Show & Tell Autographs you personally acquired

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

Bob Feller signed this photo Jan. 1981 at a BB card show in north NJ. Then he shook my hand and commented....
"Boy, you have a firm handshake for a little guy".....and I replied....."I play a lot of Tennis, so I have to have a
good grip".....he sort of smirked and asked if....."I played any BaseBall ?".....I told him from dawn to dark, when
I was a kid, till age 19.....that brought a smile to his face.


Joe DiMaggio signed several items for me at a BB card show in NJ on July 16, 1981. I noted this date, because
it was the 40th anniversary of the last day of his 56-game hitting streak. He got 3 hits that day in 1941.

I mentioned this to him.....he smiled and asked me....."How do all you BB fans keep track of all these events ?
I'm always amazed at people reminding me of all my records". Then he asked me....."Did you know that I had
a 66-game hitting streak when I played for the SF Seals ?

I replied...."I did and that I thought his 56-game hitting streak would never be broken". He gave me a nice smile
and a firm handshake.

TED Z

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Posted By: Jason L

I have had a few neat experiences, and I wish I had a scanner hooked up so I could show them off (as well as participate in all the "recent pickup" threads), but I'll just try to offer a few very short decriptions so as not to bore y'all (I know, too late, right?)...

Rickey Henderson
As a 13 year old, I got Rickey Henderson's autograph, and I somehow got up the nerve to put a Sports Illustrated magazine in front of him, followed by a pencil sketch of that magazine cover of him. He looked at it for a good minute or so, then asked if I traced it. When I said that I drew it free-hand, he said it was really good. I was on Cloud 9. Rickey could do no wrong in my eyes forever after that.

Lee Smith
When I was 14, I went to a card show in suburban Chicago, got Leon Durham to sign an 8x10 of him....the next player in the line was Lee Smith, and I had a ticket for his signature already. Just in that 10 seconds, I realized that I hadn't gotten an item for him to sign, and that I was out of money...so I quickly flipped the Leon Durham glossy over and had an extremely puzzled Lee Smith sign the BACK of Leon Durham's photo. Weirdest signature experience.

Ozzie Smith
2 years ago, I went to Cooperstown for Induction weekend with my then 3 year old son. Ozzie was the player who first got me interested in baseball when I saw him by chance on tv one day during my early childhood. I talked about this to my son, and when I brought him with me to get Ozzie's signatures on a few things, he was just as rapt as I was in meeting the man for the first time. Ozzie was 200% class, talked to both me and my son, and I got this picture of Ozzie signing a bat, and my son looking up at him, both hands on the edge of the table, watching...it's pure Norman Rockwell, and I doubt I will ever have a prouder moment of blended baseball and fatherhood (unless he grows up to love playing the sport, of course).

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anyway, there may be more, but I worry that some of you are now drooling on your desks, fast asleep...



edited to add: Ozzie Smith pic

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

I met Ozzie Smith and got his autograph on a baseball in 1987 at a local card show. He was super nice and along with Jim Palmer my best autograph experience. I can't show a photo because I gave the ball to a friend of mine who lost his whole collection in Hurricane Katrina. He's a huge Ozzie fan so it means a whole lot more to him than to me.

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Posted By: warshawlaw

So far, in person other than purchased at a show, just from encounters around town here: Larry Brown (NBA), Eric Idle (Monty Python), Lennox Lewis (boxing), Emanuel Steward (Boxing), Roger Moore, Johnny Carson, Joan Collins, Gene Hackman, Ray Bolger (Scarecrow from Wizard of Oz), Cheech, Chong, Sylvester Stallone, Gene Kelly, Ricardo Montalban (Mr. Roarke, Khan on Star Trek), Dyan Cannon, Christy Brinkley. I've also encountered some folks in professional or social capacities that I haven't hit up for autographs owing to the situations: Raquel Welch, Jason Alexander, Joe Lawrence, Robert Evans, Annette Benning. The one I was most excited to meet was Eric Idle. Normally I am very bold when it comes to approaching celebrities for autographs; Idle truly freaked me out because I grew up such a huge Monty Python fan. Ironically, he was one of the nicest I've met.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Adam, how was Johnny Carson when you met him? He was my idol.

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Posted By: jamie

One of three females to play in the negro leagues- this was at a black memorabilia show in the 12 months. Lots of players were there but she was by far the friendliest and played with my son for a while.

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Posted By: Ed McCollum

at Royals stadium. Had a cousin whose company had great seats near the field by the visitors dugout. We got there early and he was signing by the rail for all the kids. I went running down the cement stairs just as he said "Last one..." I yelled "Reggie, wait!" and proceeded to trip, fall, stumble and roll down the last fifteen stairs, ending in a thud against the wall. He looked over the wall, both hands on the rail and said "O.K., one more for the klutz." Signed it just Reggie J, but instantly, the other eight or ten kids waiting all fell down, claimed they sprained their wrists, etc.

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Posted By: Chris Counts

When I was about 16, I sat next to Duke Snider at a card show in Fallbrook, CA. This was in the late 70s. I ended up talking to Duke throughout the day, and when it was over, I asked him to sign an 8x10 photo. Just as he started to sign, I asked him to inscribe it "To Chris, the greatest pitcher I ever faced ..." He smiled and inscribed it. I ended up giving it as a gift to one of my best friends, a big baseball fan whose name is also Chris ...

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Posted By: warshawlaw

very personable guy.

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Posted By: peter chao

Guys,

This happened around 10 years ago while I was a dealer at a card show near San Francisco City Hall. I was lucky enough to have my table set up right next to Orlando Cepeda who was signing autographs that day. Unfortunately, the promoter who was suppose to bring Cepeda's fee for the day, did not bring the check.

As a consequence, Cepeda just sat at his table and refused to sign. I really couldn't blame him since I probably would have done the same. However, I did spend most of the morning shooting the breeze with Orlando. We discussed the '62 Giants and whether he stayed in contact with Marichal. It was almost like we were old friends talking about good times.

Near the end of the show I thought about asking him for an autograph because we had become friends. But then I thought it would be better not to since he hadn't gotten paid and I didn't want to make it difficult for him to say no. I have to admit that I probably did the right thing and my memories of that day are so vivid, I doubt if I need a signed card to jog my memory.

Peter

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

In 1980 I met Phil Rizzuto at a BB card show in Union, NJ. We talked about our old neighborhood in Hillside, NJ....
where I grew up and he lived only 2 blocks away. He signed several items for me, and this 1953 World Series wire-
photo was one.


It took me a while, and in Dec. 1982 at an Atlantic City Show I finally got to meet Billy Martin. I'll never forget the
experience....it looked like Billy was not feeling too well. The longest line to get autographs that day was not at the
tables of Mantle, Snider or Mays....but it was at Billy's table. Billy was a very tough signature to get back then.

I was set-up near where Billy was signing and I kept glancing over. Late in the afternoon the line had shortened so I
got in it. Billy would not look up or talk to anyone while signing. I presented to him this wirephoto....upon looking at it,
he looked up at me and asked me where I got it. I was startled so I don't recall my reply, but I do recall saying...."the
1953 World Series was all yours, Billy, you single-handedly beat the Dodgers; I remember all 6 games".....he gave me
half a smile and said...."Boy, I look pretty good here and you're right that a was great Series; thanks, for showing me
this photo, you made my day".

1953 WS (6 games) Billy's stats....batted .500 (12 hits/24 AB)....2 HR....8 RBI's




TED Z

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Posted By: Matt

In high school I was the caddy for Johnny Bench in a celebrity pro-am. In the same foursome was Pete Rose...

Johnny signed this card for me, Pete Rose refused to sign anything...he didn't tip his caddy either though...

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Posted By: Chris Counts

Here's a few more stories worth retelling ...

1) When I was about 12 or 14, I rode my bike to Angel Stadium for an old timers game. I was standing in the parking lot before the game when Joe DiMaggio popped up out of nowhere. It was hours before the game an nobody was in sight ... just me and him. I pulled out a stack of 3x5 cards and handed him the entire stack, since he needed something firm to write on. I only expected him to sign one, but after he had signed about 12, I started to feel guilty and I asked him to stop ...

2) At about the same time, I was looking for autographs in a hotel near Angel Stadium when I saw Billy Martin, the Yankees manager. I was going to ask him to sign a ball, but his left hand was in a cast, since he had recently broken it punching somebody or something. He walked right up to me with a big smile, asked if I wanted him to sign my ball, then proceeded to wedge the ball between the cast and his chin, somehow managing to sign his name beautifully ...

3) Around the same time I got Martin's signature, I saw Dock Ellis at a hotel in Anaheim. Just before I asked him to sign a card, a security guy runs up and starts yelling at me and a couple other kids, telling us to get lost. Ellis (who I remember was a big guy)grabbed the guy by his shoulders, shook him a little kind of playfully, and with a sly smile said, "These guys are with me. They're my friends."

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

That's a great story about your meeting with Billy. I remember the incident when he punched out
that pitcher (can't recall his name).

That's two nice stories regarding Billy (your's and mine).......let's see if anyone else can chime in
with some more Billy stories. Billy's mentor was Casey Stengel, I thought he was a very effective
manager. It was a real shame that there was an ongoing "feud" between Billy and Steinbrenner.

Thanks,
TED Z

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Posted By: whitehse

After High school I went to work for the Chicago Cubs and worked there for 8 years. I had many chances to meet the greats and was even in the Phillies clubhouse when they clinched the division in 1983 at Wrigley (I think its 83...geez I am getting old)as well as in the Reds dugout when Pete Rose tied Cobbs record. It was at this same time I would always see a white haired man that hung around Wrigley and Pete Rose whenever the Phillies and later on the Reds would come into town. I came to find out later his name was Whitey and apparently one of Pete Rose's "guys". We had talked to so much over a 2 year period thatAone day after the Phillies were leaving and would not make another appearance in Wrigley for the year, He slipped me this card and said keep it since the 3 players had agreed they would not sign this particular card anymore. I dont know if they still are not signing this card but I have kept it!! Always liked the look and with the autos it makes it much better. I think I will finally send this to JSA not really for the authetication but the holders look better than what I have it in. Sorry for the long read!.

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Posted By: Steve Dawson

Hey Chris,

I was at that Fallbrook show with Duke Snider also. He inscribed and signed a baseball to me


Steve

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Posted By: Fred Y

Nice idea, Ted!

Back in the '50s I grew up in Wellsville, NY (written up in SPORT magazine as the smallest town in the US to support a professional ball club--the old Class D PONY Lg)

When I was 16 (1956) I worked after school as a bellhop in the old hotel on Main St. One evening a gentleman came in & I took him & his bags to his room, struck up a conversation on the way & got the pictured autograph once I found out who he was!

He was passing through as a scout for the Milwaukee Braves, who at that time had the Wellsville Braves as their Class D minor lg. affiliate. He had been inducted into the HOF just 4 yrs earlier.

Little did I know he would pass on 9 yrs later to the same month at the age of 62. He is considered a rather tough auto to come by.










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Posted By: warshawlaw

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Posted By: warshawlaw

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Posted By: bill

Got Gordie Howe to autograph a game used stick at a lumberyard
near New Baltimore Michigan and when he signed it he verified it was one
of his sticks.
Got Bob Probert to autograph a game used jersey at a show in Dearborn Michigan there's a few blood stains down the front of the jersey when
he was signin it I asked him if that was his blood down the front
he smiled and said most likely the other guys.

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Posted By: joe

Not vintage, but here is Tiger Woods signing a baseball for me on 12/14/96 at the All Star Cafe in Las Vegas. This was a grand opening and had many stars attending. Griffey Jr, Monica Seles, and others.

Joe



Ty Cobb, Spikes flying!

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Posted By: Ken McMillan

Mike Ditka,

Funny story. My wife and I went to Ditka's restaurant in Downtown Chicago for dinner in the late 80's. We had an hour and a half wait to get into the Restaurant and my wife was a little impatient and hungry. Mike Ditka walked out of the restaurant and I got his attention. He came over to talk to us and my wife had the audacity or stupidity to ask him if his restarant was worth the wait. He said he hoped it was, he thinke it is, "that's one advantage I have is I don't have to wait". i love telling the story to this day especially if the wife is present.

I also ran into Harry Carey outside of Wrigley with a friend one time. Talked with him for about 15 minutes and took a picture. My wife was a huge Harry Caray fan and asked if I got an autograph. I said to her, "now why would I do that, I don't really like Harry Carey" being that I thought Jack Brickhouse was a better announcer who actually announced the game. She didn't believe me til we had the film developed. Unfortunately, the Cubs lost to the Cards 5 to 4 that day.

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

KEN Mc

Sounds like you're from Chicago, so you'll appreciate this. I spent a lot of my working days just
South of Chi-town, and the guys out there would take me to many restaurants that specialized
in Barbecued Ribs. One was right around the block from old Comiskey Park....the Hickory Pit.
There were many others, too numerous to mention.

Well, when they would come East, I bragged that Rusty Staub's Canadian Baby Back Ribs were
the best. So, we drove to the upper Eastside of NYC to Rusty's. It was no larger than "a hole
in the wall" place. And, the Chicago-ians conceded that Rusty's Ribs were absolutely the best.
But, even better than the food, Rusty would sit down with us and "talk BaseBall" and sign base-
balls, etc. for as long as we were there.

TED Z

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Posted By: Jason

really? that's impressive praise. When I lived in Evanston, I used to frequent a place called Hecky's...don't know if it's still around, but that was good eatin'...Is Rusty's hole in the wall still around?

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Posted By: Bobby Binder

I grew up in Los Angeles but remained a die hard Reds fan. My dad was friends with Tommy LaSorda and when I was about 14 they call me at home and speak to Tommy. He asked who was my favorite team told him Reds. He then asked what could he do to make me a Dodger fan. Told him to get me a Johnny Bench autograph. About a month later the Reds where is town and shortly after I got a personalized ball from Johnny via Tommy. It was great going to the games with my dad we would always visit Tommy after the game and would introduce me to players and give me autographed pictures and bats. One time it was family day and we got to sit in the dugout with all the other players families.

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Posted By: Ken McMillan

Can also tell a Lee Smith story. I have been going to Cubs fantasy camp in Arizona for the last few years. I have always had Lee Smith as one of my coaches and am on first name basis with him. One of the years, my wife was taking pictures of Lee and myself for a scrap book. She took a picture and noticed Lee wasn't smiling in the shot, so she asked to shoot another and said "could you smile Lee?" Lee said "chill woman" and gave her a big Lee smile......

Also the first year I went to camp, My wife and I were sitting at a table with some other couples and Fergie Jenkins with his wife and asked " Mac can Lydia and I sit with you?" How many times do you have a hall of famer ask if he can sit at your table? Of course we all know what the answer was. Also one year at camp my parents came to the cookout on Thursday night and Fergie offered my mother a cigar.

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

I realize it's hard to believe, but the 5 Chicago guys that I worked with said it was "impossible" to
find better Ribs east of Chicago. And, believe me these guys were big eaters and very skeptical,
until I took them to Rusty's. And, I am quoting them when I say "these are the most delicious ribs
ever".

In addition to Rusty Staub being there most of the time, there was always that added excitement
of major sports figures being there. The walls of his restaurant were completely covered with photos
of all kinds of celebrities.

No.....Rusty's existed from the mid-70's to the late '90s. I really miss the place. Any time we were
in NYC we had to go to Rusty's.....my wife accused me of having "restaurant rut".

TED Z

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Posted By: Josh Adams

Do they pretend to win the World Series at Cubs Fantasy camp?!!

Sorry, couldn't resist!
They seem to have a good squad this year.


And no, there are no better ribs than in Chicago. Or pizza for that matter.

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Posted By: Ken McMillan

We do play for the camp championship. I was on the winning team 3 years ago in a sudden death playoff. We actually dumper the water cooler on Lee and it was pretty exciting. We have a reunion of that team this year and hope to win again. I also remember that year harrassing Eddie Vedder from pearl Jam and getting him to strike out 3 times. I'm a lefty catcher and it tends to bother the batters anyhow. Rick Sutcliffe is supposed to coach this year so should be fun.

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Posted By: barrysloate

Ted- there used to be a place in NY called Tony Roma's that had very good ribs- is it still around? But I've never been to Rusty's- I know where to get the best porterhouse steak on earth, but I don't think I've discovered the perfect ribs yet. I'm still searching!

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Posted By: warshawlaw

There was a place in LA, believe it or not, that had great ribs. I like dry BBQ, not that sweet sticky stuff, and the Village BBQ in Studio City had amazing ribs. Succulent, fall off the bone, heavily smoked but dry spiced. You could add any sauce you liked to it. Sadly, it was replaced by another &^$&^ sushi bar.

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Posted By: Bill

Jason L--Awesome photo of your son and Ozzie.

Nobody really 'vintage' that I've personally obtained but I've gotten Jim Rice (twice), Fred Lynn, Earl Weaver, Carlton Fisk, Yaz (twice). Of that bunch, Fisk was the best. He took time with people and actually appeared to care what people told him. Yaz came off as a brick wall.

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

I'm really surprised that you never ate at Rusty's. For several years he had 2 restaurants in NYC.
His original place was at 73rd St and 3rd Ave; and, he also had a place near the Theatre district.
His upper Eastside place had "tons" of atmosphere and a certain ambience that was lacking in the
midtown place. Nevertheless, at either place, his Baby Back Ribs were the thin-boned, meaty
type that melted in your mouth. And, he would serve up a rack-n-half on a large oval platter.
The barbeque sauce was his secret Texas receipe. I have fond memories of eating at the 73rd St.
place with my wife and two daughters and Rusty sitting down with us. I tried to talk BB with him,
but he was more interested in talking with my wife and teenage daughters..... real ladies guy.

TED Z

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Posted By: barrysloate

Ted- funny you should say that about Rusty, because I remember hearing rumors that he was gay. Perhaps they were just that- rumors. Nevertheless, I never got to try his ribs. We actually have a good neighborhood bar that serves some very commendable ones, and I do enjoy them. But they are not the perfect ribs. As I said, I am still searching.

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Posted By: David Hornish

Got this at a very small card show in Hicksville, NY probably in 1986 or a little earlier. The place was less than jammed with a bunch of guys in their 50's and 60's in a short line to get the autograph and am the only guy there on the sunny side of 30. Everybody in front of me had either the photo they were selling at the show or some newer item. I remember handing Carl Erskine the card and he looked at it and went "Wow!" He asked what year it was from, I told him and then he proceeded to turn it over and look at his stats before he signed. And then he said "thank you." Totally classy guy. The only other autographed cards I have are of Duke Snider, also a nice guy in my experience but Mr. Erskine is in a class all his own.

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Posted By: Kevin Cummings

I've gotten lots of autographs, but two that have a 1960 (when I was 9) connection are interesting.

#1 - My father was an Army buddy of Fred Taylor, the former Ohio State basketball coach. We got some free tix for the ECAC Holiday Tournament at Madison Square Garden. We sat right behind Bobby Knight's parents. They were not nearly as excitable as he is now! OSU was loaded with stars (Havlicek, Lucas, Knight, Siegfried, Nowell) and after the game I went into the locker room and got all their autographs.



#2 - Famous softballer Eddie Feigner (The King and His Court) came to a town celebration. His team played against the Coaches Association. Before the game the mayor announced that anyone who even got a foul ball off of Mr. Feigner would win a prize. My father played some semi-pro baseball and was pretty decent. He did, in fact, manage to foul one off and claimed his prize. Thirty-eight years later, the same scene was reenated in my own town. I got to tell The King the story about how my father won his favorite lawn chair! He got quite a laugh out of it.

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Posted By: Bob Pomilla

I also have a memory of Carl Erskine being a class act. He and several other Dodgers of the fifties were at an event at the Brooklyn Union Gas Company auditorium, twenty-odd years ago and after he had signed a '55 Bowman for me, I thanked him for all the memories. He looked at me and then gave me a nod. Very subtle and gracious. He and Clem Labine had a laugh teasing each other over the differences in how they looked on their old cards and how they looked now.

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

Back in the early '90s, Mark Macrae and I used to set-up at Kit Young's Hawaii Show.
At this show in 1994 I was lucky enough to be set-up next to Jerry Grote, who was promoting
NY Mets memorabilia. I started the conversation talking about San Antonio, TX (his hometown).
I was recalling my Air Force basic training days near his hometown; and, that was the start of
some great BaseBall talk for several days with him. We talked about the "amazing Mets", Ron
Swoboda's great catch in '69, Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Tug McGraw, and another Texan....
Nolan Ryan. I don't have enough space here to tell to you about all he said about his guy, Ryan.
And, the subtle differences involved in catching these four pitchers. He also, had some very
interesting stories about his experiences in NYC all those years. A really down to earth guy.



TED Z

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Posted By: Rob NYC

My dad found this ticket in the elevator the night of this game. He looked at it and wondered if it was still good. The door opened and he shoved the ticket in his wallet and hurried to the apartment because the game was on tonight. He put it away later that night. Fast forward to 1992 when I started collecting. He wondered if I would add this ticket to my collection. I said probably. He gave me the ticket. I looked at it and it was a Yankee ticket. I looked at it again, it was a 1977 Yankees ticket. Again I looked, it was 1977 World Series ticket. Then I thought to myself "Nah, it couldn't be...". But it was! Game 6, the night Reggie hit 3 homers! So I placed it in a brick. Fast forward to November 1993. Reggie was in town signing. I thought it would be great to have him autograph this item. I had to wait near the end because he signed flat items last. It wasn't the greatest meeting I had with an athlete. Figures. I think I have a one-of-a-kind because I have not seen another 1977 Game 6 WS ticket (signed) anywhere, but who knows?

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Posted By: Dave Williams

In 2005 a friend told me Muhammad Ali might be in town as his son was playing in a 14 and under baseball tournament. I was refereeing soccer games all Saturday morning, and saw his motor home in the parking lot.

The night before I had dug out 3 Sports Illustrateds from the 70's and 80's.

My 13 year old daughter finished her soccer game, and as I was still reffing, walked over to his motor home, knocked on the door, and they let her in, where she got to sit next to Muhammad as he signed 3 Sports Illustrateds for her.

Alas, by the time I was done with soccer, his driver and staff were no longer allowing contact with him, as he was watching his son play baseball.

I've got 2 of the SI's framed in my office.