Mike Marshall signing

[travrosty]

Originally Posted by jgmp123

I guess I am unfamiliar with his story...why is he so hesitant to sign? Any specific reasons or just doesn't want to be bothered?

he wants to be different because it makes him feel special. its an ego stroke in a weird sort of a way. he enjoys being the martyr. if he signed a lot people would generally forget about him, so he refuses to sign. its his way of being remembered, even if it is for not signing. I think he secretly enjoys people asking him so he can say no. it's a display of power. Muhammad Ali is the opposite, he loved the fans and signed all day. My opinion.

[cubsfan-budman]

If someone doesn't sign because of principles but then WILL sign when a bunch of money is involved, I think that person is a hypocrite.

Either sign or don't. Or even only sign when a lot of money is involved. But don't say you're against signing because it feels like hero worship then only sign for people when they pay you $220.

Gross.

[dgo71]

Originally Posted by cubsfan-budman

If someone doesn't sign because of principles but then WILL sign when a bunch of money is involved, I think that person is a hypocrite.

Either sign or don't. Or even only sign when a lot of money is involved. But don't say you're against signing because it feels like hero worship then only sign for people when they pay you $220.

Gross.

+1. I don't have a problem with athletes refusing to sign (I don't necessarily GET it sometimes, but that's different) but don't say you don't sign because of some weird moral high ground and then waiver when a large sum of money is thrown in your face. I understand the check Bill stroked to Marshall for the first signing would have made a nice down payment on a new house.

[stewbacca]

I am an autographed set collector and need Marshall for 2 different sets(1969 and 1976 topps) and see these prices and getting down to $150 is starting to look like a bargain for me. Here is an old article from SI about him and I think it is a good read.


http://www.drmikemarshall.com/1974_A...lustrated.html

[dgo71]

I once heard that the reason Marshall's later issue cards are all action shots (the last 8-10 years or so, not sure exactly) is because Marshall had even gone so far as to start refusing to pose for the Topps photographers.

[Deertick]

Originally Posted by dgo71

+1. I don't have a problem with athletes refusing to sign (I don't necessarily GET it sometimes, but that's different) but don't say you don't sign because of some weird moral high ground and then waiver when a large sum of money is thrown in your face. I understand the check Bill stroked to Marshall for the first signing would have made a nice down payment on a new house.

My understanding that he used the money to expand his facility and use it for his center. Which he holds as paramount, his mission. I don't see a major moral ambiguity. I'm pretty sure he can give a whit about his autograph value.

Jim, any recollection what his fee was? How many items signed? In other words, if he took his time and signed 100 /hr, did you guys break even?

When I played against him (almost 20 years ago) in a men's league, he would only pitch, never bat. He would write down every pitch (or sequence) at the end of an inning in a notebook. No one ever talked to him during the game. If you got a hit, he was annoyed. He seemed to approach the game as a puzzle that needed to be solved. Most times he left as soon as he was finished pitching for the game. If he stayed, he would discuss the game, at bats you had, and general theory. But if anyone asked about or mentioned his MLB career he would brush it off (Yeah, those were the days") If someone didn't get it and pressed on....icy stare or blank silence.

Something I'll never forget: One of my younger teamates hit a homerun off of him. We convinced him to ask for Mike to autograph it. He just looked over at us, gave a disgusted look, and simply said. "Not today".We were laughing so hard it hurt. I must say he was never rude, just businesslike.

*Just read that SI article. WOW. 20 years before my story. 40 years of consistency in philosophy.

[dgo71]

I don't think Marshall cares about the value of his signature either, but what he used the money for doesn't change the fact that he did indeed sell out on his core values. His stance was always that signing autographs (or any fan interaction for that matter) perpetuated what he saw as social "shortcomings."

Marshall relented on his self-imposed policy for a price, and to imply that it's OK because the money went to a good cause negates the hypocrisy of his actions. At the end of the day, he had a price and that price was enough to get him to do something that he clearly looked at as trivial and wrong.

I'm not claiming to even begin to know what goes on in the mind of someone as cerebral as Marshall, but I see his actions as hypocritical and at the end of the day it's just my opinion of what he did. IMO, if he wanted money to pour into his facility, I'm sure there are other ways that a man of his obvious intelligence could have gone about getting it.

EDIT:
All that said, I LOL'd a few times reading this. You have to kinda smile at his blatant deflection of questions he had no interest in.

http://twinstrivia.com/interview-arc...mike-marshall/

[travrosty]

Originally Posted by dgo71

I don't think Marshall cares about the value of his signature either, but what he used the money for doesn't change the fact that he did indeed sell out on his core values. His stance was always that signing autographs (or any fan interaction for that matter) perpetuated what he saw as social "shortcomings."

Marshall relented on his self-imposed policy for a price, and to imply that it's OK because the money went to a good cause negates the hypocrisy of his actions. At the end of the day, he had a price and that price was enough to get him to do something that he clearly looked at as trivial and wrong.

I'm not claiming to even begin to know what goes on in the mind of someone as cerebral as Marshall, but I see his actions as hypocritical and at the end of the day it's just my opinion of what he did. IMO, if he wanted money to pour into his facility, I'm sure there are other ways that a man of his obvious intelligence could have gone about getting it.

of course its hypocritical, he lectured people on their misguidance in asking a ballplayer for his autograph, chided them. then he takes the money and signs.

but it is what it is. bill russel didnt sign until he saw his friends make a boatload of money. others wont sign for various reasons. try getting a alfredo evangelista boxing autograph. it takes years if you can pry one from him at all. but ali signed all day in the streets for free.

[Deertick]

Originally Posted by dgo71

I don't think Marshall cares about the value of his signature either, but what he used the money for doesn't change the fact that he did indeed sell out on his core values. His stance was always that signing autographs (or any fan interaction for that matter) perpetuated what he saw as social "shortcomings."

Marshall relented on his self-imposed policy for a price, and to imply that it's OK because the money went to a good cause negates the hypocrisy of his actions. At the end of the day, he had a price and that price was enough to get him to do something that he clearly looked at as trivial and wrong.

I'm not claiming to even begin to know what goes on in the mind of someone as cerebral as Marshall, but I see his actions as hypocritical and at the end of the day it's just my opinion of what he did. IMO, if he wanted money to pour into his facility, I'm sure there are other ways that a man of his obvious intelligence could have gone about getting it.

EDIT:
All that said, I LOL'd a few times reading this. You have to kinda smile at his blatant deflection of questions he had no interest in.

http://twinstrivia.com/interview-arc...mike-marshall/

Another fun read! I only met the man a few times, and only spoke to him briefly. I was facinated then watching a Cy Young pitcher playing in a local over-40 league (against my over-30 team) and am still facinated. His dispassion for the game is clear, as is his obsession with it.

[dgo71]

Yeah, I think the most fascinating thing about him is how much he HATES the idea of baseball in and of itself but cannot escape from baseball because it provides him the perfect opportunity to ply his trade. It must be the ultimate catch-22 for a guy like him!

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by dgo71

I don't think Marshall cares about the value of his signature either, but what he used the money for doesn't change the fact that he did indeed sell out on his core values. His stance was always that signing autographs (or any fan interaction for that matter) perpetuated what he saw as social "shortcomings."

Marshall relented on his self-imposed policy for a price, and to imply that it's OK because the money went to a good cause negates the hypocrisy of his actions. At the end of the day, he had a price and that price was enough to get him to do something that he clearly looked at as trivial and wrong.

I'm not claiming to even begin to know what goes on in the mind of someone as cerebral as Marshall, but I see his actions as hypocritical and at the end of the day it's just my opinion of what he did. IMO, if he wanted money to pour into his facility, I'm sure there are other ways that a man of his obvious intelligence could have gone about getting it.

EDIT:
All that said, I LOL'd a few times reading this. You have to kinda smile at his blatant deflection of questions he had no interest in.

http://twinstrivia.com/interview-arc...mike-marshall/

THAT is one awesome interview!! Dr. Mike is a trip...

[Mr. Zipper]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

THAT is one awesome interview!! Dr. Mike is a trip...

Could be the best baseball interview I've ever read.

You think I could get him to inscribe a ball, "I trust me the most." ?

[JimStinson]

Originally Posted by travrosty

he wants to be different because it makes him feel special. its an ego stroke in a weird sort of a way. he enjoys being the martyr. if he signed a lot people would generally forget about him, so he refuses to sign. its his way of being remembered, even if it is for not signing. I think he secretly enjoys people asking him so he can say no. it's a display of power. Muhammad Ali is the opposite, he loved the fans and signed all day. My opinion.

I love that ! To have the ability to READS PEOPLES MINDS It would come in especially handle with the girls at the CLUBS , I have a selfish motive but would like you to teach me how it works ......Have money will travel

[Deertick]

Originally Posted by travrosty

he wants to be different because it makes him feel special. its an ego stroke in a weird sort of a way. he enjoys being the martyr. if he signed a lot people would generally forget about him, so he refuses to sign. its his way of being remembered, even if it is for not signing. I think he secretly enjoys people asking him so he can say no. it's a display of power. Muhammad Ali is the opposite, he loved the fans and signed all day. My opinion.

That is idiotic.