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.



He was pretty old then, 67.

I'm pretty old now, 67.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

An in person autograph obtained in 1957.



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?

[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

[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.

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

Originally Posted by 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

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.

[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.

[Kawika]

Originally Posted by 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.

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...

[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

[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.

[gregr2]

Now that is a great story Tom. WOW!

[BuzzD]

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

[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.

[Santo10Fan]

Does John Goodman in character as Babe Ruth count?

[BuzzD]

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