What Would You Do for a Collectible?

[EurekaDave]

I've been known to carry a baseball in my carry-on plane bag, just in case I see someone famous.

I once snuck a baseball bat into a nearly empty clubhouse (Boston) to get ballplayer to sign a bat. I got it---Wade Boggs.

So what outrageous thing have you done to bag that keeper collectible?

Or, put another way, what would you do to get that matching shower sandal for GUU's Kyle Hess?

[bigtruck260]

I bought tickets to the left field upper deck at old Busch in 1998 during the big McGwire home run chase...and spent a small fortune...

I actually spent more money than a newlywed 23 year old should ever spend. My goal was to catch a homer by any means possible - and yes, at that time in my life, I would certainly have been a jack-a$$ and angered my fellow Cardinals brethren by throwing elbows like Shaq in the paint.

The closest I came to catching any homers that year were:

A. Inaugural series against the Diamondbacks. I remember Jeff Suppan getting creamed, he served up homers to (I think) Lankford, Jordan - and Mac 2 times. McGwire hit 3 that game, either the first or second homer landed about 10 feet from us. The third was WAY out...

B. A buddy and I went to a game against (who knows)...we were drinking long before the game started and switched seats after someone spilled beer on the couple in front of us. Not before Mac hit a homer into the upper deck in left...something I had only seen once in 20 years (Felix Jose was the other). We ended up in the first row of the left field stands - and late in the game Mac hit another one...very towering that I got my fingertips on. Had I been sober, woulda had a BallHawk experience.

Anyway - the whole purpose of buying the tickets was to hopefully see a milestone, catch the milestone and return milestone to McGwire. We knew a bartender who (supposedly) gave Mac his 50th homer from 1997 - and was treated to a bat and some other crap from his locker. He had the bat in his bar...I wanted a bat in my room.

In the end, no milestone and massive credit card debt that I just finished paying off last year.

Thanks for letting me share what's left of my brain cells. I am suprised I remembered so many details.

[lund6771]

in 91 I was a sophmore in college and wanted to get a Jordan jersey signed one night they played the t-wolves...we found out what hotel they were staying at and went there right after the game...

we were waiting outside the hotel, along with 20 others, when the bus showed up and Jordan blew by everyone...about an hour later we were hanging out in the lobby when the players started coming back down to go to the bars when we ran into Pippen...he was just starting to develop into a superstar and was loving life signing autos...but he got pretty pissed at me when I asked him if he could get Jordan to sign my jersey...looking back I can understand his point of view...then Jordan came down and blew by everyone again

my buddy and I waited 4 hours Jordan to come back from the bar...Chris Doleman, ex Vikes player, dropped him off and we were the only ones still hanging out...Jordan signed 2 jerseys for us and said "Man don't you guys ever sleep"...I laughed, got my 2 jerseys signed and felt fortunate to have a 5 second conversation with the best athelete on the planet

[BergerKing22784]

I would say Tiger Woods has him beat as the best ever.......

[lund6771]

berger..although Tiger is incredible...I've always viewed golf as a game, and not as a sport

how can Phil M., John Daly, and Tom Lehmen be really considered athletes...they have skills, but they're fat

it's like the guys on Bassmasters should be considered better athletes talhough they are at the top of their profesion

who was ESPN's #1, or anyone's, athelete of the century?

[skyking26]

I had been collecting Dave Kingman items since high school graduating in 1982, when, in 1992 I learned of a game and signing he'd attend as part of the Alumni Association down in St. Petersburg FL. My dad, brother and I were taking care of my terminally ill mom who passed later that year at age 51, when my dad said, "why don't you guys go down to FL for a week and get away." Living in MI it was a haul...

I contacted the promoter of the show who told me he'd make every effort to get us together, one which he recanted upon arrival in the sunshine state. I was on my own and the Alumni game had long since been sold out. The promoter told me what hotel Dave was at and I called his room a few times, always getting his wife who was in the room alot withtheir 3rd child who was an infant at the time. She was very nice and always encouraged me to call again. Dave eventually agreed to meet me in a sauna room out in the parking lot of the hotel. My brother, friend and I dragged about 7 GU jerseys, bats, etc. in here and awaited Dave's arrival. I was shocked to see him descend an outside stairwell with his then 2 young daughters and walk in. After introductions he signed everything. I left with some personal information and talk with him a few times a year and occasionally hook up when he comes into Chicago (which is the closest spot he has ever been to me living outside Detroit). Just had dinner with him on March 28. Great guy!

[harpt]

I have posted this photo before, but never really talked about the "what would you do for a Klondike Bar aspect of the story.

My Buddy and I dressed up like Rollie Fingers and went to get his autograph at a minor league baseball game in Green Bay. By the time we got into costume and made it to the park, there were already a ton of folks in line. Starting to feel a little silly now, we made our way to the end of this line with our fake moustaches and powder blue jerseys sticking out like sore thumbs. We got a lot of laughs and positive feedback, but plenty of folks just sort of looked at us like we were morons too...a point I would have had difficulty arguing.

The local news stations all included us in their evening report that night, and Rollie really got a kick out of us. I have since had Rollie sign the photo and he said he remembered us and was happy to see the picture. A very nice guy.

[platinum1]

I've been known to carry a baseball in my carry-on plane bag, just in case I see someone famous.

I once snuck a baseball bat into a nearly empty clubhouse (Boston) to get ballplayer to sign a bat. I got it---Wade Boggs.

So what outrageous thing have you done to bag that keeper collectible?

Or, put another way, what would you do to get that matching shower sandal for GUU's Kyle Hess?
LOL I work for an Airline and In my work locker I have Baseballs and Footballs . I have gotten so many players especially when an All Star week or Autograph show. All I do is check flights going or coming from the City the All Star is being held and sure enough there they are. One time I talked to Dave Winfield for about half hour and got 2 baseballs signed.

[panthrotc]

i have put in alot of hours in my career as a mcgwire nut. pretty much to get things signed. i have a ball that he tossed me that was used in the first inning of his last night game in the american league. here are some auto's that i patiently waited for and put the time in for.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/longball98/Mcgwire%20Autographed%20Memorabilia/todon.jpghttp://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/longball98/Mcgwire%20Autographed%20Memorabilia/bx1222.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/longball98/Mcgwire%20Autographed%20Memorabilia/slu.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/longball98/Mcgwire%20Autographed%20Memorabilia/97slu.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/longball98/Mcgwire%20Autographed%20Memorabilia/96slu12.jpghttp://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/longball98/McGwire%20IP%20Autos/1985-1986/i1.jpghttp://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/longball98/McGwire%20IP%20Autos/1997/i63.jpghttp://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/longball98/McGwire%20IP%20Autos/1997/i62.jpghttp://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/longball98/McGwire%20IP%20Autos/1998/i64.jpghttp://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/longball98/McGwire%20IP%20Autos/10x12.jpg

[Fnazxc0114]

i waited in line for about 14 hours to get nolan ryans autograph on a baseball that was signed by the catcherw who caught his seven no hitter. his sig was the last one i neede. he tried to sign the side panel but signed the sweet spot when i asked him to.

[AWA85]

Wow, is that really Big Mac's signature? Pretty poor if you ask me. I never have really looked at any of his autographed items, did this just come about later in his career?