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#2
05-13-2009, 02:09 AM
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A reluctant signor, I believe there is still ongoing resentment that he was not properly recognized as the great player he was and felt overshadowed by players he considered to have lessor ability. But 1,700 for a signature, I will gladly pass.
Best Gary 
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#3
05-13-2009, 04:46 AM
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part of the ruination of the in-person autograph business is all the crap about different prices for different items.
Balls & Flats up to 8x10 $50 Flats up to 16X20 $120 Bats $195 Original Artwork $250 Photo with player $50 Inscriptions $25 Player will not inscribe 500 HRS Player will not sign Non-licensed bats Blah Blah Blah It's a freaking autograph!!!! I've seen some of them with 10-15 things for a single player like Reggie Jackson or Mays or whomever. Some signers are gracious wonderful people when signing just as they are in life. Mays is a SCHMUCK. I had a Perez Steele with Him, Mickey & Duke Snider. Mantle already signed it (another 'FUN' experience as well....but RIP) and mays was next. Instead of signing directly under his face on his chest, he signed to the right a little which just happened to go right through Duke Snider's face. I just looked at him. Danc has it right up there.....Mays just never got it. Sooner or later, you have to move on in life......he'll obviously die a bitter curmudgeon of a man.......fortunately, I don't have that card anymore.....but I do have the wonderful memories!
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#5
05-13-2009, 08:18 AM
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I never got a sig from him when I did the East Coast show circuit: But I sure heard a lot of people complaining he wouldn't look up and had a very dismissive attitude.
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#6
05-13-2009, 10:41 AM
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Gary
You may be on to something. For the 20 years he was playing ball, everyone said he was the same calibre as Ruth and Cobb. Now, contemporaries like Aaron, Mantle, Clemente, and Williams get all the attention. Now, he gets to sign drawings of himself standing next to Mickey Mantle and Duke Snider. Maybe he'd smile if you asked him to sign of drawing of him with Ruth, Cobb, and Wagner. Mark
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#7
05-13-2009, 01:46 PM
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Mark, he'd probably charge more to sign a drawing with Ruth and Cobb, after all, it's Ruth and Cobb, not Mickey and the Duke.
Willie's a strange cat. I've met him a handful of times in Cooperstown. Cash only, one person at a time, no guarantees. Most likely he'll sign over someone else or sign upside down. No rhyme or reason, he just likes to have the upper hand. He can be gracious though. I was behind someone a few years ago, guy with two kids. He's getting a ball signed for one of his sons. Willie asks, "what about your other son, shouldn't he get one too"? Dad replies, "sorry, it's too expensive for one, I can't afford two". Willie, "well that's not right, you must have some more money, how much you got"? Dad, "no really, I can't." Willie, "how about $60"? Dad, "I don't have $60 on me." Willie, "well, how much you got?" Dad opens his wallet, "$20 is all I have". Willie, "for $20 your other son can be happy too". Dad, relunctantly, "ok". See, Willie can be human. His regular price was $120, yet he was willing to meet the dad half way at $60 for a ball. Then, in the spirit of baseball, practically gives his signature away at 16 cents on the dollar. After the kids walk away smiling, and the dad wonders what he's going to say to his wife, I put my book down in front of Willie. He then proceeds to sign my book on top of Stan Musial. Willie Mays, one of the greatest.
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#9
05-13-2009, 06:31 PM
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With Willie, every encounter makes for a fantastically sad story.
My first was equally as memorable. In '99 my friend and I attended the induction ceremony and decided to pony up the cash to meet THE Willie Mays. We had our tickets in hand since that morning. Couldn't believe we were actually going to meet him, it was awesome. Signing time rolls around, we get our baseballs signed, I stick my hand out to shake hands with the legend himself. He stares me down, sizes me up, leaves me standing there for about four beats before he finally throws that paw out over the table. I'll never forget this. His finger nails were manicured and polished, and, this actually shocked me, he had the softest hands I've ever felt. Big as a bear and soft as a peach. Reminded me of the scene from Jaws when Quint comments to Hooper that he's got "city hands, been counting money all your life". Should have asked him to tie a sheepshank.
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