Athletes who won’t signs specific card

[mrmopar]

Garvey was just added to past pros and the 82 Fleer is singled out. Being a long time Garvey collector, I am glad that this was the card he chose for this reason, because I am not a fan of it. I have a couple copies that I think could be legit and the one that sold on for big bucks and was certified was fake in my opinion. if the owner or person who got it signed knows differently, would love to hear that story.

I also heard about the Kittle 84 T directly from Ron through facebook. He does sign it for a $25 donation to Indiana Sports Charity. I needed one because it would have been a Topps ALL Rookie (Trophy) card, hard they done the trophies in 84.

I also was told by Dave Stewart that he wouldn't sign Rangers or Phillies cards. This was at a signing at a minor league ballpark before the game. He was actually very nice and apologetic about it. I figured it was because he didn't care for how he was treated by the team, but I didn't ask him exactly why he wouldn't. He willingly signed anything and everything else I had. However, I have seen signed cards from those teams for sale online, so maybe it was more recent thing?

Singing habits is a very interesting subject to me. Why some guys won't sign at all, why they exclude certain items, etc. The funniest part is, whether they intended for demand to grow or not, by refusing to sign something, they automatically create additional demand for it.

Last thought. I think I captured a photo of it, but can't find it now. Maybe I dreamt it up, but I doubt it. I am pretty sure that I saw an image of a card Gary Carter signed that would for sure be a 1/1, except that anyone could add an inscription later. When he must have known that the cancer would get him, he apparently signed a card for a friend that had his lifespan noted under the signature, showing the year of his death, like 1958-2001 (i don't know the actual years, but in this type of format)! How is that for dealing with what life dealt you in stride?

[SteveS]

Gary Pettis won't sign the '85 Topps that actually depicts his younger brother. But I guess the brother will sign it, and someone is offering it on eBay.

[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by mrmopar

Last thought. I think I captured a photo of it, but can't find it now. Maybe I dreamt it up, but I doubt it. I am pretty sure that I saw an image of a card Gary Carter signed that would for sure be a 1/1, except that anyone could add an inscription later. When he must have known that the cancer would get him, he apparently signed a card for a friend that had his lifespan noted under the signature, showing the year of his death, like 1958-2001 (i don't know the actual years, but in this type of format)! How is that for dealing with what life dealt you in stride?

That's VERY unusual. I can't believe he did that. I think if I saw it I would immediately think it was fake, because I would think "How could he put a date of death?"

[egri]

I guess it would depend on what kind of shape Carter was in at the end. He died in April of 2012, so if he was still lucid enough to sign, and realistic about his lifespan, then I could see it. It seems rather morbid for him though, based on what I've read about his personality.

[sbfinley]

Originally Posted by mrmopar

Garvey was just added to past pros and the 82 Fleer is singled out. Being a long time Garvey collector, I am glad that this was the card he chose for this reason, because I am not a fan of it. I have a couple copies that I think could be legit and the one that sold on for big bucks and was certified was fake in my opinion. if the owner or person who got it signed knows differently, would love to hear that story.

If my memory is correct, it was sold raw on eBay for ~$50 and ended up in a PSA/DNA holder a month later.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by mrmopar

Singing habits is a very interesting subject to me. Why some guys won't sign at all, why they exclude certain items, etc. The funniest part is, whether they intended for demand to grow or not, by refusing to sign something, they automatically create additional demand for it.

Yes, signing habits are interesting. A little off topic, but at a Tuff-Stuff show back in the 90's, Yogi Berra would not sign single signed bats. The collector had one of those huge 5-6 foot long display bats and Yogi would not sign it. So, the collector had Stan Musial sign it first and then Yogi signed it. Kind of odd.

I observed Orel Hershiser not signing a specific ticket. I believe it was the scoreless inning streak ticket. The collector begged and begged him to sign it, but Orel's handler/agent was adamant about Orel not signing the item. Eventually, I think Orel relented and signed the ticket. In Orel's case, I believe he is not signing that specific item and stockpiling the item for his heirs.

Purportedly, David Wells refuses to sign his Sports Illustrated cover, although I have seen signed copies.

And then there is the charmer Barry Bonds, again a Tuff-Stuff show and in the advertisement for the show, NO SWEET SPOT. Bonds would not sign on the sweet spot of the ball, only the side panel. Barry has to be different. I took a pass.