Favorite Rickey H. autograph story

[theshleps]

My son and I did alot of IP graphing from 2002-12 i spring training and instructional league. Rickey was a roving coach for the A's who would appear at times. When he did many graphers would come. He would sign on occasion but was known never to sign jerseys unless at a show. Rickey was at a minor league game. I had bought one of his GU minor league roving jerseys from milb.com. When we saw him there I called my wife and told her to bring it down asap. She came and we told her to put it on and go up to Rickey (she had no idea who he was) and ask him to sign. All the graphers got out of the way as they just wanted to watch. She asked him to sign and he started shouting at her "Where did you get my jersey, did you steal it" She was quite intimidated. Then he smiled and grabbed her sharpie and signed. Everyone was amazed and she was not happy with me
May he R.I.P.- a good guy

[dgo71]

When Rickey was with the Mets, I was at a Spring Training game that he wasn't playing in. Around the 3rd inning he came out of the dugout and through the gate out into the stands where the fans were standing. He announced that he wouldn't sign anything, but would be happy to take pictures, shake hands, anything like that. And that's what he did for about the next 3 innings. He couldn't have been more engaging and to this day I say it's the most fun I've ever had NOT getting an autograph. He talked to everyone who approached him and genuinely gave every fan his attention while doing so. An older gentleman showed him a magic trick and Rickey was beside himself trying to figure out how the guy did it. He took pictures with what had to have been 100 people. It was amazing. The best part to me, and something I'll never forget, someone up in the bleachers shouted down to Rickey, and the conversation went like this:

Fan - Hey Rickey!
Rickey - Yeah!
Fan - You're going to be in the Hall of Fame!
Rickey - (without missing a beat) I KNOW!
It was the most Rickey thing ever.

By all accounts a good person who loved baseball intensely and a true generational talent. Maybe the most complete player I've ever had the pleasure of watching play. RIP to the Man of Steal.

[rajah424]

Can’t remember the exact year, 15 or 16 years ago, I flew into the Albany airport to go to the HOF ceremony. There were a handful of HOF’ers waiting for their luggage and were talking and signing autographs for fans. I grabbed my bag and walked out to get a rental car. It’s a pretty small airport and as I walked out I looked to my left and there was Rickey standing alone by the curb, looking lost, wearing all white, shoes, pants, shirt and Kangol hat. Here was our conversation.

Me: “Hey Rickey, how’s it going?”

Rickey: “Rickey don’t know where the fuck he’s supposed to be.”