A "good news" autograph thread-let's see your autographs

[Cooptown]

I'll add a couple from my humble collection.

When my grandmother passed in 1988, one of her neighbors gave me 2 autographed baseballs. They were a "thank you" for my grandmother being so good to him through the years, cooking him dinner, etc. One was a signed Ted Williams ball, although not an official ball. The other was a 1978 San Diego Padres team signed ball. Kind of random, but HOFers include Billy Herman, Ozzie Smith, Dave Winfield, and Gaylord Perry.









My father and I attended HOF Induction Weekend every year from 1987-1998, and then again in 2007 and 2008 before he passed in 2009. in 1992, like many people who graph the golf course, I had struck out. I thought to myself "If HOFers golf, I wonder if any of them play tennis?" I strolled by the tennis courts to find Ted Williams sitting there watching some tennis. I had done a lot of IP graphing in my time, but getting Ted Williams in person, for free, is literally the most nervous I have ever been. My knees were shaking. I remember sprinting back up to Main Street to find my Dad and tell him. We were both so excited. I wish he was there.

[Cooptown]

This is one of my favorite pieces. I attended the 50th Anniversary of the HOF in 1989 with my Father. The day included the unveiling of the Lou Gehrig stamp, a parade, and an old timers game. I got this program that day, and had it "cancelled" at the Post Office. That winter I had Bob Feller sign it at a local show. Fast forward 19 years later, and in 2009 I decided to turn it into a TTM project. I actually thought I lost it at one point, when I sent it out to Whitey Herzog with donation. It never came back! I actually thought of writing him, and then one day I got a "return to sender" from the Post Office. Turns out there wasnt enough postage on it, even though I used one of those automated machines in the lobby. Ever since then, I have pretty much retired it from being in the mail (with the exception of a mail order or 2 for guys like Lasorda who dont do a lot of appearances). With the exception of Feller in 1990, and Sandberg last year, all sigs are TTM. I am hoping to add Molitor in person this summer.

[Cooptown]

A couple more, and then I'll stop....I promise!

My HOF Bat. All sigs have been signed IP. I rarely have ever had it leave my sight. Signatures include: Mize, Herman, Kell, Hunter, Jenkins, Newhouser, Leonard, Wilhelm, Marichal, Dandridge, Molitor, Weaver, Schoendienst, Sandberg, Doerr, Gibson, Slaughter, Aparicio, Fingers, Spahn, and Feller.








Here's another one of my favorite pieces. HOF lithograph signed by: Spahn, Berra, Dandridge, Doerr, Kiner, Mize, Feller, Robinson, Leonard, Slaughter and Irvin. I received all of the autographs in the late 1980s/early1990s...with the exception of Brooks Robinson. I added him in 2007. Needless to say he was excited about finishing the project. It's in it's original frame from back then. I really need to get it professionally framed.

[Cooptown]

Another story behind this one. As I mentioned before, I attended the HOF Inductions from 1987-1998, and then 2007 and 2008. The first year my Dad and I went, we decided to take in an Oneonta Yankees vs Auburn Astros game the Saturday night before the Induction. We got box seats along the first base side. A few innings into the game, who comes and sits in the box seats right next to us? George Steinbrenner. I wish I remembered it better (I was 9 at the time). I dont remember who he was with, if we talked to him a lot, etc. But I was able to get him to sign my program.

[Cooptown]

Last one and then I will stop hijacking this thread. I also collect the autographed HOF programs from the Inductions I have attended. I dont seem to have a lot of pictures of them, but here are two:



This one came out very nice, and surprisingly was free. I got Weaver at an autograph appearance in my hometown, and then Bunning TTM:



Finally, I collect the yellow HOF Plaque postcards. I recently noticed that the Richie Ashburn one is pretty expensive, due to the short window of him passing after his HOF induction. I realized that (somewhere) I have his HOF Induction Program signed. After realizing this, I have been searching online for another one, and can't seem to find one. I am thinking there are not many of these in existence. I still need to get Schmidt to sign his portion, and that now has become a high priority.

Loving this thread. Thanks for letting me hijack it, and keep 'em coming!

[sycks22]

Originally Posted by Cooptown

This is one of my favorite pieces. I attended the 50th Anniversary of the HOF in 1989 with my Father. The day included the unveiling of the Lou Gehrig stamp, a parade, and an old timers game. I got this program that day, and had it "cancelled" at the Post Office. That winter I had Bob Feller sign it at a local show. Fast forward 19 years later, and in 2009 I decided to turn it into a TTM project. I actually thought I lost it at one point, when I sent it out to Whitey Herzog with donation. It never came back! I actually thought of writing him, and then one day I got a "return to sender" from the Post Office. Turns out there wasnt enough postage on it, even though I used one of those automated machines in the lobby. Ever since then, I have pretty much retired it from being in the mail (with the exception of a mail order or 2 for guys like Lasorda who dont do a lot of appearances). With the exception of Feller in 1990, and Sandberg last year, all sigs are TTM. I am hoping to add Molitor in person this summer.

If you ever get to MN you can run into Molitor at the Eden Prairie mall where he frequents. I saw him there once and told my wife "That's Paul Molitor" and after yelling "Hey Paul" he turned around and I ducked my head. I've met him a couple times, couldn't meet a nicer guy. He lives in EP and I believe his daughter still goes to the High School there. Nice item.

[doug.goodman]

I used to like to get autographs when I was a kid, and it was still fun.

Doug

[J.McMurry]

Wow, thats a cool Al Davis.
rare too.

[doug.goodman]

Thanx, he sat behind me at a Warrior game a week or two after he announced that he was moving the Raiders to LA. He was very nice.

Doug

[lutherlafy]

I started getting autographs in my 1962 Topps Stamp Book and have around 400 autographs in it.
Here's the Yankee page.