Where's The Best Place to Meet Astros?

[frikativ54]

Hey Houstonians and Friends,

I would like to meet some Astros players. Back when I was in seventh grade, my Dad took me to Houston and we got the autographs of about half the team before the game. This was way back in 1998. Moises Alou, Billy Wagner, Jeff Bagwell, and countless others were willing to either sign or chat with us. Although he has the reputation of being kind of a jerk, I found that Billy Wagner was the nicest of all of them.

Now that several years have passed, and the Astros have a new stadium, I am wondering where the best place is to get autographs, chat with the players, etc. My only Houston show experience was with Hunter Pence, and as I've mentioned before, I had one of my worst experiences ever meeting him. Rude, wouldn't even acknowledge me or take a photo when I told him I came from halfway across the country to see the Astros play. That was after I bought a $500 lightly game-used bat. I sure wish I had that $500 back, as it was my total savings and I hate the sight of that bat.

To make a long story short, I will probably be returning to Houston in the near future, and I would like to figure out where are the best places to meet Houston Astros players like I did back when I was in the 7th grade. Please, Houstonians, let me know so I don't repeat the bad experience with Pence. Thanks for any help you can provide.

[frikativ54]

Re: Where's The Best Place to Meet Astros?

bump - any more thoughts? The TriStar show's going to be breaking the bank, if I even make it there.

-Frik

[loumud]

Re: Where's The Best Place to Meet Astros?

Hey Houstonians and Friends,

I would like to meet some Astros players. Back when I was in seventh grade, my Dad took me to Houston and we got the autographs of about half the team before the game. This was way back in 1998. Moises Alou, Billy Wagner, Jeff Bagwell, and countless others were willing to either sign or chat with us. Although he has the reputation of being kind of a jerk, I found that Billy Wagner was the nicest of all of them.

Now that several years have passed, and the Astros have a new stadium, I am wondering where the best place is to get autographs, chat with the players, etc. My only Houston show experience was with Hunter Pence, and as I've mentioned before, I had one of my worst experiences ever meeting him. Rude, wouldn't even acknowledge me or take a photo when I told him I came from halfway across the country to see the Astros play. That was after I bought a $500 lightly game-used bat. I sure wish I had that $500 back, as it was my total savings and I hate the sight of that bat.

To make a long story short, I will probably be returning to Houston in the near future, and I would like to figure out where are the best places to meet Houston Astros players like I did back when I was in the 7th grade. Please, Houstonians, let me know so I don't repeat the bad experience with Pence. Thanks for any help you can provide.

Frik,

Can't help you with the Houston info, but it sounds like Hunter's been taking some advice from Lance Berkman on how to interact with fans and signing habits! Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience with him. I go to talk with him briefly a few times here in SD during the recent series with the Padres, and he struck me more as being uncomfortable and taken aback by his popularity than just being plain rude. In person he does insist on personalizing everything he signs for adults, which is probably something he learned from Ausmus. I guess everything depends on who the younger players take up as role models!

[Vintagedeputy]

Re: Where's The Best Place to Meet Astros?

"Where's The Best Place to Meet Astros?"

Do you mean, romantically?

Jim

[frikativ54]

Re: Where's The Best Place to Meet Astros?

"Where's The Best Place to Meet Astros?"

Do you mean, romantically?

Jim

I hope you're joking. One of the frustrating things about being a female fan is that people think sex is at the bottom of everything. I've always been a big Berkman collector (although some of his off-field actions drive me crazy), though I have absolutely no attraction to him.

There is only one current Astro I think is decent-looking, and that is J.R. Towles. Even then, I wouldn't want to marry him, as I would hate to be known as merely x player's wife. My Mom does think looks are important though. She has always swooned over Brad Ausmus and Craig Biggio.

[frikativ54]

Re: Where's The Best Place to Meet Astros?

Frik,

Can't help you with the Houston info, but it sounds like Hunter's been taking some advice from Lance Berkman on how to interact with fans and signing habits! Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience with him. I go to talk with him briefly a few times here in SD during the recent series with the Padres, and he struck me more as being uncomfortable and taken aback by his popularity than just being plain rude. In person he does insist on personalizing everything he signs for adults, which is probably something he learned from Ausmus. I guess everything depends on who the younger players take up as role models!

I've never met Berkman, although I tried unsuccessfully to get his autograph in Arizona last May. Is he rude? Does he just not sign at all?

I don't quite understand the personalization thing. I mean, if you brought a Pence gamer, would he seriously personalize it to you? Man - what a jerk.

[Vintagedeputy]

Re: Where's The Best Place to Meet Astros?

I hope you're joking. One of the frustrating things about being a female fan is that people think sex is at the bottom of everything. I've always been a big Berkman collector (although some of his off-field actions drive me crazy), though I have absolutely no attraction to him.

There is only one current Astro I think is decent-looking, and that is J.R. Towles. Even then, I wouldn't want to marry him, as I would hate to be known as merely x player's wife. My Mom does think looks are important though. She has always swooned over Brad Ausmus and Craig Biggio.

Yes, I was joking, hence the "".

I actually had no idea that you were female. It just sounded funny when you said "where's the best place to meet Astros?". It reminded me of someone saying "where's the best place to meet single women?"

no offense intended

[eGameUsed]

Re: Where's The Best Place to Meet Astros?

I hope you're joking. One of the frustrating things about being a female fan is that people think sex is at the bottom of everything. I've always been a big Berkman collector (although some of his off-field actions drive me crazy), though I have absolutely no attraction to him.

There is only one current Astro I think is decent-looking, and that is J.R. Towles. Even then, I wouldn't want to marry him, as I would hate to be known as merely x player's wife. My Mom does think looks are important though. She has always swooned over Brad Ausmus and Craig Biggio.

Sorry Frik! JR is getting married in November!

Thanks,

[loumud]

Re: Where's The Best Place to Meet Astros?

I've never met Berkman, although I tried unsuccessfully to get his autograph in Arizona last May. Is he rude? Does he just not sign at all?

I don't quite understand the personalization thing. I mean, if you brought a Pence gamer, would he seriously personalize it to you? Man - what a jerk.

Lance isn't necessarily rude to fans, be he'll usually just walk by without acknowledging you, or sometimes he'll just say "not now" and keep walking. I was amazed when he stopped this year outside the park in SD. He was the last autograph I needed to finish my 2005 Astros WS team photo, and I had been trying for 2 years to get him to sign it!!

Also, I think if you personally asked Hunter to sign your bat, you might have some luck with him not insisting on personalizing it, being a lady and all. Players' demeanor towards women and kids is a lot different than with men. You asking him is a lot different than a 40-yr old man with 12 O'clock shadow and a beer gut asking him to sign it. Some players just think anyone over 20 is going to sell their stuff on ebay! I think it's funny that players like Ausmus and Preston Wilson insist on personalizing everything. I know Ausmus is popular in the Houston area, but I might be able to get like $5 on ebay for his autograph!! I would barely break even on the actual cost of the item he signed...

[frikativ54]

Re: Where's The Best Place to Meet Astros?

Lance isn't necessarily rude to fans, be he'll usually just walk by without acknowledging you, or sometimes he'll just say "not now" and keep walking. I was amazed when he stopped this year outside the park in SD. He was the last autograph I needed to finish my 2005 Astros WS team photo, and I had been trying for 2 years to get him to sign it!!

Also, I think if you personally asked Hunter to sign your bat, you might have some luck with him not insisting on personalizing it, being a lady and all. Players' demeanor towards women and kids is a lot different than with men. You asking him is a lot different than a 40-yr old man with 12 O'clock shadow and a beer gut asking him to sign it. Some players just think anyone over 20 is going to sell their stuff on ebay! I think it's funny that players like Ausmus and Preston Wilson insist on personalizing everything. I know Ausmus is popular in the Houston area, but I might be able to get like $5 on ebay for his autograph!! I would barely break even on the actual cost of the item he signed...

What were Biggio and Bagwell like as signers? In my limited experience, I had a lot of luck with Bagwell. Biggio seemed a bit brusque, but I was able to get his John Hancock before an Astros vs. D-Backs game in Arizona. Most of my autograph experience has been in Arizona, since my parents own a home there, and I go to 'Stros games there whenever I can. Just curious what they were like, as I've never lived in Houston.

[loumud]

Re: Where's The Best Place to Meet Astros?

What were Biggio and Bagwell like as signers? In my limited experience, I had a lot of luck with Bagwell. Biggio seemed a bit brusque, but I was able to get his John Hancock before an Astros vs. D-Backs game in Arizona. Most of my autograph experience has been in Arizona, since my parents own a home there, and I go to 'Stros games there whenever I can. Just curious what they were like, as I've never lived in Houston.

Hey Frik,

This thread is probably more appropriate for the autograph forum, but I'll reply to your previous query in turn. Compared to the pro athletes today, Bags and Biggio were phenomenal. I couldn't assign a 'personality plus' to either when I encountered them in person, but at least they signed. For the series' here in SD, I could usually count on getting each at least 3-4 times per person each series. They didn't particularly smile each time or talk to the fans too much, but they did stop and sign whenever I saw them. Biggio always insisted on signing 1 auto per person, and I saw Bagwell do that upon occasion. Considering the length of their careers, I can honestly say that I hold them in the highest respect for keeping consistent on their signing habits. I've heard that when Berkman signs for free, he usually won't sign any game used items in blue sharpie, which is unfortunate since I'm the type of person who prefers a blue auto on blonde bats or 8x10s if there's a light background. It has nothing to do with resale value or anything like that. It's just my preference!

Anyway, that's my take on eveything from my experience. Feel free to PM me if you have any further questions, but for now anything further should probably be taken to the autograph forum on this site. Thanks!

[frikativ54]

Re: Where's The Best Place to Meet Astros?

Hey Frik,

This thread is probably more appropriate for the autograph forum, but I'll reply to your previous query in turn. Compared to the pro athletes today, Bags and Biggio were phenomenal. I couldn't assign a 'personality plus' to either when I encountered them in person, but at least they signed.

Just one more question: what do you mean by a "personality plus"? I have never heard that term used before.

[loumud]

Re: Where's The Best Place to Meet Astros?

'Personality Plus' is a term that describes someone who is happy, outgoing, overly friendly. etc. It's usually used as a sarcastic term, meaning if you encounter someone who is quiet, unemotional or reserved you would say "wow, that person was personality plus!"

[Master Shake]

Re: Where's The Best Place to Meet Astros?

I can't say from experience during the regular season but Hunter Pence was a great signer this past spring training. I've never seen a player sign as much as Pence did. I got him at least 5-6 times. Berkman is especially tough to get. When he does sign its maybe 10 people max and that's it and from what I've seen he's more likely to sign if there's not a lot of people around as opposed to when there's a crowd of people. When we went to a Braves spring training game he came out with his left arm wrapped in ice. Some people asked if he could sign a couple autographs and he put up his arm and said he couldn't sign. The funny thing is he signs with his left hand not his right. I don't have a problem with someone not wanting to sign autographs but I would much prefer a player to be truthful and tell fans that they won't be signing today instead of making excuses or telling them they'll sign later and don't.

Just a little rant. Good luck to you getting autographs! Just don't get your hopes up on Berkman and Oswalt. They're tough but consider yourself lucky if you do get them!

[frikativ54]

Re: Where's The Best Place to Meet Astros?

When we went to a Braves spring training game he came out with his left arm wrapped in ice. Some people asked if he could sign a couple autographs and he put up his arm and said he couldn't sign. The funny thing is he signs with his left hand not his right. I don't have a problem with someone not wanting to sign autographs but I would much prefer a player to be truthful and tell fans that they won't be signing today instead of making excuses or telling them they'll sign later and don't.

Did you mean that his right arm was wrapped in ice? Otherwise, your claim about Berkman being untruthful makes no sense.

-Frik