Thanks to Mark showing me the way, I have just stumbled upon this topic now. Great stuff, Mark.
I have a few HOF yearbooks, but I collected the HOF programs (the free ones that were given out at the Induction). My father and I attended HOF Induction Weekends from 1987-1999. We would collect HOF Induction Programs, and then go to the Post Office to have them "cancelled" with a special Cooperstown Post Office postmark. I have a number of these signed, yet I can only seem to find 2 in my photobucket:
After that, other things in my life started to pop up: College, girls, summer jobs, drinking with my buddies, etc. We started to go again in 2007 (Ripken and Gwynn), then the following year in 2008 for Gossage and Williams. I really cherished those HOF Induction Weekends; both when I was younger and when I was "all grown up" again in the 2000s.
My father became ill during the spring of 2009, and passed away. I started this project when he was sick, and still continue it today. It makes me feel like I am still collecting with him when I add a new signature. While I have more valuable pieces in my collection, this is probably my favorite. In 1989 there was a special weekend devoted to the 50th Anniversary of the Baseball Hall of Fame in June. The Post Office also released the Lou Gehrig stamp this same weekend, and there was an old timers game, featuring some HOFers. I had Bob Feller sign the program, and it sat in a closet for about 20 years. When my Dad became ill, I started the project up again, and this is what it looks like today. It's currently out to add Lou Brock via a private signing, which would bring the total to 16. I wanted to start a multi-signed HOF project that linked me up to time spent with my Dad, was small enough to mail for private signings, and was also small enough to fall under the "small flat" fees at signings.
Mike and Mike-can you provide me with any other info, including a picture, about that 1989 coffee table book? I would LOVE to get my hands on one. Thanks. And thanks to Mark for starting such a great and informative thread.