The Yogi Berra Experience

[Laxcat]

Originally Posted by SmokyBurgess

Meanwhile, in another part of the collecting world....Warren Spahn was great. Was a small show in N.C., but talked with everyone and even took off his championship ring for a fan to look at. Nice memory for me of a great HOF'er and a great guy too.

Two more guys you can put on the great person list: Brooks and Duke. Out of all the players we had sign at shows, hear guys were the best. Brooks is awesome with kids and Duke took us out to dinner!! Talk about class act.

[Klrdds]

A good motto for Mays was " if there is a camera on him he is gregarious and friendly , but turn the camera off and the true bitter and mean spirited man comes out ".
Mays has always put on a good front for the media.
I guess that is where his godson Barry Bonds learned it from ....watching his godfather Willie Mays!!!

[MacDice]

Never met Willie but the most accommodating HOFer I ever met was Stan Musial. I remember dragging my wife to a signing and she stood in line for over an hour as I waited to get my item sign and Stan made sure to thank everyone in line and shake their hands, including my wife, even though she didn't get a signature.

[Laxcat]

Originally Posted by MacDice

Never met Willie but the most accommodating HOFer I ever met was Stan Musial. I remember dragging my wife to a signing and she stood in line for over an hour as I waited to get my item sign and Stan made sure to thank everyone in line and shake their hands, including my wife, even though she didn't get a signature.

+1 for Stan the Man

[jgmp123]

Stan was not only great in person, but also TTM. I received a package from him with a note that stated the ball I sent him had been stolen out of the envelope and he included one of his own as a replacement. He also sent a personalized 8x10 to boot. An all around class act.

[packs]

Tom Seaver was very nice to me when he was at a White Plains show. Shook my hand, asked me my name, and let me step behind the table to take a picture with him. I'll never forget that.

[milkit1]

Ahhhh good old Ted Williams. If you were a hot girl (under the age of 25) he loved ya. If you were anything else he was Prickusis Maximus. I watched him asking all kinds of questions and gushing over some (roughly) 18 year old girl about five people ahead of me. When 13 year old me got up there with my bat he did the old Willie Mays routine of not aknowledging me. That would have been fine except he took my bat (already signed by 20+)by the handle and banged it against the table like he was (over) killing a spider. Then after he signed it, he ROLLED it to me. By some miracle it didn't get smeared.
flash forward to last month - I go to see a chiropractor who has no personality and wouldn't engage in any sort of conversation about my back issues. However if there was a pretty girl in the room, he was a whole different person. I called to tell them I wasn't coming back and when they asked why I said " I've had enough Ted Williams in my life " and hung up. I know they didn't understand but it felt great to say that

[RichardSimon]

Brooks Robinson is a great guy.
Years ago when I used to set up at shows he was doing a show in Staten Island.
My son used to work at my table with me and in those days we would get FREE (yes, free) autographs for being a table holder. My son would get on line for the autographs. I would take his picture, with the player, when he would get to the head of the line. Brooks saw me taking a picture, he stepped away from his chair, came around to the front of the table, and said to me "take another shot to make sure you have a good one." That was such a classy thing to do and a great memory that I and my son will always have.

[byrone]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

Brooks Robinson is a great guy.
Years ago when I used to set up at shows he was doing a show in Staten Island.
My son used to work at my table with me and in those days we would get FREE (yes, free) autographs for being a table holder. My son would get on line for the autographs. I would take his picture, with the player, when he would get to the head of the line. Brooks saw me taking a picture, he stepped away from his chair, came around to the front of the table, and said to me "take another shot to make sure you have a good one." That was such a classy thing to do and a great memory that I and my son will always have.

Remember reading many years ago, I believe it was in SCD, of an instance where a father and son were at a show getting Brooks Robinson's autograph, when the son became ill. Father and son went immediately to the parking lot to get some air, followed by Brooks, who was concerned for the young guy and wanted to be sure he was okay.

Amazing and wonderful care for others by Brooks Robinson

[RichardSimon]

Tom Seaver was extremely nice to me in a non hobby situation.
My daughter was valedictorian of her high school class. A ceremony was held in the city for all the valedictorians from NYC high schools. Tom Seaver was the guest speaker.
He gave a great speech and was very cordial when I asked him to sign the program.
I also had a great non hobby contact with Ted Williams, spending an hour with him in Florida. He was wonderful. Regaling me with stories and looking at memorabilia with me and commenting about the memorabilia and the player associated with it. When he found out I was a Mets fan he commented about how he loved the batting strokes of Darryl Strawberry and Greg Jeffries.
While in Florida I spent an entire day with Monte Irvin, he is the definition of a great guy. He signed a bunch of wire photos for me and told me some wonderful stories. About a year later my son had an assignment for his journalism class, interview a famous person. I contacted Monte Irvin for my son. He graciously agreed and spent 30 minutes with my son on the phone.

[btcarfagno]

I like hearing these positive stories much more than the negative ones. While the bad ones are informative, they are also like a train wreck that you want to look away from but can't.

Tom C

[packs]

Since we're talking about the good guys now, I cannot say enough good things about Don Mattingly. At spring training he signed for everyone, took photos with people, spoke to people and just in general was in a great mood and happy to see fans. It made me happy to see that since he had always been my favorite player.

[Exhibitman]

Hank Aaron was a gracious gentleman when I went to get his autograph. Engaging and friendly. His plane was late from ATL and he stayed as long as needed to get everyone who'd waited taken care of.

I can't believe that was 20 years ago...

[earlywynnfan]

On the positive side, I cannot imagine anyone who has met Buck O'Neil who didn't love him. What a great, great human being. Easily my favorite IP auto.

Bert Blyleven was cool to me, too.

[khkco4bls]

Tony gwynnGreat guy.