Which players made you work for the autograph?

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by Bpm0014

Theschleps. You mention Freddie Lewis. Which Feddie Lewis?? The ex pro basketball player??

He mentioned spring training. It is probably the Fred Lewis who played for the Giants, Blue Jays, Mets and Reds 2006-2012.

There were two players named Freddie Lewis who played in the BAA/NBA/ABA. The first one was very nice. He played 1948-50 and for several years showed up at the Hall of Fame on induction weekend. Was always happy to sign autographs and be remembered. The second one, who played mainly in the ABA was also a good signer TTM if I recall. I am pretty sure he answered when I was getting basketball players that way.

[Bpm0014]

The reason I asked is bc the Freddie Lewis who played in the ABA, I have become very good friends with. I play poker (semi-professionally haha) and Freddie plays every day. There's not a more gracious or friendly person than Freddie. Genuine all around nice guy. Could never see him smearing an autograph.

[theshleps]

Was the baseball Freddie Lewis. My son got to batboy for team usa when they were at spring training maybe 10 years ago and Frank Robinson was manager. I had maybe 4 Topps leaders cards just missing Frank to get them completed. Frank and Noah would have many long converstations. Noah taught Frank the things they'd yell at the batter while Noah was on his HS team. Frank starting using them. Every day Noah would ask Frank to sign and he'd look at the cards and say "maybe someday". . He eventually signed a team picture but not the cards. Noah got his picture with Frank and we were going to get it signed but the camera place lost it when we brought it in to get developed (before we had a digital camera). A few years later I ran into Frank at the mlb winter meeting in LV. We talked about Noah but he still wouldn't sign.
Only time I got him was 1967. Went to hotel in NYC. 6 or us walked with him about a mile to another hotel and he went in for an hour. When he came out he signed.

[frankbmd]

As a 9 year old I collected autographs at the 1957 Phillies spring training games. The visiting teams were accessible between the clubhouse and the bus after the games. Most were willing signers. The Phillies were always around as well. Then the Dodgers came to town.

After the game I approached every Dodger on the way to the bus after the game. All of them refused to sign my book. There I was standing beside the bus looking like the dejected kid in the original Mean Joe Greene commercial for Coke.

Then the window of the bus opened and the guy at the window said, "Kid, give me your book to sign." I passed it up to the window and waited. The team had already been on the bus for awhile and my greatest fear was that the bus would leave with my autograph book. It seemed like forever and my anxiety grew, when finally the window opened and my book was returned. Soon after the bus departed.

I opened the book to see Duke Snider, Carl Furillo, Roger Craig, Clem Labine, Joe Pignatano, Don Newcombe, Sal Maglie, Walter Alston, Ralph Branca and Roy Campanella (one year before his tragic accident).

I don't know who opened the window, probably Pignatano, but after complete rejection the Dodgers came through for me on the bus. And i still have the book.