HOF Canvas Update

[bender07]

I'm not sure this will generate too much conversation but I wanted to document my journey to add HOFers to the these canvases I bought in the BST earlier this year (thanks Jason!).





Jason got the ball rolling by adding 33 autographs with inscriptions. One canvas is focused on those that got in before 2000 and the other 2000 or later.

I live relatively close to Cooperstown (outside Syracuse) and have made the pilgrimage to Induction Weekend every year since 1989. That weekend easily translates to my best opportunity to add guys. That's where I added 4 this past weekend.

Billy Williams - Fantastic guy that took time with my kids and niece and nephew to engage them in some lighthearted banter.

Andre Dawson - Second Cub on the day. Andre was a little more standoffish but he does have a great autograph.

Frank Robinson - Frank looks and sounds great for 81. His autograph was a little deliberate but he got the job done.

Greg Maddux - Greg's not big on signings as I understand it and it shows. He ain't cheap but he was nice enough but little chit chat. I saw him sign a Smoltz/Glavine/Maddux poster that was already signed by Smoltz and Glavine with "HOF 15" even though he went in the Hall in '14. Oops. The collector was freaking out. I'm not sure how the promoter rectified the situation but I definitely felt for the collector. How does Maddux not know what year he went in!

[earlywynnfan]

Pretty cool! You might have to take out a second mortgage when Jeter and Mariano go in!

[bender07]

No doubt. I'm trying to stick to guys that do public signings and will likely only get them if they're signing in Cooperstown. Based on those constraints, probably won't be getting those dudes!

[JollyElm]

Andre Dawson, with his cannon of a right arm, writes with his left hand???!!! Holy moley is that mind boggling!!! Never knew that.

(Yes, I am well aware that in the old days lefties like Babe Ruth were 'forced' to use their right hands for writing by the nuns in Catholic school. The word 'sinister' is basically Latin for 'left-handed.')

[Jasonxmay]

I'm glad this project ended up in the hands of someone willing to add to it. The additions look awesome! I look forward to seeing the updates.

Jason

[mcgwirecom]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Andre Dawson, with his cannon of a right arm, writes with his left hand???!!! Holy moley is that mind boggling!!! Never knew that.

(Yes, I am well aware that in the old days lefties like Babe Ruth were 'forced' to use their right hands for writing by the nuns in Catholic school. The word 'sinister' is basically Latin for 'left-handed.')

Steve Carlton "Lefty" is also another right handed signer. Strange.

[bender07]

Got a couple more today in Cooperstown. Slow going but fun nonetheless.

I did see another guy with a similar project going. He must have had 100 HOFers (at least) with inscriptions on a poster. It was crazy. Was only missing a handful possible additions. Wild!




Schuerholtz asking where to sign...

[Gary Dunaier]

It's great that you're getting photo documentation for this project. Even if you don't "need" it for resale purposes (it's not like you're ever going to sell it), it's wonderful to have and does add value to the finished product - coolness value, that is.

[Dewey]

And Pete Rose watches the canvas slide on by.

[bender07]

2019 updates.

I was only able to stay until about noon on Saturday so my choices were limited. One thing I’ve recognized that there’s no way I’m going to “complete” this in any way. Mo’s signing Monday for $500 (think $600 for this) which is just crazy to me. He can certainly charge what he wants but I ain’t payin! I’d prefer to focus on relatively cheap guys and those where I watched the entirety of their career.

It’s funny, not preoccupying myself with completeness has made this more fun.

So with that preamble I give you an example of both.

Sutter...




And Vladdy...





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[mrmopar]

Neat project. As a Dodgers collector primarily, I have seen many similar projects with Dodgers signatures, where someone will get as many former players to sign a sheet of paper, photo or poster. It can be a great way to grab a lot of signatures in one shot when they are for sale.

Those types of pieces have to be a labor of love though and whatever money spent must be reasonable to the person having it done. I don't blame you for passing on Rivera at $500-600. I don't have his autograph (missed the 96 Leaf Signature cards before they exploded) and never will at the prices I see for just about anything he has signed.

By having it done yourself, I'm sure it adds a much greater personal value. They are neat, but in the end, it amounts to a random selection of similar players and just about everything eventually will be heading back into the marketplace for a new owner to covet. Items like this need especially need the right person to want it.

I do like the look and completeness of multi-signed items, but usually only if the players are pictured. I much prefer single signatures and mostly on cards or as a 2nd choice, 8x10s whenever possible.

[bigfanNY]

It is expensive a time consuming but getting in person Autographs is a load of fun especially if you have a family member or two to share it with. Great poster. I hope to go up next year for Jeter but not sure I will be paying up for one of his Auto's.

[bender07]

First update in years.

Obviously there was no ceremony in 2020 and while I went to the induction “weekend” in September 2021, I didn’t add anyone.m since it was such a low turnout.

Boggs was really great and talkative.

Rickey was absolutely gracious and appreciative. He’s one of my all time favorites growing up.

Smoltz was nice enough.

Mariano was excellent and really gregarious.

All of them were super nice to my son who’s just starting his love for baseball. This was my 33rd straight HOF weekend and his first. He claims he’s going to surpass me.

[Scott Garner]

Wow, Mark! How have you been?
It's been a while since I've seen you post.
Your HOF canvas is looking awesome & love your journey.
Be well!

[bender07]

Part 2 of the weekend.

For the first time, I went on Monday to get the current year enshrinees.

Chatted with Pedro about his ‘99 AS game performance. Nice guy.

Ortiz was incredibly nice and talkative with everyone.

Same story with Kaat, excellent guy.

I got Oliva at the end of his session and I think he was pretty beat. Nice guy.

Waiting for ‘23…

[cnote08]

This is incredibly cool & fun to see the updates. Please continue to update every year. I’m quite jealous!

[scmavl]

Agreed, keep the updates coming! Fantastic project.

[bender07]

2023 Update!

I’ve decided to focus on one of canvases that has guys that got in 2001 and up. I know I’ll never complete it (already missing Gwynn and Puckett) but gives me some focus.

I went without my son as he wasn’t feeling well so I missed some pics while talking to the guys.

Started the day with Jim Rice. Very engaging guy with the kids.



Next was Ted Simmons. Really unassuming and seemed genuinely nice.



Alan Trammel next up. Gave the old “we need to get Lou in HOF” line that he 100% agreed with. Nice softball for him.



Larussa was next but no pic. I’m a big A’s fan and I shared with him that his 80’s A’s teams started that love but on the negative side, it’s been 35 years of torment. He said he still thinks about that 1990 WS.

Torre was a late addition and someone I assumed I’d never get. He was pretty expensive but I still did it. Very nice too.



The one I was looking forward to was next. Unit. Again an unassuming guy and not very talkative. Not rude or anything. No pic. He’s my all time lefty so put him next to my all time righty (Pedro) on the canvas.

Last for Saturday was Baines. Marginal HOF’er but nice enough.



Couple more tomorrow…

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Kinda cringey to have to pay to add Baines to so many real HOFers, but it of course fits in with the scope of the project thanks to his friends who voted him in.

[bender07]

Adding todays guys

Apparently Rolen has an up charge if he’s signing something with signatures already on it. Apparently it was on the drop-down but me and a many people today missed it. So I had to plunk down another $30. Pretty gross. To think he feel his autograph adds ANY value to this is preposterous. I couldn’t get $500 for this thing. It’s purely a labor of love.



McGriff was cool. I watched him in the 80’s when he was with the Syracuse Chiefs.



Fun as always. Until ‘24 for (I think) Wagner, Beltre and Helton.

[bender07]

2024 Update!

I got 4 guys on Saturday. All great interactions.

Winfield. I told him I was from Syracuse and told the line a story about the time when he got an honorary degree from Syracuse and had to take a private plane from New York on Sunday and got back about five minutes before the game started. Steinbrenner was pissed, but Winfield didn’t care lol



Next was Eck. I’m an A’s fan so cool to meet him. Nice guy. I told him I was at his 2004 induction and he noted this year is a 20th anniversary. I said how can that be I’m only 25!!



Added Ozzie after that. He was excited to sign next to his high school teammate, Eddie Murray.



Finally finished with Craig Biggio. He laughed at how ugly Greg Maddux’s autograph was. Not sure he has talk.



I went back on Monday to get three of the Hall of Famer that were signing (no Mauer).

Beltre was cool. Told him he’s the first Hall of Famer I’ve met that’s younger than me.



Leyland and Helton didn’t say much.




Ichiro 2025!!

[Polarboy]

Ichiro 2025!![/QUOTE]

Amazing project, and awesome stories! As someone (like many others) who is an avid HOF collector, it's awesome to see a piece like this, and I can't wait to see you add Ichiro to it in 2025 (alongside some others of course). Take care, and happy hunting!

[Jay Wolt]

Mark great progress, seems like alot of fun

[Topnotchsy]

Rreally fun and cool following this.

[CW]

Thanks for the update, Mark, and the canvas looks to be filling in quite nicely. It is turning out to be quite the display piece, not to mention all the memories and interactions you can attach to it.

[bender07]

Thanks for the nice comments!


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