DiMaggio vs Mantle at card shows

[ocjack]

I also set up at shows during the 80's where the two were appearing, alone and together. When they would announce time for a DiMaggio signing, they would announce all the items that Joe would not sign and warned that he would immediately end the signing if someone approached him with one of the "forbidden" items. Once you got to him though, he was, let's call it "all business - light". He did get "grumpier" as the years progressed and he realized people were making money by reselling his autographs. That's when he started limiting signed baseballs (tickets for which that some promoters handed out to their "friends" via a dubious lottery).

I think DiMaggio's attitude was best epitomized by the story of him being upset with the Simon and Garfunkle song that included the line "where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?" As told by Paul Simon, "“I happened to be in a restaurant and there he was,” recalls Simon. “I gathered up my nerve to go over and introduce myself and say, ‘Hi, I’m the guy that wrote “Mrs. Robinson,” ’ and he said ‘Yeah, sit down . . . why’d you say that? I’m here, everyone knows I’m here.’ I said, ‘I don’t mean it that way — I mean, where are these great heroes now?’ He was flattered once he understood that it was meant to be flattering.”

Mantle was always gracious. But sadly, the question going around the room when he initially took his seat was, "had he had a drink yet?" He was actually in a better mood if he had. But as said above, his signature was always impeccable and he would shake your hand and be gracious. (see photo attached.)

Confession, my hand shook like a little boy's when I handed either of them something to sign. A grown man, nervous about meeting an icon. But that's what they were to so many of us.

[Polarboy]

Wish I could've been around in this era. Mantle was my favorite growing up. Only HOF I've met is Roy Halladay when I was a kid.

[packs]

I was at a White Plains show in the early 90s when Ted, Joe D and Mickey were all there. I couldn't afford a ticket then. I think they were signing for $100 each. But one of the attendants was nice enough to let me and my dad into the room where they were signing so we could have a look. I remember the room being absolutely silent.

[egri]

The mother of one of my high school track teammates was a professional photographer. In the 1980s, she was hired to cover a show with Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio. She spent the whole day at arm’s length from the two of them, chatting them up, and at the end, they each offered to sign as much stuff for her as she wanted, for free. She said no, as she didn’t collect autographs.

[Duluth Eskimo]

DiMaggio was quiet and went about it like a job. Wore a suit, No eye contact unless you were a woman, and wouldn’t converse with you. As others have mentioned, Mantle was grumpy until he started drinking. After he had a couple drinks he was gracious and cordial. Mantle smiled and joked around with people. Both were flawed in their own ways.

Other than guys like Brooks Robinson, many of the early guys were like this. LOTS of drinking. Pretty sad lives. I met and did signings with many of them when I was working with a guy who regularly promoted shows. We also travelled to many shows to get autographs for resale like Mark mentioned. I vividly remember a show where we were at with Mantle and the promoter went around to the autograph guys begging them to buy more autos so he could cover the signing fee. This was when Mantle was $20.

[jingram058]

I found Joe DiMaggio to be a true gentleman. Very nicely dressed, not drunk, and was able to talk to him for a few minutes. This was at the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Florida at a fundraiser dinner. There was no money charged for his autograph. The ball he signed is an official American League ball, and he signed "Joe DiMaggio" and underneath "Yankee Clipper". You don't see many signed that way, and I am told he only did this at his hospital events. I think, and have been told, that if he thought you were someone only interested in flipping, he could be very cold. I believe I would be the same way. I found all the old baseball stars I had the pleasure to meet to be true gentleman like the stars they were...Joe DiMaggio, Bob Feller, Johnny Vander Meer, Whitey Ford. All very nice. I never had a bad experience. Incidentally, my father thought Joe DiMaggio to be the best all around ballplayer he ever saw. He could do it all...was a one man outfield, could hit in the clutch, everything. It was an honor for me to meet him. I have a Babe Ruth signed ball, and others, but the one I personally treasure the most is the Joe DiMaggio.

[perezfan]

Seems like the case with both of them depended largely upon when you caught them, and their mood that particular day.

Off topic, but I will say that the nicest in-person signer I've ever met was Tony Gwynn, bar none. So respectful, and such a pleasure to chat with. We walked away calling him "Chatty Cathy" (but in a very good way ).

[Shoelessseb]

Originally Posted by Polarboy

Wish I could've been around in this era. Mantle was my favorite growing up. Only HOF I've met is Roy Halladay when I was a kid.

I feel the same way ! It’s something money can’t buy. I love hearing the stories of people who were lucky enough to live it

[dgo71]

+1 packs, Donnie Baseball is and always was my favorite player and he has been a class act each and every time I've seen him. I feel very grateful that my childhood hero was someone who lived up to the image I had in my mind. I have a buddy whose fav was Fred McGriff and he isn't as fortunate as I am.