What baseball autographs could be considered uncommon

[Mr. Zipper]

Originally Posted by collectbaseball

I honestly don't think anybody owes anybody anything... if a guy doesn't want to sign, he doesn't want to sign.

But, just for the record, it's not like Armstrong's salary wasn't financed by you or people like you (not to mention cost of developing the technologies that enabled him to do what he did).

His salary was a pittance and for that he risked his life, didn't see his family grow up and went on countless PR tours for NASA. When does his obligation end?

I've seen the "we paid his salary" argument before and respond, we paid schoolteachers salaries too... 40 years after they retire, can I ask them to come over and rake my lawn because "I paid their salary."

[packs]

It has nothing to do with owing people anything. That's a bad argument. The argument is if you have time, why can't you sign an autograph? No one's saying anyone has to go out of their way out of obligation. But it seems rude, obnoxious, and even insulting that a guy who has time for an autograph would say no just because "that's what he does." Or, "he's signed enough." Give me a break. That is some self-righteous garbage.

[mark evans]

I don't believe anyone has a duty to sign autographs.

[mark evans]

Originally Posted by mark evans

I don't believe anyone has a duty to sign autographs.

It follows, by my way of thinking, that one who declines to sign does not owe anyone an explanation. Of course, no one has a right to be rude, either.

[MooseDog]

I spent a lot of years chasing autographs in person, I was respectful and polite at all times, if someone said no, I left it at that.

Into the mid-1980s and beyond more people started going to spring training, more people stalked the hotels and airports and a small number became VERY aggressive (often kids who "worked" for adult "dealers"). I saw some really bad form, such as knocking on hotel room doors, interrupting meals, and even yelling at players for not signing. It's that minority that killed it for everyone else.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by moosedog

i spent a lot of years chasing autographs in person, i was respectful and polite at all times, if someone said no, i left it at that.

Into the mid-1980s and beyond more people started going to spring training, more people stalked the hotels and airports and a small number became very aggressive (often kids who "worked" for adult "dealers"). I saw some really bad form, such as knocking on hotel room doors, interrupting meals, and even yelling at players for not signing. It's that minority that killed it for everyone else.

+100

[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by packs

It has nothing to do with owing people anything. That's a bad argument. The argument is if you have time, why can't you sign an autograph? No one's saying anyone has to go out of their way out of obligation. But it seems rude, obnoxious, and even insulting that a guy who has time for an autograph would say no just because "that's what he does." Or, "he's signed enough." Give me a break. That is some self-righteous garbage.

I think you are seriously trivializing what a chore autograph signing can be for high-profile figures and celebrities, especially world-renowned individuals like Armstrong whose popularity extends across several areas of collecting and fandom. We're not talking about someone who played a couple of games in the majors and is just glad that someone remembers him. Armstrong is literally in the history books that every gradeschool kid grows up studying from.

It would never be "an" autograph request.

[collectbaseball]

Originally Posted by Mr. Zipper

His salary was a pittance and for that he risked his life, didn't see his family grow up and went on countless PR tours for NASA. When does his obligation end?

I've seen the "we paid his salary" argument before and respond, we paid schoolteachers salaries too... 40 years after they retire, can I ask them to come over and rake my lawn because "I paid their salary."

I totally agree—just thought that it was silly to use the 'we pay his salary, thus he owes us something' argument to apply to athletes/entertainers but not to astronauts. Mike Marshall's salary was 'paid for' pretty darn near 40 years ago, but that doesn't stop people today from saying he's a dick for not signing for his fans.

It's cool with me if someone doesn't want to sign autographs, for whatever reason—but they probably should be polite about declining. I don't think it's exactly healthy to feel entitled to someone's autograph. Heck, if I were famous I'd probably just go Pynchon on everybody.

[JimStinson]

Mike G. Marshall was probably the most polite autograph "decliner" in history ! compared to HEROS like Munson who actually pushed kids to the ground or shoved them out of his way, Leon Wagner actually told me to go "F" off when I was 10 years old. Come on man ! Nobody is obligated to sign anything ....its a favor

[Mr. Zipper]

Originally Posted by JimStinson

Mike G. Marshall was probably the most polite autograph "decliner" in history ! compared to HEROS like Munson who actually pushed kids to the ground or shoved them out of his way, Leon Wagner actually told me to go "F" off when I was 10 years old. Come on man ! Nobody is obligated to sign anything ....its a favor

As a Yankee fan, the Munson worship even makes me scratch my head a bit. Everything I've ever read indicated he was a real SOB to everyone except the teammates he liked.

Maybe when someone dies young we tend to romanticize and turn a blind eye to negatives.

[packs]

It's all about the fans. Fans pay to see the games. Fans live and die with the team. Fans make everything these guys seem to take for granted possible. That favor needs to be returned. Everyone has time to sign their name. Even if it's just one.

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by JimStinson

Mike G. Marshall was probably the most polite autograph "decliner" in history ! compared to HEROS like Munson who actually pushed kids to the ground or shoved them out of his way

Am I correct in my understanding that Marshall's reason for not signing autographs was because he didn't believe in hero worship, or that professional athletes weren't "heroes," and he felt autographs fed into that?

[JimStinson]

Yes Gary thats what he said , Also looks at autograph collecting as sort of silly, which is maybe what some people would say about his pitching techniques
He has said that if kids want to have heros they should be their mother or father or school teacher. Not some guy that can throw or hit a baseball better than anyone else.
And actually he's a nice guy and enjoys talking about baseball and unlike many contemporary ball players knows alot about the history of the game. I first met him back in 1990 in the Florida Senior league. He eventually did a private signing with Bill Corcoran and I but it took me 10 years to talk him into it. And even then said that he did it in the hopes that collectors would stop asking him for autographs.
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