Your experiences with HOF'ers

[scooter729]

I once saw Frank Robinson when he was managing the Orioles around 1990, on a trip to Boston. It was a Sunday, their last day in town. I approached him outside of Fenway with no one else around, and asked him politely to sign my 1967 Orioles card with he, Brooks Robinson and Hank Bauer, already signed by the other two.

He looked at the card, saw it was signed by the others, and said, "Nice card you got there, signed by Hank and Brooks."

I said, "Thank you, Mr. Robinson - would you mind signing it for me?"

He said, "I'll sign it for you tomorrow."

I responded, "But it's your last day in Boston."

He loudly laughed and said, "I know," and walked into the park.

I wonder what would've happened if I followed the Orioles to the next town and presented the card to him then. What a jerk.

[scooter729]

One other bad HOF story to share now - this happened about 2-3 years ago now, but I'll copy and paste from my post at the time, about Johnny Bench....

================

I went last night to the Boston University Bookstore for a book signing by Johnny Bench. I was planning on buying his book and having it signed, but my real goal was to have him sign my HOF bat. I've been working on this bat for about 15+ years, where I have been getting as many Hall of Fame people to sign it. I'm close to 30 now. (My experience has been that at book signings, usually the people will only sign their book and not other things, but I figured I'd take a chance.)

I went into the signing area and left the bat in my car, and figured I'd ask Bench to see if he'd sign it first. (It's pointless to ask bookstore people, since they'll just say no.) So I waited in the small line, went up to Bench, had him sign my book, then asked him:

Me: Mr. Bench, I have a bat out in my car that I've had about 30 Hall of Famers sign. I would be thrilled if you would sign it for me as well.
Bench: Ah, well, ask my son what he thinks (pointing to back of room).

His son is about 20 years old and goes to BU - hence the appearance there. I'm confused, but I do as he said and go talk to his son. I repeat the story to the son, and he says sure, although he's not sure why Johnny told me to ask him. I go back out to my car, get the bat, wait at the back until the last 10 people or so get their books signed, then I go up to the front where Bench is, by himself.

Me: Thanks to you and your son for agreeing to sign the bat for me; I greatly appreciate it.
Bench (taking my pen and signing my bat): My son told you I want fifty bucks for doing this, right?
Me: Excuse me?
Bench (somewhat snapping at me): I'm here to sign books, not your bat. I want fifty bucks.
Me: No one said that to me. I had no idea.
Bench (angry now): Don't give me that crap. If you've had 30 people sign this, you know how it works. You want it signed, you pay up. (He's now holding my bat, not giving it back.)
Me (opening my wallet and showing him): I've got 24 bucks on me; I came in with 50, but just spent 26 to buy your book. And honestly, I haven't paid anyone else to sign my bat.
Bench: So you think I'm here to just sign your bat for free? Ridiculous. (Rolls the bat back across the table at me.) And to think I tried to give you a break - go to my website next time, and you'd have to pay 100 bucks.
Me: So do you want my 24 bucks?
Bench: Get out of here, will ya?

My memories of The Baseball Bunch have just gone up in flames. Another hero shot down in my mind.

[Hot Springs Bathers]

All goes back to my "butt in the dirt theory" most former football and hockey players are nice and appreciate people caring. And don't give me any crap about "well he was a tough catcher."

Still never had a football or hockey player in person be rude.

In the early 1980s a group of NFL players were trying to get the Kangaroo Shoe Company off the ground. The formed a couple of basketball teams and did a tour to show off the shoes.

St. Louis Cardinals wideout Roy Green was one of the guys. They kicked off their tour at his alma mater Henderson State University in tiny Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He brought 25 players in including; Walter Payton, Billy Simms, James Lofton and Joe Ferguson.

I took the players on vans to each area school where they met and signed for everyone at each stop. That afternoon before the game I took them a state hospital for the very severly retarded. Each player did everything they could to make those kids happy.

That night after the game they stayed for over an hour visiting with the sellout crowd.

I can't imagine group of 25 current major leaguer baseball players doing this today or even back then?

[jt39]

Last one was at an Ed Keetz show in Polish home in Albany NY years back. Scooter was a guest and I had a yankees stadium postcard to have him sign. He asked me where to sign it, I pointed to the sky, and he said right up there where Mick was right now. Also, a card show years back in my old HS w Scooter. A big line was forming for him, in the hall outside the signing area. Phil came down the hall w a rep and a little boy rushed up to him, w no autograph ticket. He asked Phil if he could sign the ball. Sure Sonny. The promoter then runs up to Phil and says "he didn't have a ticket for that" Phil's reply. "You Huckleberry, I'll sign for the kids anytime I please" . Made me smile.

I mentioned this in the through-the-mail thread already, but figured I'd piggy-back on the story about Rizzuto signing for a kid who hadn't purchased a ticket. I sent him a check for $15, which I'd read he charged, along with a baseball. In addition to signing the ball, and inscribing it with a whole host of nifty things ("Holy Cow!", "Scooter," etc), he cancelled the check, signed it as well, and wrote: "No fee, that's just what the agents say!" This is now one of my favorite items ... not least because $15 was a lot of money for me back then!

I did have one in-person story to share as well. Went to a local mall probably 20 years back where Jim Palmer was signing, and ended up near the front of the line. He asked me some questions about baseball, reached across the table and tussled my hair, signed the 1970 Topps card I had brought along, and then shook my hand. It was a great experience for a young fan.

Almost all of my collecting was done through the mail rather than in person -- it always seemed forced and uncomfortable to me, not to mention requiring a parent to drive and cash out of my pocket. Now, I regret somewhat that I didn't make an effort to go meet some of the players from the 40's and 50's that I was always most fascinated by.

[whitehse]

Originally Posted by scooter729

One other bad HOF story to share now - this happened about 2-3 years ago now, but I'll copy and paste from my post at the time, about Johnny Bench....

================

I went last night to the Boston University Bookstore for a book signing by Johnny Bench. I was planning on buying his book and having it signed, but my real goal was to have him sign my HOF bat. I've been working on this bat for about 15+ years, where I have been getting as many Hall of Fame people to sign it. I'm close to 30 now. (My experience has been that at book signings, usually the people will only sign their book and not other things, but I figured I'd take a chance.)

I went into the signing area and left the bat in my car, and figured I'd ask Bench to see if he'd sign it first. (It's pointless to ask bookstore people, since they'll just say no.) So I waited in the small line, went up to Bench, had him sign my book, then asked him:

Me: Mr. Bench, I have a bat out in my car that I've had about 30 Hall of Famers sign. I would be thrilled if you would sign it for me as well.
Bench: Ah, well, ask my son what he thinks (pointing to back of room).

His son is about 20 years old and goes to BU - hence the appearance there. I'm confused, but I do as he said and go talk to his son. I repeat the story to the son, and he says sure, although he's not sure why Johnny told me to ask him. I go back out to my car, get the bat, wait at the back until the last 10 people or so get their books signed, then I go up to the front where Bench is, by himself.

Me: Thanks to you and your son for agreeing to sign the bat for me; I greatly appreciate it.
Bench (taking my pen and signing my bat): My son told you I want fifty bucks for doing this, right?
Me: Excuse me?
Bench (somewhat snapping at me): I'm here to sign books, not your bat. I want fifty bucks.
Me: No one said that to me. I had no idea.
Bench (angry now): Don't give me that crap. If you've had 30 people sign this, you know how it works. You want it signed, you pay up. (He's now holding my bat, not giving it back.)
Me (opening my wallet and showing him): I've got 24 bucks on me; I came in with 50, but just spent 26 to buy your book. And honestly, I haven't paid anyone else to sign my bat.
Bench: So you think I'm here to just sign your bat for free? Ridiculous. (Rolls the bat back across the table at me.) And to think I tried to give you a break - go to my website next time, and you'd have to pay 100 bucks.
Me: So do you want my 24 bucks?
Bench: Get out of here, will ya?

My memories of The Baseball Bunch have just gone up in flames. Another hero shot down in my mind.

Scott I was wondering if this story was going to show up in this thread!

As a 8 year old, I was able to get his autograph at Wrigley Field and I was the only one he signed for among a large group. But later in life I had observed him when I worked at Wrigley and he was well, a bit of a turd. I have heard of zero good things about this man and your story backs all the things up that I have heard.

[Runscott]

Back in the mid-60's I was at a charity event attended by a bunch of NFL players. Alex Karras and Lee Roy Jordan actually each spent quite a bit of time joking around with me. I was so startled that I didn't say much, but I took a snapshot of Jordan and have it framed along with his autograph. He asked me if I wanted him to stand on his head and act like a monkey. Alex Karras told me he wasn't Alex Karras, but would go get him. He then brought back some short guy, but took the pen away from him at the last minute and signed. They both thought it was hilarious.

I can't imagine that kind of stuff happening nowadays.

[Hot Springs Bathers]

Steve, that is what I expected from Seaver but have always been a fan. I suppose the exposure the big stars received over the years jaded them toward fans. I am also sure they have encountered some real jerks at times. But I still think that if you are receiving money you should perform the service in a nice manner.

Scott, that is hilarious and it goes back to my theory about old football players, really pretty nice guys for the most part.

Last week I went to a local event that featured a former Arkansas Razorback as the speaker, Ken Hatfield. I stuck around a few minutes and had him sign a mini helmet and the cover of the 1964 Texas program. He was never a pro but was a very successful D-I coach. What a nice man. He seemed appreciative that I asked.

I remember listening to that 1964 Arkansas-Texas game as a ten year old with my Dad. When Hatfield took back a punt 81 yards for a TD we both started jumping up and down, memories like that are special I suppose for all of us. I took the mini helmet to Dad who turns 94 next week.

I took him a Randy White helmet back before Christmas, White and Lee Roy Jordan were his favorite all-time Cowboys. Dad used to love Bear Bryant's old line about Jordan; "If they stay in the stadium Lee Roy will get 'em."

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Hot Springs Bathers

I took him a Randy White helmet back before Christmas, White and Lee Roy Jordan were his favorite all-time Cowboys. Dad used to love Bear Bryant's old line about Jordan; "If they stay in the stadium Lee Roy will get 'em."

Jordan was my favorite player, so getting to meet him and have such an interesting interaction was priceless. Don Meredith was another of my favorites who was supposed to be there that day, but he missed it.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by scooter729

One other bad HOF story to share now - this happened about 2-3 years ago now, but I'll copy and paste from my post at the time, about Johnny Bench....

================

I went last night to the Boston University Bookstore for a book signing by Johnny Bench. I was planning on buying his book and having it signed, but my real goal was to have him sign my HOF bat. I've been working on this bat for about 15+ years, where I have been getting as many Hall of Fame people to sign it. I'm close to 30 now. (My experience has been that at book signings, usually the people will only sign their book and not other things, but I figured I'd take a chance.)

I went into the signing area and left the bat in my car, and figured I'd ask Bench to see if he'd sign it first. (It's pointless to ask bookstore people, since they'll just say no.) So I waited in the small line, went up to Bench, had him sign my book, then asked him:

Me: Mr. Bench, I have a bat out in my car that I've had about 30 Hall of Famers sign. I would be thrilled if you would sign it for me as well.
Bench: Ah, well, ask my son what he thinks (pointing to back of room).

His son is about 20 years old and goes to BU - hence the appearance there. I'm confused, but I do as he said and go talk to his son. I repeat the story to the son, and he says sure, although he's not sure why Johnny told me to ask him. I go back out to my car, get the bat, wait at the back until the last 10 people or so get their books signed, then I go up to the front where Bench is, by himself.

Me: Thanks to you and your son for agreeing to sign the bat for me; I greatly appreciate it.
Bench (taking my pen and signing my bat): My son told you I want fifty bucks for doing this, right?
Me: Excuse me?
Bench (somewhat snapping at me): I'm here to sign books, not your bat. I want fifty bucks.
Me: No one said that to me. I had no idea.
Bench (angry now): Don't give me that crap. If you've had 30 people sign this, you know how it works. You want it signed, you pay up. (He's now holding my bat, not giving it back.)
Me (opening my wallet and showing him): I've got 24 bucks on me; I came in with 50, but just spent 26 to buy your book. And honestly, I haven't paid anyone else to sign my bat.
Bench: So you think I'm here to just sign your bat for free? Ridiculous. (Rolls the bat back across the table at me.) And to think I tried to give you a break - go to my website next time, and you'd have to pay 100 bucks.
Me: So do you want my 24 bucks?
Bench: Get out of here, will ya?

My memories of The Baseball Bunch have just gone up in flames. Another hero shot down in my mind.

The proverbial flaming bag of shit!! Yikes!

[GrayGhost]

YIKES FOR SURE

[7nohitter]

Maybe it's just me but i feel like the posts about Frank Robinson portray his as an arrogant prick. Why would he promise to "sign tomorrow" when his team was leaving...or string a KID along??? What a jackass. I actually had a great deal of respect for him until reading these interactions with him.

[scooter729]

Originally Posted by 7nohitter

Maybe it's just me but i feel like the posts about Frank Robinson portray his as an arrogant prick. Why would he promise to "sign tomorrow" when his team was leaving...or string a KID along??? What a jackass. I actually had a great deal of respect for him until reading these interactions with him.

I spent close to 10 years collecting autographs during the 80s and 90s from basketball, baseball and hockey, and can honestly say Frank Robinson was probably the worst person to deal with. Aside from my story above, he yelled "NO!" at me a different time (again, when I was the only person around). I never again asked him for an autograph after that time.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by 7nohitter

Maybe it's just me but i feel like the posts about Frank Robinson portray his as an arrogant prick. Why would he promise to "sign tomorrow" when his team was leaving...or string a KID along??? What a jackass. I actually had a great deal of respect for him until reading these interactions with him.

On the flipside, I sat next to Frank Robinson at Anaheim Stadium when he was the GM of the Orioles. Several people attempted to get his autograph to no avail over the course of the game. I did get a chance to talk baseball with him though. He was very cordial and seemed to genuinely enjoy our conversation. In this particular instance I chose not to ask him for an autograph. The conversation is a memory that I will always cherish.

Not baseball, but I had chance encounters with two of my favorite all-time HOF basketball players at baggage claim areas at the airport: Magic Johnson in Detroit and Julius Erving (Dr. J) at Orange County, John Wayne airport.

Both were no longer active players at the time, but the conversations with each were awesome!

My conversation with Dr. J was about his love of golf. He had just flown into John Wayne airport to play in the Don Drysdale Memorial Golf Tournament in Newport Beach. Dr. J looked "game ready" and looked like he could still take it to the hole!

One morning I was picking up my luggage in Detroit and looked over to my right and Magic Johnson is standing right next to me. Yikes!!

I grew up in So Cal and was always a huge LA Laker fan, especially during the "Showtime era" featuring Magic, Worthy, Michael Cooper, Kareem, Byron Scott and company. I finally got up the nerve to go over and say hi.

I let him know what a huge fan I was when I lived in So. Cal. He asked me where I lived (now in the Midwest), and he made a point of reminding me that those were his roots also, growing up in Lansing, MI. I asked him what he was doing in town, and he let me know that he was picking up his mom because he was getting inducted into the Basketball HOF the following day. Unbelievable!! He spent 15 minutes asking me questions about me and my family, how I had enjoyed living in the midwest, etc. The topic of children came up and he asked if I had any and did I have any pictures? My wife had recently made me one of those calendars with photos in them. He complimented me on the photo of my young son Sam, pulled out a Sharpie and signed the photo with this inscription: "To Sam, Have a great life! All the best, Magic Johnson # 32". I was absolutely speechless...

Let me tell you, Magic Johnson has to be one of the nicest, most down to earth great athletes you will ever meet, bar none!

[matty6]

Maybe Frank Robinson was illiterate and he had his assistant coaches fill out his lineup cards....just a thought.

[7nohitter]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

On the flipside, I sat next to Frank Robinson at Anaheim Stadium when he was the GM of the Orioles. Several people attempted to get his autograph to no avail over the course of the game. I did get a chance to talk baseball with him though. He was very cordial and seemed to genuinely enjoy our conversation. In this particular instance I chose not to ask him for an autograph. The conversation is a memory that I will always cherish.

Not baseball, but I had chance encounters with two of my favorite all-time HOF basketball players at baggage claim areas at the airport: Magic Johnson in Detroit and Julius Erving (Dr. J) at Orange County, John Wayne airport.

Both were no longer active players at the time, but the conversations with each were awesome!

My conversation with Dr. J was about his love of golf. He had just flown into John Wayne airport to play in the Don Drysdale Memorial Golf Tournament in Newport Beach. Dr. J looked "game ready" and looked like he could still take it to the hole!

One morning I was picking up my luggage in Detroit and looked over to my right and Magic Johnson is standing right next to me. Yikes!!

I grew up in So Cal and was always a huge LA Laker fan, especially during the "Showtime era" featuring Magic, Worthy, Michael Cooper, Kareem, Byron Scott and company. I finally got up the nerve to go over and say hi.

I let him know what a huge fan I was when I lived in So. Cal. He asked me where I lived (now in the Midwest), and he made a point of reminding me that those were his roots also, growing up in Lansing, MI. I asked him what he was doing in town, and he let me know that he was picking up his mom because he was getting inducted into the Basketball HOF the following day. Unbelievable!! He spent 15 minutes asking me questions about me and my family, how I had enjoyed living in the midwest, etc. The topic of children came up and he asked if I had any and did I have any pictures? My wife had recently made me one of those calendars with photos in them. He complimented me on the photo of my young son Sam, pulled out a Sharpie and signed the photo with this inscription: "To Sam, Have a great life! All the best, Magic Johnson # 32". I was absolutely speechless...

Let me tell you, Magic Johnson has to be one of the nicest, most down to earth great athletes you will ever meet, bar none!

Scott,
Awesome encounter with Magic. We must be about the same age as I grew up during the same era except in Boston...huge Larry Bird fan. Never met him, but boy did I hate those '80's Lakers teams...in retrospect I realize that what the 10-yr-old version of me 'hated' was actually respect and admiration for the one team in the NBA (save the Sixers on occasion) who could actually handle the Celtics!

[scooter729]

Originally Posted by GrayGhost

YIKES FOR SURE

Yikes is right! Even though it's been a few years since that story happened to me, I still have to laugh when I look at my HOF bat and see that Johnny Bench autograph, knowing it must have killed him to realize he signed it, then asked me for 50 bucks.

I should ship him 5,000 pennies and a thank you note.