Best/Worse signers

[redoctober]

Re: Best/Worse signers

In my experience with notable players...

Best:

Sean Casey, Pete Rose, Tom Glavine, Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Barry Larkin, Don Sutton, Roy Oswalt, Adam Dunn, Mark Grace, Tony Gwynn, Dave Righetti, Greg Maddux, Billy Williams.


Worst:

Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr, Ken Griffey Sr, Mike Hampton, Larry Walker, Randy Johnson, Mike Piazza, Roger Clemens.

[OaklandAsFan]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Amazing hearing stories that go right along with my experiences...

Nolan Ryan (my #1 guy - see my board name)... I've met Nolan quite a few times, but last year at Spring Training in Surprise, AZ took the cake... if he is at the game, a line forms about the 5th inning and Nolan will sign one auto and do a photo with everyone in line after the game ends. Well, at the game I got him at there were some 'pros' working the line with CASES of OMLB balls asking every adult if their kids were all getting autos. If not, they were asking them to get a ball signed 'for their kid/niece/nephew'... anyway, after getting my CUSTOM Made Ryan Bat (I use to work for Rawlings and I hand turned this bat) auto'd, I went out near the practice fields where the players drive out and walked up to the closest point. When Nolan drove out, I held up my Ryan BP jersey and he smiled, waved and drove past. I wasn't mad - he'd already signed my Bat - but as he got to where the road curves, he realized I was the ONLY person out there, stopped, backed up while rolling down his window and waving me up. he signed not only my Jersey but my Mini-Mitt as well. ALWAYS a class act.

Another amazing guy was Mike Modano when the Stars are here in Denver. First time I met him it was raining/snowing at the hotel and when he came out he waved and siad in a few minutes - well, half the crowd left bitching that he was getting on the team bus and blowing us off. About 2 minutes after they left, he comes back around the bus - signs EVERYTHING anyone had, took pictures, chatted us all up and then he looks at his watch and says, "Hey guys - I have about 10 more minutes before the bus leaves. Does anyone have anything else they need signed or any other pictures?" Talk about a Goddwill Ambassador to your sport!

Other TOP guys that I have met and either gotten auto or picture or both:
Matt Holliday (I will have to write aanother paragraph about Matty), Juan Pierre, Luis Gonzalez, Jeff Bagwell, Sean Casey, Gabe Kapler, Don Mattingly, Vin Scully, Don Sutton, Doug Brocail, Sandy Alomar, Ron Gardenhire, Joe Mauer, Mark Grace, Tony Gwynn, Eric Young (Sr and Jr) and YES - EY Sr is a GREAT guy, Vinny Castilla, Taylor Buchholz, Clint Barmes, Aaron Miles and many others...

NOW, for my NAUGHTY List - with a few stories mixed in - Randy Johnson (almost got in a fight with him - another story), Eddie Murray, Kirk Gibson, Sammy Sosa, A-Fraud, Scotty Bowman (JERK!), Steroid Bonds, Austin Kearns and a few others, but my TOP TWO are:

Rafael Palmiero - 1st meet was 1990 card show in Dallas. $3 admission and Raffy AU. He was taking everyone's cards and folding them in half before he signed so 'no one would be selling his auto in the dealer room.' 2nd meet was at Surprise, AZ Rangers 1st Spring in AZ. My wife and I were the only ones on the rail at the time and he walked by and told us he'd be back - then he sat in the dugout alone for like 20 minutes and kept looking to see if we were there, then blew us off (for ONE card) - blew us off again later at the batting cages... 3rd time - Orioles are here for Interleague with the Rockies. ALL 3 days he would hide behind a pillar or ignore the few people that were there until his cab came and THEN have the audacity to looka t us and say, "I'd love to sign guys, but my cab is here now" like he couldn't see or hear us earlier. I noticed he became a ghost after his steroids issue came up - GOOD RIDDANCE!

#1 on the BAD GUY list - Frank Robinson. And not even because he wouldn't sign - I already knew that, I'd heard the stories - but his LAST year with the Nats, I was the ONLY person at the team hotel looking for autos - Zimm signed as well as others - and the Frank comes out. All I did was be courteous and yell out, "Hello Frank. How are you today?" (Notice, I did NOT ask for an AUTO) And do you know what the so called 'Dean of Discipline' did to me? Not only did he not even ackowledge me, he scowled at me and TURNED HIS BACK on me until his limo came. I'm sorry, but I'm a human being too and he is no better than any of us. What an @$$!!!! Again, I was the ONLY person there working the team that day!!!!

I'll tell more stories (Matty and Big Unit) later...

All the Best -

Chris

Raffy has always been great for me while visiting Oakland. He gave me a bat a few days after hitting his 400th HR and I asked him to sign it and he said "when I get back out" as he was walking into the clubhouse. Of course I figured that was the typical ballplayer blowoff but sure enough when he came out right before the game I could tell he was looking for me over the visiting dugout and he waved at me and told me he would sign the bat now. I slid the bat and silver sharpie down and he not only shook the sharpie to make sure it was ready he also used his coffee cup to check and make sure it was writing really good before he signed the bat

Frank Robinson also you may have caught on a bad day or I just caught with a great story and entertained him. I had originally gotten Frank on the sweet spot of a OMLB when he managed the Expos. When they came to Oakland Ron Washington got it for me during BP. Well that (along with a ridiculous amount of other stuff) disappeared during my divorce (not even like half and half split, it literally disappeared, she stole it from a locked closet at our house and sold it and I never could find it) Well in 2007 during the Arizona Fall Leauge they had a Pat Tillman fundraiser and he was there. I initially asked him to sign a baseball and he told me no. I then pressed him a bit as we walked along the concourse in Phoenix Municipal Stadium and explained that I had his sig at one time and it was stolen by my ex wife. He then took the ball from me and signed it and told my current fiance to keep her hands off it if we broke up and then he laughed and then spent about 10 minutes playing with my son in his stroller before heading up to the offices at the park.

[earlywynnfan]

Re: Best/Worse signers

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Buck O'Neil yet. NOBODY was better to meet!

Ken
earlywynnfan5@hotmail.com

[allstarsplus]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Amazing hearing stories that go right along with my experiences...



#1 on the BAD GUY list - Frank Robinson. And not even because he wouldn't sign - I already knew that, I'd heard the stories - but his LAST year with the Nats, I was the ONLY person at the team hotel looking for autos - Zimm signed as well as others - and the Frank comes out. All I did was be courteous and yell out, "Hello Frank. How are you today?" (Notice, I did NOT ask for an AUTO) And do you know what the so called 'Dean of Discipline' did to me? Not only did he not even ackowledge me, he scowled at me and TURNED HIS BACK on me until his limo came. I'm sorry, but I'm a human being too and he is no better than any of us. What an @$$!!!! Again, I was the ONLY person there working the team that day!!!!

I'll tell more stories (Matty and Big Unit) later...

All the Best -

Chris

I did a Private Signing with Frank Robinson in the back room of the Chantilly Show in the Fall of 2006. Keep in mind, I am a paying customer. He shows up late and approaches my table then he walks away and grabs a person that works for the promoter and goes I'm not signing this stuff for a regular fee. See I had game used. I'm like fine, I paid a double premium fee and asked to write "game used" as an inscription which was the least he could do at the price I paid. Frank signs each piece and puts his HOF inscription on it and ignored what I asked him. Then he looked up and smiled as I took some pictures with one of my sons behind him.

Frank knew me from around the ballpark and we had taken pics together at the stadium before, and I had always liked him especially watching him as one of my favorite "Birds" back in the 60's and 70's.

I thought maybe it was the timing of the signing which was after the 2006 season when he was not re-signed by the Nationals. After he signed everything, he looks at the game used Nats items (jerseys & pants) and goes, you know they were supposed to pack up everything for me and I was supposed to get it all! He walked away with a pissed off look.

Then he and his lady friend got up and walked away.

After reading some of these comments, maybe he is like this all of the time. A shame as I know he can be a nice guy too! Kind of cool though getting his affirmation that I got his final Nats items from the 2006 season.

[cjclong]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Guess we all have different experiences with players. In Texas all our experiences with Palmerio signing were good and he was very considerate. I had just wonan extra ticket for one of his signings which was ending and he was leaving. Someone got him and brought him back and he was very nice and since it was a ticket I had just won and was not in line he would have been justified in saying it was over and gone on his way. Of course we all know Ripken was great. I think the best I know of now is Hamilton. He signs often at the ballbark in Texas while others don't and seems genuinely interested in the fans. I don't know if this will last as he is starting to get mobbed.

[godwulf]

Re: Best/Worse signers

That story about Palmiero folding the cards in half kills me. What a dick!

On the other hand, I bought one of those big, team-issued equipment bags from a retired player, pitcher Bob Wolcott, a few years ago, and after the deal was complete I asked if it would be okay if I mailed him a few cards for autos, and he said, Sure. I think I sent four cards, but when I got them back, he'd added and signed a couple of others from his own stash, that I didn't have. I thought that was pretty cool.

[xpress34]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Amazing hearing stories that go right along with my experiences...

Nolan Ryan (my #1 guy - see my board name)... I've met Nolan quite a few times, but last year at Spring Training in Surprise, AZ took the cake... if he is at the game, a line forms about the 5th inning and Nolan will sign one auto and do a photo with everyone in line after the game ends. Well, at the game I got him at there were some 'pros' working the line with CASES of OMLB balls asking every adult if their kids were all getting autos. If not, they were asking them to get a ball signed 'for their kid/niece/nephew'... anyway, after getting my CUSTOM Made Ryan Bat (I use to work for Rawlings and I hand turned this bat) auto'd, I went out near the practice fields where the players drive out and walked up to the closest point. When Nolan drove out, I held up my Ryan BP jersey and he smiled, waved and drove past. I wasn't mad - he'd already signed my Bat - but as he got to where the road curves, he realized I was the ONLY person out there, stopped, backed up while rolling down his window and waving me up. he signed not only my Jersey but my Mini-Mitt as well. ALWAYS a class act.

Another amazing guy was Mike Modano when the Stars are here in Denver. First time I met him it was raining/snowing at the hotel and when he came out he waved and siad in a few minutes - well, half the crowd left bitching that he was getting on the team bus and blowing us off. About 2 minutes after they left, he comes back around the bus - signs EVERYTHING anyone had, took pictures, chatted us all up and then he looks at his watch and says, "Hey guys - I have about 10 more minutes before the bus leaves. Does anyone have anything else they need signed or any other pictures?" Talk about a Goddwill Ambassador to your sport!

Other TOP guys that I have met and either gotten auto or picture or both:
Matt Holliday (I will have to write aanother paragraph about Matty), Juan Pierre, Luis Gonzalez, Jeff Bagwell, Sean Casey, Gabe Kapler, Don Mattingly, Vin Scully, Don Sutton, Doug Brocail, Sandy Alomar, Ron Gardenhire, Joe Mauer, Mark Grace, Tony Gwynn, Eric Young (Sr and Jr) and YES - EY Sr is a GREAT guy, Vinny Castilla, Taylor Buchholz, Clint Barmes, Aaron Miles and many others...

NOW, for my NAUGHTY List - with a few stories mixed in - Randy Johnson (almost got in a fight with him - another story), Eddie Murray, Kirk Gibson, Sammy Sosa, A-Fraud, Scotty Bowman (JERK!), Steroid Bonds, Austin Kearns and a few others, but my TOP TWO are:

Rafael Palmiero - 1st meet was 1990 card show in Dallas. $3 admission and Raffy AU. He was taking everyone's cards and folding them in half before he signed so 'no one would be selling his auto in the dealer room.' 2nd meet was at Surprise, AZ Rangers 1st Spring in AZ. My wife and I were the only ones on the rail at the time and he walked by and told us he'd be back - then he sat in the dugout alone for like 20 minutes and kept looking to see if we were there, then blew us off (for ONE card) - blew us off again later at the batting cages... 3rd time - Orioles are here for Interleague with the Rockies. ALL 3 days he would hide behind a pillar or ignore the few people that were there until his cab came and THEN have the audacity to looka t us and say, "I'd love to sign guys, but my cab is here now" like he couldn't see or hear us earlier. I noticed he became a ghost after his steroids issue came up - GOOD RIDDANCE!

#1 on the BAD GUY list - Frank Robinson. And not even because he wouldn't sign - I already knew that, I'd heard the stories - but his LAST year with the Nats, I was the ONLY person at the team hotel looking for autos - Zimm signed as well as others - and the Frank comes out. All I did was be courteous and yell out, "Hello Frank. How are you today?" (Notice, I did NOT ask for an AUTO) And do you know what the so called 'Dean of Discipline' did to me? Not only did he not even ackowledge me, he scowled at me and TURNED HIS BACK on me until his limo came. I'm sorry, but I'm a human being too and he is no better than any of us. What an @$$!!!! Again, I was the ONLY person there working the team that day!!!!

I'll tell more stories (Matty and Big Unit) later...

All the Best -

Chris

[godwulf]

Re: Best/Worse signers

I've never met (the now retired) Eric Young, but judging from the way his son, Eric Jr., whom I met this past year in the Arizona Fall League, conducts himself around the fans, I'm guessing that the Dad was an excellent role model.

Agree about Mike Morgan - MoMan! One of the most talkative individuals I've ever met in my life, and a sweetheart...and he signed the same way he talked - profusely. I've got an 8 x 10 photo that he signed for me shortly after the '01 WS, and he inscribed it, "To Jeff, Friends Forever! 2001 World Series Champions", etc, etc, and just covered the entire photo with writing, talking a blue streak the entire time. It was hilarious.

I remember the time MoMan got hit hard on his right knee with a line drive, and was on the ground, writhing with agonizing pain for a good five minutes, while everyone gathered around trying to help; it was one of the ugliest things I've ever seen on a ballfield. Ten minutes later, the skipper, Bob Brenly, was walking off the field shaking his head - MoMan had talked Brenly into letting him stay out there and pitch some more.

[bigtruck260]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Best - Willie McGee...humble, humble, humble. HUGE in STL. Bigger draw than most HOF including Musial at the shows I've attended.

Worst - Reggie Jackson. No comment, just not very nice.

[Sluggo]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Forgot one of the greatest: Buddy Bell!

GREAT back in the day:

They may not all be HOFers, but they are true class acts.

[Sluggo]

Re: Best/Worse signers

I don't care how many wins, homers, WS rings these guys have, they were rude, foul-mouthed, disrespectful people, often in front of old ladies, little kids, etc: (all are based on multiple, routine experiences - not like I only saw them once)

BAD back in the day: Randy Myers (whew!), Keith Hernandez, Eddie Murray, Alfredo Griffin, Felix Jose, Billy Ripken, Lou Piniella, Frank Robinson, Rickey Henderson

GREAT back in the day: Mike Morgan, Matt Williams, Jack Armstrong, Luis Quinones, Terry Kennedy, Cal Ripken Sr, Cal Ripken Jr, Mark Eichorn, Dave Stewart, Dwight Gooden, Jim Palmer, Jose Canseco, Dave Justice

They may not all be HOFers, but they are true class acts.

[gameu08]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Cal Ripken was great met him at a MAB show. But my favorite was Brian Urlacher who talked with me and took some pics. Great sig as well.

mike

[smittyark]

Re: Best/Worse signers

At the park, Cal Ripken was probably the best big name signer. I got him 3 days in a row in Detroit.

I spent most summers with my Uncle in Cincinnati growing up and he worked the games, so I went all the time. I have to say Rob Dibble was the biggest asshole ever. Refused every attempt to sign. Would say he would come back later and wouldn't. Often times I would get in the park before the general public, but I never had any luck with Dibble.

[BULBUS]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Don Mattingly, one of the best! The line takes forever, beacuse he will talk to you and take pictures. Well worth the wait!

[godwulf]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Randy Johnson is the worst, by far, I've ever encountered, and I think everyone who has been on this board for awhile has heard that story.

I honestly can't think of anyone else I've ever encountered who was a bad signer. Some guys seem a bit nervous and so they don't talk a lot, but you can tell it is just nervousness, so you can't really hold it against them.

Pete Rose wasn't exactly Mr. Personality when I saw him, but I wasn't really expecting him to be, so I wasn't disappointed.

The best: probably a tie between Luis Gonzalez and Matt Williams.

The first time I met Gonzo was in '99, and I was just beginning to get stuff signed and had a lot to learn. I asked him to sign a ball for me with a black Sharpie, and he said, "Are you sure?" and then went on to explain to me why ballpoint was better; I've never forgotten that. At another signing, he got there about ten minutes late, and the first thing he did was to apologize to everyone, and explain that he'd been at his son's basketball game. I've been to probably at least a half dozen signings by Gonzo, and he's always fantastic.

I can't say enough nice things about Matty. He talks with everyone like they are someone he's known all his life, and makes a point of putting the best possible signature on anything he's given.

Honorable mention: Bobby Witt, Ken Phelps, Miguel Batista, Greg Swindell.