Your experiences with HOF'ers

[GrayGhost]

Seeing someone comment on Ernie Banks reminds me of another card show experience many years ago at a show in Waterbury CT. A major snowstorm hit and many dealers/customers couldn't make the show, but Ernie did. Before the signing, he told everyone to all join together in a big rousing Take Me out to the Ballgame. Was awesome and he was SO COOL to those he signed for.

Another one was a late buddy of mine, who used to travel all over to get autographs in a HOF hardcover book he had. He went to Sturbridge mass once where Enos Slaughter was signing. there was no line and Slaughter was reading, when J came up w the book, and said, could you please sign my book. Slaughters reply? "Your face is uglier than the cabbage in my garden. Now, I got this info second hand, but the source was reliable. ha

[tjlives]

I've told this story before here, but here's a Brooks Robinson experience:

About seven or eight years ago, I went to a free signing out in Pennsylvania with Brooks that I think was to promote an indy league team and their sponsors. It was one of those deals where the players were supposed to be signing promotional items and nothing else, which the other players, not nearly as big of stars as Brooks Robinson, were sticking to. Can't blame them, that's what they were being paid for. I got on the Brooks line perhaps 100 people back, and noticed immediately that the line was moving pretty slow. I didn't really have a great idea of Brooks's rep at that time, so I was expecting the Willie Mays experience - slow, grumpy, maybe hung over.

Got up to the front of the line, and the reason the line was moving a bit slow was because Brooks was getting up and taking pictures with anyone who had a camera, having a personal chat for a minute or two with every single person in line, handing out his own signed 8x10s that he brought, and actually asking if people brought anything extra with them for him to sign - even though he wasn't supposed to be doing anything other than signing the team pre-print. The handlers were getting annoyed, but Brooks didn't care at all, and he ended up staying well past his allotted time because he wouldn't let the line get cut off. I took home two beautiful signed ROMLBs with HOF inscription that are proudly in my showcase, the Brooks-provided 8x10 which is also still in my collection, and a permanent fandom of Brooks Robinson.

I simply can't say enough positive things about Brooks Robinson.

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by tjlives

I've told this story before here, but here's a Brooks Robinson experience:

About seven or eight years ago, I went to a free signing out in Pennsylvania with Brooks that I think was to promote an indy league team and their sponsors. It was one of those deals where the players were supposed to be signing promotional items and nothing else, which the other players, not nearly as big of stars as Brooks Robinson, were sticking to. Can't blame them, that's what they were being paid for. I got on the Brooks line perhaps 100 people back, and noticed immediately that the line was moving pretty slow. I didn't really have a great idea of Brooks's rep at that time, so I was expecting the Willie Mays experience - slow, grumpy, maybe hung over.

Got up to the front of the line, and the reason the line was moving a bit slow was because Brooks was getting up and taking pictures with anyone who had a camera, having a personal chat for a minute or two with every single person in line, handing out his own signed 8x10s that he brought, and actually asking if people brought anything extra with them for him to sign - even though he wasn't supposed to be doing anything other than signing the team pre-print. The handlers were getting annoyed, but Brooks didn't care at all, and he ended up staying well past his allotted time because he wouldn't let the line get cut off. I took home two beautiful signed ROMLBs with HOF inscription that are proudly in my showcase, the Brooks-provided 8x10 which is also still in my collection, and a permanent fandom of Brooks Robinson.

I simply can't say enough positive things about Brooks Robinson.

In the days when I did card shows Brooks Robinson was a guest at one of them on Staten Island. My son used to help me at these shows. He got on line for Brooks Robinson. I used to take Polaroid photos of my son with the players. Brooks saw me with my camera, came out from behind the table and put his arm around my son for the photo. After I shot one, he insisted I shoot another to make sure I got a good one.
A total class act and a man with a huge heart.
I just realized that I had a new camera when we met Brooks and these are not Polariods.

[Mr. Zipper]

Originally Posted by GrayGhost

Slaughters reply? "Your face is uglier than the cabbage in my garden. Now, I got this info second hand, but the source was reliable. ha

LOL

This reminds me of another story I forgot about.

I saw Goose Gossage at a show back in the late 90s. At the time he was probably in his late 40s and I think he was coaching some semi-pro team. Despite his gray hair and a bit of a gut, he looked like he was in great shape and his arms were ripped.

I said something to the effect of how he looked like he was in game shape and could still bring it.

I was around 30 at the time. He looked me up and down through squinted eyes and replied, "I could still f%$^ing strike out your ass."

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Mr. Zipper

LOL

This reminds me of another story I forgot about.

I saw Goose Gossage at a show back in the late 90s. At the time he was probably in his late 40s and I think he was coaching some semi-pro team. Despite his gray hair and a bit of a gut, he looked like he was in great shape and his arms were ripped.

I said something to the effect of how he looked like he was in game shape and could still bring it.

I was around 30 at the time. He looked me up and down through squinted eyes and replied, "I could still f%$^ing strike out your ass."

Awesome story, Steve!!!

[matty6]

1. When I was ten years old (1982) Bob Feller was making an appearance at our local mall. I couldn't wait to meet. I was a baseball freak and knew baseball stats as well as anyone. I was the first one there with my dad and was there before he was. He finally walked in with another guy and patiently waited for him to set up. I heard him say, "We should put a sign up so the kids know who I am."

He finally got all set up. I walked up to him and said, "I know who you are Mr. Feller. You won 266 games and struck out over 300 one year." He got the biggest grin on his face and signed my ball, "To Andrew, Best of luck. Bob Feller" I still have it.

2. In the late 70s and early 80s we would go see the Orioles and wait after the game for the players to come out. My sister and mom went to the Red sox side once in 1979. Yaz came out during his chase for 3000 hits and had a huge case of beer. My ten year old sister went up to him to get his autograph and ran right over her, knocking her to the ground. He didnt say a word, got in his sports car and sped off.

[Kalineman]

Another Hall of Famer who was great was the late Harmon Killebrew. He was making an appearance at a celebrity golf tournament at our Jack Nicklaus course here in Traverse City. After I got done with our interview, we were just chatting about some of the old, great stadiums he played in. Out of the blue, he said, "You know, the hardest ball I ever hit was in the old White Sox park." I asked him if he meant the longest ball he had ever hit. "No," he replied. "I mean the hardest I've ever hit a baseball. I can't remember who was pitching - it might have been Gary Peters - and I hit a ball on a rope that just cleared the fence in left field, hit one of those old steel girders, and bounced almost all the way back to shortstop. It landed in shallow leftfield. Aparicio went out and retrieved it as I was rounding the bases. He laughed and told me I could have killed someone... and he was right."

[MacDice]

For me the nicest is Pat Gillick. Over the last few years I have become acquainted with him through work. I have never asked him to sign things for me as I did not want to come across as a sports memorabilia collector at the same time that I am trying to have him provide me career advice. He always is prompt at returning emails with suggestions / feedback. He has the most unbelievable memory that I have ever met.

[mcgwirecom]

I liked reading all the stories, I think most people have good and bad days. Also some people change.

I got to meet Joe D. back in 1996 I think at the AC show. I was nearer to the end of the line and stood there talking to everyone about Joe. I started hearing every horror story about him. He won't sign this, he won't sign that, he won't talk to you, don't speak to him, etc. But I really wanted to get a good photo with both me and Joe in the pic. I watched the whole show as people would just stand there and say nothing but "thank you" and snap a pic and run. So whe I got up there I had the guy behind me take the picture. I told him I was gonna lean across the table and turn to face him so we would both be in the photo. But since Joe was a signing machine he always had his head down. As he was signing my ball I said, "hey Joe, you mind if I get a picture with you?" He stopped dead and looked me up and down, then said "sure, come around". I ran around the table which was like 50 feet long! I'm pretty sure I was the only person who got to pose with Joe. You can see the picture as it is my ID photo on here.

As for Pete Rose, I first met him in 1996 (same show as Joe) and he was as I expected. He was signing faster than anyone in the room. I figured he was like that and had to beat everyone. How else do you get 4256 hits! He would not pose for a photo. But after about 10 years I saw him again. This time I watched him sign my scorecard and picked it up quickly to get out of his way. To my surprise he asked me how he did in the particular game. I said "one for four". Pete said "bad day" LOL He was genuinely nicer the second time. I think age is softening him. Or maybe he's trying to win support for the HOF, either way.

Last year I got to meet Bob Feller. I wanted to meet him in person because I really respect a guy who volunteers to go into the service when his country called. Bob went before he was called, not many players did that. Bob had done a lot of shows so I always thought I would meet him. But I thought that about Mickey Mantle also and he died before I got around to it. So I was so happy to meet Bob a year before he passed.