Your experiences with HOF'ers

[7nohitter]

Hey All,

This site, and this side of the site is incredible. For the past week I've been doing nothing but reading the threads on this side and have read and seen some amazing things.

One thread I read (from 2009) was about a guy who detailed his experience of 'checking' Joe DiMaggio into his hotel room in 1995....the story was awesome and got me wanting more.

So...What experiences can YOU share about interacting with HOF'ers? Who can share a story about the 'oldest' one?

Can't wait to read these

Andrew

[travrosty]

I only met one (two if you count future) and it was at a card show in Bloomington, MN. Over ten years ago.

I watched Willie Mays sign with his head down for a couple of hours, then as he dashed for the back door, I intercepted him and stuck my hand out so he couldn't avoid it. He shook my hand then he disappeared out the door before anybody else could talk to him. He didn't want to be there I don't think.

Then I went to get Bert Blyleven's signature on a ball and he couldn't have been nicer. Willing to talk and interact with the fans. He wasn't a HOF'er yet, but is now and I am happy for him.

[sicollector1954]

I once met Joe Dimaggio at the Sun Times show. The person in line in front of me had a B/W photo signed by Ted Williams and Mickey Mantle and he needed Joe D. to complete the photo. He paid his $175.00 fee for a flat signature which he was charging at the time. He also had a long list of items stated that he would not sign. When this person got up to the front of the line....Dimaggio looked at the item said he wasn't signing it. When the person pointed out he had paid his money for a flat item and waited patiently in line for about a half an hour Dimaggio said something to the effect--I don't sign anything Mantle signed ahead of me. And that was that.
The guy had to get out of line....spend $10.00 for a baseball and then proceeded to get that signed instead. Nice--true story.

[39special]

I met Ryne Sandberg when he played for the Reading Phillies,in 1980.
The team was coming off the field,and I asked one of the players to sign
my glove.He refused,and Sandberg came up to me,and told me he would
be happy to sign my glove for me.He signed my glove,shook my hand,and
thanked me for being a fan.I was a Sandberg fan from then on!

[7nohitter]

Originally Posted by 39special

I met Ryne Sandberg when he played for the Reading Phillies,in 1980.
The team was coming off the field,and I asked one of the players to sign
my glove.He refused,and Sandberg came up to me,and told me he would
be happy to sign my glove for me.He signed my glove,shook my hand,and
thanked me for being a fan.I was a Sandberg fan from then on!

Steve-awesome experience! I had a similar interaction with Sean McDonough (broadcaster) at Fenway Park around '91....he was walking by and everyone was yelling, "Sean, Sean will you sign?" He just kept walking, but I yelled, "Mr. McDonough, you're my idol (at the time I thought I was going to the 'Cuse to be the next great broadcaster) and he came right over, signed a few things for me and couldn't have been nicer.

[39special]

Originally Posted by 7nohitter

Steve-awesome experience! I had a similar interaction with Sean McDonough (broadcaster) at Fenway Park around '91....he was walking by and everyone was yelling, "Sean, Sean will you sign?" He just kept walking, but I yelled, "Mr. McDonough, you're my idol (at the time I thought I was going to the 'Cuse to be the next great broadcaster) and he came right over, signed a few things for me and couldn't have been nicer.

Nice! There are some nice guys out there!!

[7nohitter]

Originally Posted by sicollector1954

I once met Joe Dimaggio at the Sun Times show. The person in line in front of me had a B/W photo signed by Ted Williams and Mickey Mantle and he needed Joe D. to complete the photo. He paid his $175.00 fee for a flat signature which he was charging at the time. He also had a long list of items stated that he would not sign. When this person got up to the front of the line....Dimaggio looked at the item said he wasn't signing it. When the person pointed out he had paid his money for a flat item and waited patiently in line for about a half an hour Dimaggio said something to the effect--I don't sign anything Mantle signed ahead of me. And that was that.
The guy had to get out of line....spend $10.00 for a baseball and then proceeded to get that signed instead. Nice--true story.

These are the stories I love to hear. Why would Joe D. care that Mantle signed the picture before him?

[yanks12025]

I know you want hof players. But last week, I went to a signing and got acouple items signed by Chris Chambliss. My father and I, got him to sign his rookie bat and his yankee G/U cap. He couldn't have been nicer. Was shocked when we showed him the items and he checked them out and verified they were his.

[7nohitter]

That's awesome Brock...I've heard he's a nice guy.

[gnaz01]

Originally Posted by 7nohitter

These are the stories I love to hear. Why would Joe D. care that Mantle signed the picture before him?

I was well known that Mantle had no love for Joe D.

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by 7nohitter

These are the stories I love to hear. Why would Joe D. care that Mantle signed the picture before him?

Maybe some won't like me saying this but he was an unhappy nasty man and his ego was twisted.

[RichardSimon]

I along with a friend of mine was invited, to Florida, to view a very large autograph collection that had just been obtained by Vince Antonucci the agent for Ted Williams, who eventually wound up a convicted felon.
He was also the agent for Monte Irvin.
I spent virtually an entire day with Monte listening to him tell one baseball story after another as he viewed the wire photos I had brought for him to sign.
The next day I met Ted and spent an hour with him, he was a delight also regaling me with baseball stories.
It was two days I will never forget.

[timber63401]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

Maybe some won't like me saying this but he was an unhappy nasty man and his ego was twisted.

Truer words have never been spoken.

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by sicollector1954

He also had a long list of items stated that he would not sign. When this person got up to the front of the line....Dimaggio looked at the item said he wasn't signing it. When the person pointed out he had paid his money for a flat item and waited patiently in line for about a half an hour Dimaggio said something to the effect--I don't sign anything Mantle signed ahead of me. And that was that.

I realize this isn't what this thread is about, but I've got to say that unless DiMaggio's "will not sign" list was publicized ahead of time, the guy in front of sicollector1954 got a raw deal. And the sad part is that there was probably no recourse to be had.

[novakjr]

Not a Hall of Famer yet. But I met Jim Thome a signing he did at a car dealership about 13 years ago.

Funny story though. The originally signing date was apparently cancelled and a bunch of people didn't know about it. The dealership had closed for the night, and most people left, but a few of us hung around, bullshitting about sports for a little bit. Luckily, someone forgot to let the rib-joint across the street know about the cancellation too, so the delivery guy came with a huge tray of ribs(at least 5 racks), and just left 'em for us since he couldn't do anything else with 'em.. Great free meal. Plus I managed to get up there for the rescheduled signing a week later.. He seemed like a great guy. Most players I've encountered at signing just rush you through, scribble on your stuff and shuffle you right along with minimum interaction. He took his time and talked with everyone, it was a very pleasant experience.

[Runscott]

First, the good ones:

Juan Marichal was great - at the Astrodome as a kid, you could throw anything over the outfield fence and he would sign it and throw it back up. Also, one of the friendly guys AFTER the game outside the visitors' exit.

Sparky Anderson - did whatever he could to sign for a kid. I remember as the Reds' bus was leaving, he was stretched as far as he could out the door (while seated inside) to sign stuff up until the last second.

Not a HOF'er, but after Stan Bahnsen's ML career he continued to pitch in Triple A. What a friendly guy - seemed to love interacting with the fans.

The bad. I've got a couple, but Pete Rose takes the cake.

Pete Rose - hugest asshole on the planet, in my opinion. First experience - outside the Astrodome in '73, he was walking toward the bus with his suit bag over his shoulder, told the kids he had to go put up his suit and he'd be right out to sign. Needless to say, he went to the back of the bus and simply smiled out the window at all the kids - kind of a 'F You' to us. Years later, when he was player/managing the Reds in their annual game against the Denver Bears, we were screaming for him to go in and bat - after all, it was an exhibition. He refused. What a jerk. Then the Bart Giamatti thing came up - needless to say, I've got no use whatsoever for this blight on the game.

[Kzoo]

I grew up a huge fan of Rickey Henderson and marveled how he could really dominate a game in his prime. I've twice paid for his autograph in person at shows in Chicago, once in 2000 and then this past summer at the National. For a long time, Rickey wouldn't sign game used items, then he changed his motto and would sign game used items for 'double' the autograph price of a non-game used item......what a deal, thanks Rickey . I was surprised to see at last year's National that he would sign 'any bat' for one price and there were no stipulations regarding game used items. I brought a nice mid 80's gamer I've had for years with me and handed it to him to sign. He looked it over and kind of acted funny about it. He pointed out all the game use on it to the autograph rep/employee seated next to him as if there might be a problem. He hesitated while talking to the guy for a moment and they decided to 'check on something later'......maybe signing game used items should have been more clearly stated in Rickey's contract that day?? Anyways, he asked where I wanted it signed, planted a nice one on there and happily handed it back to me with a big smile, a thank you and a firm handshake. Rickey's attitude was the same way back in 2000, as well. He was a nice guy both times.

[7nohitter]

Originally Posted by Kzoo

I grew up a huge fan of Rickey Henderson and marveled how he could really dominate a game in his prime. I've twice paid for his autograph in person at shows in Chicago, once in 2000 and then this past summer at the National. For a long time, Rickey wouldn't sign game used items, then he changed his motto and would sign game used items for 'double' the autograph price of a non-game used item......what a deal, thanks Rickey . I was surprised to see at last year's National that he would sign 'any bat' for one price and there were no stipulations regarding game used items. I brought a nice mid 80's gamer I've had for years with me and handed it to him to sign. He looked it over and kind of acted funny about it. He pointed out all the game use on it to the autograph rep/employee seated next to him as if there might be a problem. He hesitated while talking to the guy for a moment and they decided to 'check on something later'......maybe signing game used items should have been more clearly stated in Rickey's contract that day?? Anyways, he asked where I wanted it signed, planted a nice one on there and happily handed it back to me with a big smile, a thank you and a firm handshake. Rickey's attitude was the same way back in 2000, as well. He was a nice guy both times.

Matt,
Why would Rickey care if it was game-used?

[bjcunningham]

I've wondered if the player suspected that it had been stolen from him or his team, and didn't want to contribute to any illegal practice.

[whitehse]

The players know the value of their game used equipment and how much more the item is worth if they sign it. Many know they can get some extra money for signing game used and I am sure thats probably what Rickey was thinking. (Yes, it is a bit cynical)

[tachyonbb]

Many years ago, my wife, who is a physician, was organizing a conference on diabetes. She asked me to go pick up the featured speaker at the airport and basically be his chauffeur for the two days of the conference. She told me the speaker was some ex baseball player named Hunter.

Of course it was Catfish Hunter. We started talking baseball in the car going to the conference. He was genuine and truly nice to talk to. He gave a good talk (he was dealing with the effects of diabetes himself). He then stayed around after the dinner and signed whatever for the doctors in attendance. The next day I brought a dozen major league baseballs. He signed them and gave them to various staff at the hotel. A great experience.