Player asking how game used item was received

[allstarsplus]

Re: Player asking how game used item was received

I was referring to current players.

A current player who is about 20 to 23 years (not named Strasburg) is making about $400,000. For baseball players, that isn't a lot of money. To you LM85, that is a lot of money.

Yes, they can become agitated about certain pieces of lumber.

I had a player that I work with exclusively that had the 1st hit off of Randy Johnson on Randy's 300th win game. He cracked the bat and it disappeared. We later found out that a team exec grabbed the bat after it was hologramed. That took a few $100 out of that players pocket.

It matters to these guys. They have to make hay while the sun shines.

[LastingsMilledge85]

Re: Player asking how game used item was received

Seriously?? I guess you've never had anything stolen from you, or missed something that over time has come to have significant sentimental value. And not all players are swimming in dough. A lot of non-star and older, retired players struggle financially. Finally, who is to say that they are even provided the opportunity to buy their items back?

I was referring to current players.

[Yankwood]

Re: Player asking how game used item was received

I know I told this story on here before but I'll tell it again...I had the very "classy" Graig Nettles (whom I loved as a player) ask me at an autograph show, in front of children, regarding a cracked game used bat "Where the f--- did you steal this from?"....I told him "from a freind of mine in Detroit", to which he responded "Yeah, and how the f--- did he steal it from the stadium?"...I told him I wasn't sure but it was cracked anyway and that he had been retired for over a year anyway ( this was in 1990) , so what did it matter? I told him he didn't have to sign it if he didn't want to but he grabbed it and signed it like he was pissed anyway...I took the bat home and sold it the next day...

[sportscentury]

Re: Player asking how game used item was received

Why should anyone care what they think? They are getting paid lots of money, if they really want it they could easily pay for it.

Seriously?? I guess you've never had anything stolen from you, or missed something that over time has come to have significant sentimental value. And not all players are swimming in dough. A lot of non-star and older, retired players struggle financially. Finally, who is to say that they are even provided the opportunity to buy their items back?

[godwulf]

Re: Player asking how game used item was received

Last month, at Fan Fest, I had Matt Williams sign the two Mobile BayBears manager's jerseys of his that I bought from the team, and he was very surprised to see them again. I told him that they were usually hanging up on my "Matty Wall", and Jay Bell, who was sitting next to Matt, said, "I have a Matty Wall" and Matt said, "No you don't!" and they continued on in that vein for the whole time I was at the table. Two of the nicest guys in Baseball, and also pretty funny when they get together.

[xpress34]

Re: Player asking how game used item was received

P.S.

I'll update this after I get back from this year's ST Sabbatical (Mar 18th - 29th) when I get Giambi's GU Jersey and Pants signed.

- Chris

[xpress34]

Re: Player asking how game used item was received

I've had a few incidents with Rockies players... the 1st was when I 1st met Matt Holliday... I had purchased his 1st MLB jersey (Spring 2000) on eBay with the Rockies LOA and when Matt got called up in 2004, I held the jersey out at Coors Field as the players were coming out to warm up...

Matt saw it, did a double take, and then said he would be back after warming up... he came over and asked, 'Where the hell did you get this?' while smiling and laughing. I told him , 'Conneticut. From eBay.'. He said he never thought he would see that jersey again (he was #84 - yes, that far down the pecking order in 2000) and gladly signed it for me. In fact, that jersey is what made Matt and easy auto for me every time I see him (he signed 6 items for me last year at ST at Phx Muni Stad and called me down personally to sign his GU 2006 ASG jersey and 2007 Authe ASG jersey last year at Coors Field when here with the Cardinals). After signing the 2000 ST jersey, he used to wave and yell out ,'Go 84!' on his way out of Coors Field when he'd see me out back. I also have his GU 2007 WS Hat (w/ Rox LOA) and when I showed up with it, he chuckled and said something to the effect of 'I won't even ask...'

Another one that was funny was Seth Smith and his GU 2007 WS Hat. I took it to ST with me in 2008 and had the LOA with me and caught his at Field 5 at Hi Corbett. He looked the hat over and the LOA and verified it as his, and then asked how I obtained it. I told him (and Joe Koshansky who was standing there checking it out) that I purchase it from the Rockies Dug Out Store in downtown Denver around Christmas. He and Joe both commented that they had always wondered what happened to their stuff when the staff cleared out their lockers!

- Chris

[LastingsMilledge85]

Re: Player asking how game used item was received

Why should anyone care what they think? They are getting paid lots of money, if they really want it they could easily pay for it.

[bigtruck260]

Re: Player asking how game used item was received

The only one that really stands out for me is Ryan Ludwick.

I was at a signing with Ryan and Skip Schumaker last year...and when I got to Luddy, he looked at my bat REALLY hard. First question was "Is it even cracked?"

I got the bat from Ball Park Heroes, and the crack was really nicely repaired - so good in fact, I had a hard time showing him where the crack was ...

He then looked at the knob and checked the date code on the bottom. That's the first time that ever happened. His comment was "probably a bat that I brought with me when I got called up."

He just kind of smiled while shaking his head - kind of like he was flabberghasted that people would want something that he discarded. He ended up hitting 37 homers that year and driving in 116...

Most of the other guys are either indifferent, happy - or don't realize what it is they are signing.

[TNTtoys]

Re: Player asking how game used item was received

I have never actually had a player outright ask me "how I got this" but have had similar experiences. One player (I did tell the story before on another thread) turned to the guy next to him and muttered that "these used to walk out the back door of the locker room" and at that point I felt impelled to show him the "purchased from the team" stamp on the inside of the jersey just to show him that it was obtained "honestly."

This year, in the span of a month, I was told by the players that they wished they still had this item. I truly felt sorry for them but did not wish to give up a meaningful item in my collection. One one of these 2 occasions, I reconsidered and phoned the promoter and offered the jersey to the former player at my cost. He agreed to contact the player and relay my information to him. I never heard back from either of them.

[Manram]

Re: Player asking how game used item was received

This didn't happen to me, but to a media guy I know. He was at a show where Vida Blue was signing, and had a number of Vida's older jerseys. Vida signed them with no comment, but then later approached my friend and began very loudly talking about how the jerseys had been stolen from him, and getting very agitated. My friend told him that he'd purchased the jerseys directly from the team owner, and that he'd be happy to show him the documents. Vida didn't have much to say after that, but his wife came up to my friend a few minutes later and asked about purchasing one of the jerseys, but apparently the asking price was too much for her.

My experience with Vida was a lot better than that. Although at mine he was not signing a game used item. I met him a a celebrity tennis tournament and he would sign for anyone. One of the nicest guys I have met

[godwulf]

Re: Player asking how game used item was received

This didn't happen to me, but to a media guy I know. He was at a show where Vida Blue was signing, and had a number of Vida's older jerseys. Vida signed them with no comment, but then later approached my friend and began very loudly talking about how the jerseys had been stolen from him, and getting very agitated. My friend told him that he'd purchased the jerseys directly from the team owner, and that he'd be happy to show him the documents. Vida didn't have much to say after that, but his wife came up to my friend a few minutes later and asked about purchasing one of the jerseys, but apparently the asking price was too much for her.

[suave1477]

Re: Player asking how game used item was received

I actually like to joke with the players when they ask me that. It usually takes the awkward feeling at of the moment.

One incident I met Julio Franco and has his Batting Helmet from the Mets 2006 Playoffs.
(As another member here pointed out a lot of players do not realize the teams and such are selling there stuff)
This helmet I got directly from the Mets.

He asked me where did I get this from? (in a bit of a perturbed tone)

I said (jokingly) when he was sleeping the other night I went through his trash and found it. He started chuckling.

Then I said at home I got his under wear too. He started hysterical laughing. He said I can keep those lol lol.

At that point he was more than happy to sign it.

[jgoldstein2000]

Re: Player asking how game used item was received

I went to spring training in 2008 and had Jon Lester's cap from the previous season in Pawtucket. I asked him to sign it and he looked at the cap and I could def tell he was pissed. He asked where I got it, and I told him the person I got it from and he was OK with it after that. It has a really good bible quote in his own hand under the bill. The only bad part is I had him sign it with a silver sharpie and you can barely see it now(the cap is blue). I should have had him sign it with a paint pen. Lesson learned

Would love to get that hat

[murfsteve25]

Re: Player asking how game used item was received

The only bad part is I had him sign it with a silver sharpie and you can barely see it now(the cap is blue). I should have had him sign it with a paint pen. Lesson learned

Ya...I had Andruw Jones sign his jersey with a silver Sharpie on the back number. Looked good for the first day, now you cant even tell its there unless you put your face right up to it. Also a lesson learned.