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Posted By: Joe Drouillard

Neat question. I didn't start collecting memorbillia until after the kids graduated from college, couldn't afford it until then. I started out collecting autographed balls. Mostly, I get the autographs in person going to signings in the area where I live, but also at induction week at Cooperstown. There something about shaking the hand of the old timers and watching them smile as my wife tries to take our picture. I don't mind paying them for the autograph either. I figure they wouldn't do it if they didn't need the money. When you get an autograph in person there is always a story connected with it. I remember Whitey Ford helping me climb up on stage in Cleveland because my back was out and having Johnny Bench want to buy the Cooperstown sweater I was wearing because his wife hadn't bought him that particular one yet. Even the bad experiences like having Willie Mays snarl at me for saying something stupid like "Willie, your the greatest." I could tell a story about every autographed baseball in my collection, and I can't wait to get to Cooperstown this weekend make some more memories.

Best of all collecting autographs has led me back into collecting old cards.