someone born in the 19th century lately? Way cool, Hank.
As for me, exchanged a few pleasantries with Hank Greenberg on the sidewalk outside of Yankee Stadium around 1957 or so. Didn't specifically "meet" but more "interacted" with old-timers like Stengel, Dickey and Rizzuto and just about any future American League HOFer of that era (Berra, Ford, Aparicio, Kaline etc) whose autograph I sought.

[HerbK]

About 9 years ago, I was fortunate enough to have dinner with Fergie Jenkins in the very small town in which I live - Binbrook Ontario (population about 1000). One of his daughters lives in town and he stopped by during a visit to the local restaurant (The Bin) as a favor to the owner (a friend of his daughter) and any autograph proceeds to go to our local food bank. Super nice guy who was great with the kids. The picture kills me - my youngest son (wearing the Cubs alternate jersey) now towers over me at 6'5". I'm 6'1" ... Lol.

Herb.

[Peter W Thomas]

Met Warren Spahn at Earl Torgerson's house across the street from my parents house in 1950 or 1951. Nice guy and he autographed a card that I still have. With today's pay checks it would never have happened.

[Exhibitman]

When I was 6 my mom wrote a commercial starring Brooks Robinson and took me to the commercial shoot in Florida for two days to meet him. I still have an autographed baseball from the day. Only bad part was that when I got home I learned that my pet guinea pig had died.

[7nohitter]

I've led a very meager (baseball-speaking) life.

I guess the closes I've gotten is FUTURE HOF'er Griffey Jr. in '91 at a card show in Boston.

My father pitched AAA for the Colt 45.s

I did meet my great grandmother and great aunt who were both born in the early 1890's...

[jcc6252]

Yogi in the early sixties, when he was peddling Yoo-hoo down at the local grocery store in Little Falls, NJ. Get in line, buy some Yoo-hoo from Yogi.

[39special]

He wasn't a Hall of Famer at the time,but I met Ryne Sandberg when he played at AA Reading.He took the time to talk to me, and signed my glove.His signature was a lot better then.

[PowderedH2O]

I met Bob Feller at a card show just outside of New Orleans back in about '89.

And though he won't ever make the Hall of Fame, I likely saw Will Clark play in a high school game or two back when I was still on my first set of teeth.

I played against Will Clark when I was in high school. I actually had a higher batting average than he did. Of course, mine were singles and his were often not singles. He got college scholarship offers. I did not.

My earliest HOF encounter was in 1980. I was a teenager and my dad's boss got me in to meet the Orioles and the Yankees in a preseason game in the Superdome. I got to meet Yogi, Frank Robinson, Jim Palmer, and Reggie Jackson (plus Mike Flanagan, Bob Watson, Ron Guidry, and Jim Spencer). It was a blast!

In 1976 I got to go to the Pete Maravich Basketball Camp at the University of New Orleans, so if we aren't specific about baseball, he was the first HOFer I met.

[ZenPop]

My grandmother was good friends with George "High Pockets" Kelly and his wife. They invited her to his HOF Induction ceremony in 1973. She went and brought me back an autographed program with a few other HOFs... (as soon as I find it, I'll scan and post)... I went over to his house later that year (I was 11 years old at the time) and he told me some amazing stories of the 1921 NY Giants... also told a doozy of a story involving a fight between Casey Stengel and Leo Durocher... Stengel was kind of a mentor to Kelly... First time I recall hearing the term "son of a bitch." (Kelly was NOT fond of the Lip.). I also got a tour of his trophy room and he gave me an autographed baseball. Pretty cool.

I also met Willie Mays at the San Jose Airport. We talked for about 20 minutes before the plane boarded. This was around 1989... He talked about how much he liked Kevin Mitchell, talked about the current Giants. He also recounted some stories from his past (talking about how that great catch in the '54 World Series wasn't nearly his best... and said preventing the runner from tagging up was the biggest thing.) I know he has a history of people saying he was ornery, but he was awesome to me.

I guess (according to some)... I met the greatest and the worst HOFers ever.

[Tom Hufford]

I attended the 1971 Hall of Fame induction in Cooperstown, my first trip there (I was 21). After the HOF activities were over, I met with 15 other guys in the HOF Library for the Founding meeting of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) (and if you're not a member yet, you should join!).

I spent quite a bit of time sitting in the lobby of the Otesaga Hotel, where the players stayed, and I met dozens of oldtimers. I was in awe.

I met four Hall of Famers born before 1890 - Rube Marquard, Harry Hooper, Zach Wheat and Stan Coveleski. Marquard was the oldest at 84 , born 10-9-1886.

But the oldest former player I met was Larry Gardner. He was there to see his old Red Sox teammate Harry Hooper inducted. Gardner was born 5-13-86, about five months before Marquard, and made his ML debut in June 1908, three months before Rube.

I sat for a while in the hotel lobby talking to Marquard, when he said "Are you going to be here for awhile?" When I assured him that I would be he said "I'm going to run up to my room and get something, wait for me til I get back." In a few minutes he did return, carrying a large old scrapbook of his career. We sat for several hours while he went through the scrapbook, telling me stories about the games and the many guys he played with.

Can you imagine something like that happening today? I've always appreciated the time that he gave me, and I corresponded with him up until his death. I wish that I had gotten a photo of us together. I did get a photo of me with Harry Hooper and Ernie Shore that year, however, that I later sent and got signed by both.

[gregr2]

Now that is a great story Tom. WOW!

[calvindog]

I attended the 1971 Hall of Fame induction in Cooperstown, my first trip there (I was 21). After the HOF activities were over, I met with 15 other guys in the HOF Library for the Founding meeting of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) (and if you're not a member yet, you should join!).

I spent quite a bit of time sitting in the lobby of the Otesaga Hotel, where the players stayed, and I met dozens of oldtimers. I was in awe.

I met four Hall of Famers born before 1890 - Rube Marquard, Harry Hooper, Zach Wheat and Stan Coveleski. Marquard was the oldest at 84 , born 10-9-1886.

But the oldest former player I met was Larry Gardner. He was there to see his old Red Sox teammate Harry Hooper inducted. Gardner was born 5-13-86, about five months before Marquard, and made his ML debut in June 1908, three months before Rube.

I sat for a while in the hotel lobby talking to Marquard, when he said "Are you going to be here for awhile?" When I assured him that I would be he said "I'm going to run up to my room and get something, wait for me til I get back." In a few minutes he did return, carrying a large old scrapbook of his career. We sat for several hours while he went through the scrapbook, telling me stories about the games and the many guys he played with.

Can you imagine something like that happening today? I've always appreciated the time that he gave me, and I corresponded with him up until his death. I wish that I had gotten a photo of us together. I did get a photo of me with Harry Hooper and Ernie Shore that year, however, that I later sent and got signed by both.

Wow.

[cardsfan73]

Don Drysdale outside of Busch Stadium II after a Cardinals v. Dodgers game sometime in 1988 (I think)

While everyone else mobbed the likes of Kirk Gibson, Orel Hershiser & Steve Sax, Drysdale walked right by and I guess nobody else recognized him. Alas I had no Drysdale cards with me but he was more than happy to sign my ticket stub from the game. I was 15 and it was the first time I had met a Hall Of Fame player & I was a little nervous but he was very gracious & kind.

Scott

[chris6net]

Craig Biggio. We played little league together. I was probably about 8 years old. In HS he was the best Football player in Suffolk County. A great athlete.

[almostdone]

I met Ralph Kiner in an elevator in New York after a Mets game. Then he happened to be sitting at a table next to us in the restaurant we ate at. I was there with a friend and his parents. My friends dad encouraged me to go over and ask for an autograph. The only thing I had on me was the program from the game. Mr. Kiner was polite and gracious in signing even though I interrupted his meal. It was around 1990 or so.
I got the ball in the photo signed TTM by him about two months before he passed away.
Drew

[1963Topps Set]

Warren Spahn, Brooks Robinson, Bob Gibson, Harmon Killebrew, Eddie Mathews, Yogi Berra, Duke Snider, Phil Rizzuto, Gaylord Perry, Bob Feller, Ernie Banks, Whitey Ford, Sparky Lyle...

[sycks22]

Growing up around the Twins when I was a kid it was great getting to know the players including Puckett through my neighbor Wayne "Twig" Terwilliger (1st base coach) I've been to his house a couple times when I was around 10 and my mom actually babysat their daughter for a couple years and we were on a first name basis with Kirby. He was the nicest guy in person and saddens me to hear about all of the stuff behind closed doors after he retired. Seeing all of his gold gloves and silver slugger bats was like a kid in a candy store. Also met: Thomas, Griffey, Canseco among others after the game. Met Feller at Twins fest in 2008 as I was randomly walking around and caught eyes with Feller and said to myself "Is that Bob Feller?" and looked up and it sure was, he was signing for $20.

[stat192]

Mine was meeting both Joe Dimaggio and Hank Aaron at a card show in 1985. They were both signing for $5 each, and I still have the balls I had signed by each hanging on my wall in my office.

The thing I remember most was when we were inline for Dimaggio they made sure you had no Marilyn Monroe items, and they told you not to ask him any questions about her.

[Steve D]

The first hall of famer I remember seeing in-person was Roy Campanella. He was at a San Diego Padres old-timers game back in the early 1970s. I don't recall if I said anything to him, as I was only around 10 years old at the time (and my mother was holding me back), but I do remember being on the sidewalk just outside San Diego Stadium when he and his assistant came out the gate and were getting into their vehicle after the game.

The first hall of famer I remember actually talking to was Duke Snider at a card show in 1979 in Fallbrook, California. I also met and got an autograph from Willie McCovey in 1974, as he was leaving the stadium after a game.

Steve

[KingKongBundy]

I attended the 1981 HOF inductions in Cooperstown. I remember seeing Cool Papa Bell in a drug store, quickly buying a pen and pad, and asking him for his autograph before he left. At this point in time, the public was allowed inside the Otesaga Hotel where I take it most of the HOF'ers stayed during induction weekend. So, my father took us there to have breakfast one morning, where we were seated next to Earl Averill and Freddie Lindstrom. Both were gracious enough to sign an autograph. I met a bunch of other players that day and still remember Jocko Conlan sitting in a big chair in the hotel lobby. I wrote him a letter a few years later mentioning that I met him at the hotel and requesting an autograph on an 8x10 and he sent it back personalized to me with the inscription 'Be Good to Your Parents' - three decades later, I get it.

[deadballfreaK]

Edd Roush. He lived in Oakland CITY, Indiana which was just about 10 miles from where I grew up. I'm gonna say it was about 1972. My buddy (who was a baseball nut like me) and I were thinking about how to get his autograph. One of us suddenly came up with the idea: "Hell, why don't we just drive over to his house?" Brilliant. Well, we did and we met Edd. He was just an on old man reading his newspaper or something. Nice. He signed a '61 Fleer for me and something for my buddy. Then he pulled out a stack of signed HOF postcards and gave us each one. Very cool, but I regret that I was so starstruck that I was a mumbling idiot. Could have asked him a thousand questions. But no.

[hoot-owl]

Jim Konstanty was great friends with my grandparents. During the mid-1960s my family would spend a week a summer at his cottage at six-mile point on the west side of Otsego Lake. He would take my two brothers and me down to Doubleday Field to teach us baseball fundamentals before our annual visit to the HOF.
In late July 1966, we went for a day trip--a surprise visit to Shea for an old timers game in which "Uncle" Jim was playing followed by a Cubs-Mets tilt. We had lunch in the Shea Grill room. Still have the menu with autographs from Phil Rizzuto and Casey Stengal. I know Konstanty brought other players over to our table--but don't necessarily recall who they were.

[jimtigers65]

Ted Williams back in 1982. I attended a local show in Flint, Michigan. Very nice to me, ask me how high school was going and what did I plan on doing after graduating. A month or so later I meet Willie Stargell at a mall show.

I worked part time at a grocery store and remembering asking myself if I why am I spending $20 on a Williams auto? That was a lot money back then.

[Frank A]

Warren Spahn was the friendliest HOF'r I ever met. Found him to be really friendly and a little crazy. had me laughing. As for the worst it had to be Reggie Jack@ss. What an arrogant snot. Frank

[quinnsryche]

Bronko Nagurski in the mid 70's. My God he was a HUGE man. Hands the size of Christmas hams. Very nice man. Me and my dad used to go to Canton to get autographs for his collection. Also met Johnny "Blood" McNally and George Halas was on the plane ride back to Chicago and got to meet him close up and personal. Those old NFL guys were all very nice.

[MacDice]

Bob Feller

[ValKehl]

I met and chatted with Harmon Killebrew at a show in VA roughly 25 years ago. I think the show was put on by Tuff Stuff founder, Ernie White, whom I think was based in Richmond. Anyway, it was during the last hour or two of the show after he had finished his autograph-signing duties and the collecting crowd had thinned when Killebrew, rather than scooting asap as most signers do, began walking up and down the aisles of the show and un-hurriedly chatting with collectors and dealers about anything and everything they wanted to talk about.

Killebrew was extremely gracious and pleasant to chat with, even after I got bold and told him that I originally thought he was a huge waste of $$ to the Wash. Senators I loved when I was a youngster growing up in the DC suburbs. Because of the large $$ amount of his signing bonus, MLB rules at that time required that the Senators keep him on their roster for 2 years (I think it was) rather than let him play in the minors to get needed seasoning and experience. You see, to my Dad, striking out was a Cardinal sin, hence, my Senators heroes were contact-hitters like Pete Runnels, whereas Killebrew struck out a very high % of the time whenever the Senators did give him a chance to play in his early years. I never suspected back then that Killebrew would become a HOFer, much less even a decent MLB player!
Val

[lhardem]

From 1970 through 1972, my wife worked in the MLB Commissioner's Office on 5th Ave. in New York City. As a result, we were issued "gate" passes (we were on our own to find a non-reserve seat) which got us into any MLB ballpark in the country. On one occasion, we attended a game at Yankee Stadium with several of the brass from the Commissioner's Office. As I remember (it was 44 years ago), we sat about 15 rows up, behind home plate. We sat next to Monte Irvin, who also worked in the Commissioner's Office at the time. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame a couple of years later, in 1973. It was quite an experience.

My wife's gig also got us invited to the Commissioner's Office Christmas party for a couple of years, held at Toots Shor restaurant in mid-town. At one party, we met and talked as some length with sports artist Leroy Neiman, who had just published the book, "This Great Game," beautifully illustrated with many of his paintings. Great memories of NYC in the early 1970's.

Lyman

[frankbmd]

I met and chatted with Harmon Killebrew at a show in VA roughly 25 years ago. I think the show was put on by Tuff Stuff founder, Ernie White, whom I think was based in Richmond. Anyway, it was during the last hour or two of the show after he had finished his autograph-signing duties and the collecting crowd had thinned when Killebrew, rather than scooting asap as most signers do, began walking up and down the aisles of the show and un-hurriedly chatting with collectors and dealers about anything and everything they wanted to talk about.

Killebrew was extremely gracious and pleasant to chat with, even after I got bold and told him that I originally thought he was a huge waste of $$ to the Wash. Senators I loved when I was a youngster growing up in the DC suburbs. Because of the large $$ amount of his signing bonus, MLB rules at that time required that the Senators keep him on their roster for 2 years (I think it was) rather than let him play in the minors to get needed seasoning and experience. You see, to my Dad, striking out was a Cardinal sin, hence, my Senators heroes were contact-hitters like Pete Runnels, whereas Killebrew struck out a very high % of the time whenever the Senators did give him a chance to play in his early years. I never suspected back then that Killebrew would become a HOFer, much less even a decent MLB player!
Val

Killebrew was 20 when I met him.;) It's amazing how kids learned to write legibly back in the day.

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images/show/frankbmd/autographs/7583/killebrew-harmon

[Big Ben]

In the 1980's I attended a lot of card shows in the Illinois area. I got to meet the likes of Dimaggio, Mantle, Ford, Mays, Boudreau, Appling, Mize, Buck Leonard, Musial, Feller, Minoso, to name a few. Great times at reasonable prices!!! One time, I ended up going to a card show during Labor Day weekend in which Bob Feller appeared. The show was not well attended and I ended up talking to Feller for the better part of an hour about baseball and obscure topics such as the Titanic! lol

[David W]

My wife and son and I got to meet Bruce Sutter after he spoke and appeared at a BPA World Series youth event in Warsaw, Indiana several years ago.

As a Cardinal fan, it was a great experience. He was very cordial and engaging, and talked about why he left the Cardinals for the Braves.

[qed2190]

Had lunch with Carl Hubble and Peewee Reese in 1980.

[1952boyntoncollector]

I met john smolz when he was like 3 years old...I think that's the earliest hall of famer as that was 40 years prior to the hall of fame..most of you guys met HOF people very late... post HOF is really really late......I thnk 40 years prior to being in the HOF is the earliest..

[tjb1952tjb]

I haven't met any baseball hall of famers. The most famous baseball player I met was Paul ONeil. The oldest athletes I have ever met were football legends Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen when I was a senior at Richmond High School in Indiana. They were super nice, but I did not know who they were at the time. If I knew then what I know now, I would have had so many questions.

Look at that paw on Merlin Olson.......he was a beast. He was also one of the most articulate professional athelete, with varied interests away from the gridiron. Was saddened by his untimely passing.............

[Wildfireschulte]

When I moved to Clevelend in the early 1990's I met Bob Feller at a card show, then soonafter I met him at a bank branch opening, then a gas station opening, then the opening of an ice cream shop down the street - then a kid on my block started a lemonade stand and who was there signing? You guessed it, Bob Feller.

[dabigyankeeman]

Duke Snider. Got his auto at a card show. Got Mays and Mantle too at other shows, but Snider came up before they did. Oh yeah, got White Ford too but he also came up when Mickey and Willie did, Snider still beats them all as the earliest.

[Jobu]

That is awesome about Griffith, I loved the story in your book (Walter Johnson: Baseball's Big Train, a must read for those who haven't yet).

Didn't you also meet your grandfather (Walter Johnson for those who don't know) when you were 8 or 9 months old? Even if you don't remember it I say that this counts and you win the prize given he is one of the original 5!

I met Clark Griffith in 1955, and remember it very well. I was nine.

[Jobu]

I posted this story in the happy 100th birthday Joe D thread but thought a repost here would be appropriate because Joe D is the earliest that I ever met. Bob Feller is the second oldest.


I met Joe D in 199(5?) at the National in Chicago. I think he was charging $150 for an autograph so a teenage Jobu didn’t get one. However, my tale does not end here.

As luck would have it, my brother, father and I all chose to relieve ourselves mere seconds before Joe made the same call. My brother, 13 months younger than me, pissed to my left while Joe D, unbeknownst to me, pissed to my right. My brother started elbowing me and making noises in an effort to get me to look to my right. Thinking this was just typical younger brother harassment intended to cause me to break urinal etiquette and look at the guy next to me, I told him to knock it off and went to wash my hands. When I turned around from the sink I came face to face with Joe, who was stopped and looking right at me while waiting for my sink. My reaction must have been priceless, mouth immediately flying open and eyes wide, because Joe cracked a smile and said “Gotta take a piss, huh kid?” while he tapped me lightly on the arm. I was too shocked to offer much of a response, I think I cracked a half smile and nodded yes. But wait, there is more!

My dad, born in 1943, brother and I then walked out of the restroom grinning like kids who had just been given $50 and were about to be set loose in a candy store. As we slowly walked away, smiling from our encounter, I learned that my father did not share my concern for restroom etiquette, or at least was willing to break the rules if the situation required it. It turns out he was pissing to Joe D’s right and had recognized his neighbor. He broke the silence by uttering a statement that I will never forget “I just saw the unit that was in Marilyn Monroe.”

[botport]

Lou Brock did an appearance in the town I was living in when I was about 8-9 years old... I remember him throwing us grounders and giving us pointers on the game... At the end of the day he gave all the kids a miniature glove that he signed... Probably the first and definitely one of the nicest professional athletes I have ever met.

I have actually met quite a few over the years, mostly because of my work. Couple quick stories...

Dan Marino. Super cool guy, I was 13 or so and he started a conversation with me.

Barry Bonds. I have met him numerous times and I wouldn't piss on him if he was on fire. I know he's not HOF, but one of the biggest names I have met.

Jack Lambert. I worked up the nerve to ask him if I could shake his hand... I never ask for autos or handshakes when I am working but I couldn't resist. He shook my hand and I gushed, 'Thanks, Now I can tell my grandkids I met Jack Ham and Jack Lambert!!' He said 'Oh yea? Where did you meet the Hammer?' I told him the story and we ended up talking for about five minutes.

Norv Turner. Waaaay off board I know but the guy is genuinely awesome. Had to give him some props in a world filled with a lot of jerks. Trust me, I left a lot of negative stories out.

[Hankphenom]

I guess I did technically meet him when he was in the hospital, or at least he met me, I hadn't thought of that. I was only a few months old, so naturally I don't remember it. I have always thought it was special to have been the last grandchild born before he passed away, and that he "knew" me.

That is awesome about Griffith, I loved the story in your book (Walter Johnson: Baseball's Big Train, a must read for those who haven't yet).

Didn't you also meet your grandfather (Walter Johnson for those who don't know) when you were 8 or 9 months old? Even if you don't remember it I say that this counts and you win the prize given he is one of the original 5!

[mrmopar]

Found this old thread via a search and thought I would revive it.

The first and earliest HOFer I met was Bob Feller, who was signing at Pacific Trading Cards in Edmonds. I think it was 1984 or so.

I "met" a few others at Mariner games in the 80s as well when I was chasing autographs, although all were still active except Yogi Berra, who was a Yankee coach or manager at the time. he was walking to the team bus after the game. Guys like Dave Winfield, Jim Palmer, Gaylord Perry, Tony Perez, Carl Yastrzemski and Eddie Murray all signed something for me at M's games. That was more seeing him close and in person vs. actually meeting him. I also got a bunch of signatures (maybe 1-2 HOFers, but I'd need to see the program to remember) at one of the Equitable Old Timers Game in Seattle.

I then met a few more at the Seattle Fan Fest in 2001, including Bob Gibson, Jim Rice, Orlando Cepeda & Enos Slaughter.

Lastly, I was able to meet a couple at Everett Aqua Sox games when they were signature guests before the games. Rollie Fingers, Gaylord Perry and Fergie Jenkins (I guess they like 60s-80s pitchers!). It was fun too be able too get a number of items signed by each, an opportunity you don't typically get in card show settings, as they were there for 2 hours each and there were really only so many fans interested in standing in line more than once.

[vthobby]

In the lobby of the Otesaga Hotel. Me and a friend had basically snuck into the lobby, we got Ferrell to sign 2 Perez Steeles and we were then escorted out by security. It was well worth it. We each got around 25 hall of fame autographs on that trip. 1985 or 1986 or near there during the induction weekend.

Peace, Mike

PS I also got Gehringer on a baseball on that same trip and that was TOUGH! I basically bugged him so much on the golf course by recounting all of his accomplishments to him that his wife basically said "Charlie, sign for the boy so he will just go away!" He did, and I did! What a sweet sig he had!

[MacDice]

Found this old thread via a search and thought I would revive it.

The first and earliest HOFer I met was Bob Feller, who was signing at Pacific Trading Cards in Edmonds. I think it was 1984 or so.

That is funny I was the first person in line for that signing. I remember Bob was late as he got lost finding the place. I got a Donruss Baseball Hereos card signed and a postcard signed

[TheBig6]

When I was about 10 yrs old , we went over to Glenn Myatt's House a couple times. He was a friend of my Step Fathers. I remember looking at his scrapbook and the 1926 Cleveland Indians Team Panorama picture on the wall. Also Pictures of him and Speaker doing some Deer Hunting. I remember he didn't speak to highly of Cobb but was very fond of Ruth. He played from 1920-1936, He died in 1969

[mrmopar]

Look familiar? I got those same things signed as well, the 83 heroes card and the PC they sent to advertise the signing along with the 8x10 B&W paper photo with the career highlights on back he had there and a ball.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a81/mrmopar/Personal%20Stuff/Feller.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/mrmopar/media/Personal%20Stuff/Feller.jpg.html)

That is funny I was the first person in line for that signing. I remember Bob was late as he got lost finding the place. I got a Donruss Baseball Hereos card signed and a postcard signed

[MacDice]

Sure does. Great post. I now live 5 minutes away from where PTC used to have their store. Brings back good memories every time drive by

[drmondobueno]

Stark field, El Centro. I was going on nine. The Dodgers and Angels would come through town once a year on the way to the Dodgers spring training site in Palm Springs. The guys would hold a clinic for us kids, literally a couple of hours, then back in the bus they would go. No pen, no cards, just me, my beater glove and Red Ball Jets. My Dad said I met Koufax but all I remember was Drysdale was so TALL, me being around 3 1/2 feet or so at the time. And these guys threw hard, I mean my jaw hung the whole time Drysdale was throwing. His herky motion scared the crap out of me, thinking about hitting. I think I learned about mortality that day. Man, that was a blast.

[herbc]

The earliest HOF inductees I've met were Bob Feller and Ralph Kiner. Met both of them while attending Sports card & Memorabilia shows. Got autographs of both, and a picture with Kiner; didn't have my camera for Feller. Living in NYC, I've had the opportunity to attend many shows over the years.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hlc1949/img739_zpslhqrecj9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hlc1949/Sports%20Cards/img351RalphKiner8-22-10CardShow.jpg

[DHogan]

I shook Phil Rizzuto's hand when he was walking thru a show near Boston, when he was on his way to the autograph signing area.

[Mark]

Wonderful names. Edd Roush and Carl Hubbell! I saw Stengel at an old timer's game, but my oldest conversation buddy is Pie Traynor. Spoke with him 2 or 3 times since he was often at the ballpark in the late 60's and early 70's. Most memorable one is Roberto Clemente, who spent some time talking with me when I was 10.

[philliesfan]

Tough one because I don't know the dates.

But in the early 1980's I met Mantle, DiMaggio, Williams, and Aaron at different card shows.

Then at the Hall Of Fame Induction weekend in the early 80's I also met Lefty Gomez along with Williams, Roberts and several others.

Then at a SABR meeting one time I met Buck Leonard and several other Negro League players like Sy Morton (although not a HOFer). Now they were awesome. It was great talking with them and they were just so willing to talk for hours one on one with you.

Robert

[leaflover]

The Oakland Oaks in 1946 spring trained in the City of San Fernando. My Dad, who had the contract of moving their equipment, introduced me to Casey Stengal and Babe Herman. I still remember Shaking hands with Herman. His hand was bigger than my 1st basemans glove.

[egri]

I haven't met any HOFers (yet) but I ran track in high school with a guy whose mom was a professional photographer. In the 80s she was hired to cover a show with Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio. So she went and spent the day an arms length away from the two of them, making small talk, and at the end of the show, they offered to sign as much stuff as she wanted, for free. She declined, because she was not an autograph collector.

[jiw98]

My son and I met and got autographs from Al Kaline and Gordie Howe at events in town around 25 years ago. As I remember both were very nice. My son was very excited to meet them.
My son and I play golf with Dolly Konwinski's (Dolly Niemiec) sons. She played in the AAGPBL and still signs at shows. She was at the Chicago National this year.

[rocarroll]

Mickey mantle around 1982. He was completely drunk signing autographs at a department store. If you bought a pair of Lee jeans he signed an autograph for you. My mom actually made a comment to him about showing up at an event for kids in his condition which started an argument between him and her. I was 7 at the time and totally embarrassed. Looking back I understand now. He was a total a-hole then but he ultimately made amends for his behavior. My mom and I share a laugh From
time to time about her shouting down the Mick

[sayhey24]

Started going to the HOF induction ceremony in 1970 -- met people Like Rube Marquard, Harry Hooper, Lefty Grove, Jesse Haines, Joe Cronin, Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell, Max Carey, Zack Wheat, Earle Combs, Lloyd Waner, Frankie Frisch, Burleigh Grimes and Buck Leonard just to name a few. Did the same thing that a previous poster mentioned --hung out in the lobby of the Otesaga Hotel.
Here are a few photos of me as a kid with Buck Leonard, Lefty Gomez, Stan the Man, Rapid Robert and Lefty Grove.

Greg

[yanks4]

Around 1994 I showed one of my neighbor's son my small vintage Yankee collection .....he was impressed to a point.... being young I wasn't sure he knew or really cared about the 30's Yankees .....A couple weeks later his mother saw me playing catch in the front yard with my oldest son so she brought her father, who was visiting from out of town, over to meet me.... I remember that he was in his 90's and his nickname was Smoke .... He played football at Columbia with Lou Gehrig... Smoke is in the team picture that appears in a couple of the books on Gehrig....Smoke was a smallish halfback and he remembered and commented on the size of Gehrig's thighs and how very strong he was....This was 1922 and if you have that picture Smoke is top row, second from the right.....as close as I will ever get to my favorite player Lou Gehrig.......

I assume you meant Baseball HOF
But I've met Rocket Richard , Jean Beliveau, Johnny Bauer all great guys....

[T3s]

For a few years in the late 1980's there was an annual televised awards show called the "Jim Thorpe Sports Awards." I lucked into tickets one year, watched the show and then when it was over everyone hung around and mingled, included the various athletes - Riddick Bowe, Emmitt Smith, Jackie Joyner, Jim Courier, etc.

I moved around in the crowd getting signatures, shaking hands and just generally being in awe. At one point I look around and notice an older man in a red jacket sitting alone by himself in the front row. Right away I see it's Stan Musial. Stan Musial! No one's paying any attention to him at all and he's just kicking back watching the scene. I walk over and all I can say is something like "Wow, you're Stan Musial!" He says "that's right!" and then pulls out a stack of postcard sized cards with a full colored photo and lots of stats and info. He asks if I'd like an autograph and even had a sharpie ready to go. We had a brief chat and I moved on. Felt like I'd found hidden treasure.

It was cool to see all the great athletes, but as a baseball loyalist, having a chance to meet up with Stan Musial was easily the highlight.

[Santo10Fan]

I used to work at a valet parking lot one block from Wrigley Field. It was a mom and pop operation, just my boss and I would park around 30-40 cars in a grid. When I first started in 2005, he told me Ronnie occasionally would pull in the driveway and he'd fetch him a couple beers from the garage fridge, as we were on Ronnie's way back to the Kennedy expressway.

Sure enough, after one of the games that summer a black, 2004 Chevy Tahoe with full tints pulled over into the driveway and beeped a couple times. My boss immediately began waving and told me to go intercept it with a couple MGD cans out of the fridge. The window rolled down and there was Ron Santo. His setup was quite unique-all the vehicle's controls were on the steering wheel, just like the hand grips on a motorcycle. So imagine driving on cruise control with the brakes and all! He slipped me a sawbuck. I still wish I would have got to interact with him more than the three times I saw him that year. But I think I deduced why he never really came through again.

Much to my horror, I grabbed one of those MGD cans for my walk home one night, cracked it, took a sip and recoiled-it was absolutely disgusting. I checked the expiration date and it was well past one year. I figure it was about 18 months from brewing. I was so embarassed. I had been giving Ron these absolute shit beers. As the years have passed though, there's no doubt. He will always be my favorite vintage Cub-RIP

[vthobby]

My earliest was Charlie Gehringer at HOF Weekend. He would not sign for anyone. I was about 16 years old and loved old baseball stats so when i approached him and his wife my friends were howling and saying "forget it, you are wasting your time". I started telling Charlie all of his stats (like he forgot! ha!@)......he kept refusing until his wife said something like "just sign the damn ball Charlie so this kid will go away!". Signed a beauty on the sweet spot and I was forever immortalized by my buddies! :)

Peace, Mike

[Dpoolem3]

Mine would be Kirby Puckett and Jim Rice down in Florida around 1989 or 1990

My best friend and I had collected baseball cards since first grade together. Everything was baseball between us and during the winter he and his dad planned a trip down to Florida to watch some spring training games and get autographs and they invited me to come. I couldn't wait for spring to get here.

Finally spring arrived and we headed out from middle Georgia down to florida...we visited the Twins site and they had a practice field across the parking lot from their stadium so you would go to the practice field early and they would all sign autos when they walked across the parking lot...I managed to get Kirby Puckett to sign 4 cards for me while my friend was busy chasing down someone else(he didn't see puckett was leaving, and Kirby was in his top 3 favorite players)...so now I had 4 autographs and knew I could get something great from my best friend in trade if I made him sweat...so when he asked I told I him I would think about what I want in trade for a puckett

We then went to the Red Sox camp and after the game, all the players were peeling out in their cars(oil can boyd had a sweet Mercedes 450) and not signing ...so as me and my best friend stood there at the fence we saw a batboy walking a huge trash can of bats out to the dumpster....and we noticed the fence gate was still open where they were letting the players drive out...so me and my friend walk into the stadium and over to the dumpster and my buddy hops in and starts throwing out bats to me....when I hear "You boys supposed to be back here?"....I turn around and its Jim Rice....I say "no sir"......and Jim Rice says "well don't get caught"..and walks over to his baby blue chevy bel air, cranks it up, and drives off.

Was an awesome trip that created incredible memories for two 17 year old boys that had been baseball fans all their lives, played little league together every year of their lives, etc....

Unfortunately a week and a half after we got back, my best friend contracted spinal menigitus(sp) and passed away 2 days later. After his wake, me and his father went back into the room where he laid in his casket and I took out a Kirby puckett autographed card and put it in his hand. He was buried with Kirby in his hand.

[CurtisFlood]

Bob Feller, Whitey Ford, Gaylord Perry, Fergie Jenkins. Might be missing a couple of guys.

[MVSNYC]

Whitey Ford, Lou Brock

[Mark]

Wow: Clark Griffith and Edd Roush!! Who here knew Tim Keefe and Bid McPhee? Earliest I can do is Pie Traynor, who used to be at a lot of games during the last days of Forbes and the first days of 3 Rivers Stadium. He was as approachable and friendly as could be.

[tachyonbb]

In the mid 50's I was allowed to tag along with my big brothers baseball team to go watch Creighton play. They played at Fontenelle park. Bob Gibson was pitching and struck out at least 2 guys every inning. My brothers coach knew Creighton's coach so after the game we were allowed on the field. I went up to Bob, shook his hand and congratulated him on a great game.

In the early 90's my wife (a doctor) was helping to organize a Diabetes awareness/education conference. She asked me to go pick up a Mr. Hunter and chauffeur him to his hotel and to the conference. I assumed it was some doctor. It was Jim "Catfish" Hunter. We talked about family and hunting. I took him to the airport the next morning and he gave me a signed baseball.

[BruceinGa]

Joe DiMaggio in or around 1961. He was doing a promotional tour for the Air Force Commissaries and visited our Little League association at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. He autographed my first baseman's mitt as well as a drawing of him in my copy of "Big Time Baseball".
He then wanted to hit a home run on our Little League field. The fence was 220' and his first swing was a ground ball down the first base line. His next swing was a hr.
Great memories!!

[commishbob]

Early 60s...Yogi Berra at his bowling alley in Clifton, NJ. It was a promotional event of some sort and my father took me. He signed Yoo Hoo promo cards. I wish I knew where mine was.

Slightly OT:

In football, I was up-close-and-personal with a bunch of the Baltimore Colts during training camp a few times. Unitas, Berry, John Mackey..but I can't say I really 'met' any of them.

My only real extended encounter with a Hall of Famer was with one of my favorites.... Here is the abridged version of my 'brush with (somewhat drunken) greatness' in the person of Kenny Stabler. My wife and I attended Nolan Ryan's Houston Astros' debut game in 1980. Ryan went six and walked that many but homered and the game lasted 17 innings with the Dodgers winning, 6-5. We left early as we were going to Gilley's Club in Pasadena east of Houston for a show.

We were sitting at one of those 'picnic-style' tables near the front waiting for the show to start. Then a guy came up and asked us if we'd mind sharing our table with Kenny Stabler (he was the Oilers qb back then) and his group. Hell, why not?!?! And so he sat down with a couple of other people and introduced himself and said thanks for letting them sit there.

Stabler bought a couple of rounds of beer as I recall and had a guy fending off autograph requests while the live show was going on. He signed during the break and he signed an Astros cap my wife was wearing and a Gilley's bumper sticker I dug up. We felt like big shots. LOL

[GasHouseGang]

I've met Stan Musial, Warren Spahn, Duke Snider, and Johnny Mize that were all from around the same time frame. Which one is earliest? Probably Musial is the earliest inductee in that group I would guess.

[Mark]

I've met Stan Musial, Warren Spahn, Duke Snider, and Johnny Mize that were all from around the same time frame. Which one is earliest? Probably Musial is the earliest inductee in that group I would guess.

Big Johnny Mize broke in '36, 5 years before Musial.

[VintageBen]

Brooks Robinson

[dabigyankeeman]

At card shows over a period of a couple of years a long time ago I met the big 3 centerfielders of my youth in NY, Mantle-Mays-Snider. I guess the Duke came up first so he would be the oldest, but Mickey was my favorite. It was great meeting them though and getting their autograph, and when you meet guys like this at a card show just saying one sentance to them and having them respond is something you remember your whole life. I got them to sign cards for me and I built this display for them to go along with the song about them, Talking Baseball, Willie, Mickey, and the Duke.

[BuzzD]

I met Bill Dickey (1954) at a card show in the early 80's and got a ball signed. He was a gentleman

[GasHouseGang]

Big Johnny Mize broke in '36, 5 years before Musial.

That's true, but I said inductee. Musial was inducted before Mize.

[riggs336]

Dizzy Dean in an elevator of the Chase Park Plaza Hotel in St. Louis on 8/31/64. He was doing the telecast. Me: "Who's gonna win today, Diz?" Him: " I gotta go with that big ol' boy Drysdale. " End of meeting.

[pclpads]

Mine was Lefty Gomez. It was 1958. I was in LL. He came to a sporting goods store in Lemon Grove, Ca., east of San Diego, on a product promo appearance. Lefty then was a rep for Wilson Sporting Goods. He signed a ball for me which is gone. At the time, no idea who he was, other than just an old BB player. What I do recall is unlike now, there were only about 10 kids present.

[Yoda]

Not baseball, but I had the rare and exciting experience back in the 1950's, through a business associate of my father's, to visit the NY Giants (football) locker room after they defeated the 49'ers at the old Polo Grounds. Met and gathered autographs from the likes of Charlie Connerly, Kyle Rote, Frank Gifford and Sam Huff. What is forever seared in my memory, though, was the image of Rosie Greer coming out of the shower and parading naked through the locker room, which made quite an impression on this 10 year old.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

I don't really have much of a collection anymore, as a dealer it just doesn't make much sense to me. I do, however, have one piece I would never sell. I started doing shows at 14 years old in the mid 80's. The Mall and Hotel circuit in North Eastern PA, & Jersey. At one Mall show Phil Rizzuto was the guest. I didn't have much vintage at that point and what little Rizzuto stuff I had sold out in short order. I wanted to get an autograph though so on a piece of poster board I quickly drew a picture of Rizzuto and the Yankee logo. When he signed it he was curious as to where it came from and I had to tell him that I had just quickly drawn it in Sharpie.

"Holy Cow, that's great" which was about the coolest thing he could've said.

So for years it sat in a closet and then I moved out and kind of forgot about it. 2 years ago at Christmas my parents had gotten it professionally framed and it was under the tree. Had almost forgotten all about it. It had survived through a couple of moves and everything else. One of my prized possessions now, and not a half-bad drawing either!

[ValKehl]

Scott, how about showing us a pic of it?

[qed2190]

Carl hubbell.

[Tony2311]

Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio late 80's. Back in the day complaining on paying $15-$20 for an auto thinking it takes literally 10 seconds to sign your name on a ball - I wish I bought three dozen of each player. :)

[Tony2311]

In the late 60's Gene Hickerson was signing for a promotion at Higbee's Department Store outside of Cleveland. No one was in line and he was signing anything however giving away these 5x7 autographed photos. After going in line once, my brother and I went around the corner and changed coats, hats, etc. - to present a "different look" for Mr. Hickerson to get multiple photos signed for friends. He must of thought we were idiots - looking back, should have asked him I have several friends who could not attend tonight would you mind signing 4-5 other photos? No eBay, no forgeries, back in the day - probably would not have been an issue asking for multiples.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Maybe I'll bring it to Chantilly! Will try and get a pic too though.

[frankbmd]

Posted when this was a new thread. Without reading the whole thread, has anyone topped Casey Stengel yet? :D

[Fred]

The Meal Ticket

[Keith H. Thompson]

Rube Marquard, Harry Hooper, Red Ruffing come to mind at the 1974 HOF induction ceremonies.

Keith H Thompson

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Maybe I'll bring it to Chantilly! Will try and get a pic too though.

Scooter will be at Chantilly for your viewing enjoyment!

[riggs336]

Can't remember if it was 1955 or 1956, but Ty Cobb was speaking at a banquet in Abilene, TX. My dad took me up to meet him afterwards. I got his autograph but it must have been thrown out since I've never been able to find it.

[frankbmd]

Who’s the earliest HOFer you met in prison?

[eliotdeutsch]

1993 Spring Training in St Petersburg FL.

Cardinals had Ozzie Smith at SS and Joe Torre manager.
Orioles were at the same spot and met Ripken as well.

There was an old timers game with Mize, Feller and Palmer too.

Went to a signing with Roberto Alomar in early 90s and saw Paul Molitor in Toranto in early 90s.

[CurtisFlood]

Whitey Ford, Bob Feller, Fergie Jenkins, Gaylord Perry, Phil Niekro.

Guess Feller is the earliest of this group followed by Ford.

[robw1959]

Harry Hooper! I met him at his Cooperstown induction (1973) and even got him to sign a baseball.

[Laxcat]

I got to sit on Hank Aaron’s lap when I was 4 in 1985. If we are talking born the earliest, Al Barlick.

[Mark]

Who’s the earliest HOFer you met in prison?

Orlando Cepeda.

[Laxcat]

My favorite HOFer I ever met was Monte Irvin. I got to slide for him at a show. One of the nicest people I ever have had the pleasure of meeting. 14 year old me got visibly upset when he told stories about traveling with in the South. He told me “don’t worry son, I promise I’m not treated like that anymore”

[bjerome]

Bob Feller on April 24, 2010 at his Museum. I bought a membership just to meet him after viewing his Studio 42 Interview with Bob Costas. I grew up in North Dakota and just never traveled prior to 2005, so this was a big deal. Also met Earl Weaver that same day.

[Santo10Fan]

Does John Goodman in character as Babe Ruth count?

[Kidnapped18]

Willie McCovey in the mid 80s
He and my Dad were playing golf in Birmingham and my Dad allowed me to tag along!

[charlietheexterminator]

Mickey Mantle in 1967/68, one of those years. He was signing baseballs outside the old Yankee Stadium, it was ball day.

[BuzzD]

Bill Dickey and Lefty Gomez did a show together, maybe late 80s? Got a ball from both. Very neat

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

For me it was Eddie Mathews. He was signing cards at a local card show when I was around 10...but I didn't have any of his cards and also didn't have the money for the autograph.

I simply waived as I saw Eddie leaving. At which point he came over, shook my hand and asked me what I was holding (it was the flyer for the show). He took out a blue sharpie, signed his name, shook my hand again and told me to enjoy the show :)

Scott

I meant Mr. Mathews at a card show in St. Louis and he treated me like an old buddy. What a guy!

[skil55voy]

Jim Bunning. Before he was in the Hall of Fame at a card show in Toledo, Ohio. I had my 2 young daughters with me. I was standing in line waiting for him to sign and I told him he pitched in the first came I ever went to at Tiger Stadium. After he signed my ball, he asked me to stay and we talked about the game. He was great.

Also, Bert Blyleven before he was in the hall. I had him sign a Sporting News cover with and Jeff Reardon on it. He asked me if I wanted him to sign Jeff's name for him. Hilarious!

[quinnsryche]

Hank Aaron 1975 getting on the Brewers team bus for a game vs the White Sox. We used to go to the visiting team's hotel for autographs. Once gave Lou Piniella a ride to Comiskey Park when he missed the bus. The next day he gave me a game used bat. Pretty cool for a nine year old at the time.
Also - Feller, Appling and Lopez in the mid 70's too.

[Tabe]

First one I ever met was Lou Brock at a Sears store in Pontiac, MI around 1977 when he was hawking the Brockabrella. Got his autograph.

First guy elected to the Hall I ever met was Ernie Banks. Met him at a card show in Pontiac around 1984, maybe 1985. Got his autograph on an SSPC Hall of Fame card.

First one I ever met who was in the Hall when I met them was Al Kaline. Met him when he was signing autographs at a bank in 1980.

The only other HOFer I've ever met was Wayne Gretzky, much later.

[lumberjack]

In the mid to late 1970s I thought I was going to be the next Larry Ritter and there were a few dead ball era guys in Michigan and Ohio who gave me some interview time.

Waite Hoyt was very gracious. He would have been 80 years old. I guess he figured anyone who would spend ten hours on the road (round trip) was serious about meeting him. Waite Hoyt wasn't shy about sharing his opinions regarding baseball, by the way.

Ray Fisher isn't in the Hall, but he was the oldest man I met, having been born in 1887. The guy played for Frank Chance and Hal Chase. Think about that.

The one I kick myself about was Frank Bowerman's son. Bowerman was one of the last of the old Orioles and had been dead for 25 or 30 years, but his son was very much alive and for some reason, I had this opportunity to talk to him and I simply dropped the ball. UGH.
lumberjack

[Case12]

Earliest inductee: Bob Feller at a show

Next earliest inductee: Stan Musial in the men's bathroom standing next to him at a urinal. True story...

[Den*nis O*Brien]

In 1962 I met Bronko at his International Falls Standard Oil service station. And to reiterate a previous poster ....those hands were unforgettable. He signed the Cubs book I was reading. Bob Feller was at this UP card show signing items. He was very conversational and friendly. I was getting a ball signed for a friend whose card shop had been burglarized 2 weeks previously and he took great interest in the story and details then proceeded to "Personalize" the ball. But was very sympathetic and dismayed that a sports card shop could be violated

[CurtisFlood]

Back in the early '90's the Congressman who represents the Cooperstown area had a fundraiser every year during induction weekend and he would bring in several HOFers to meet and sign autographs. The best person to interact with was Harmon Killibrew but the oldest was Bob Feller. The man's grip even in his later years was freaking amazing and he was always cordial. Not a HOFer but a very cool person who would go was Buck O'Neil. The worst was Gaylord Perry.

I found Gaylord Perry to be most gracious. Same with Phil NIekro and Fergie Jenkins. Whitey Ford and Bob Feller as well. Mr. Feller did plug his museum non stop though!

[SMPEP]

When I read the title to this thread quickly, I thought it said "ugliest" and I was like ...

Wow! Two pages on who the ugliest HOFer is! Can't believe the thread got that many responses!

Guess I need to improve my reading comprehension skills,
Patrick