Best/Worse signers

[xpress34]

Re: Best/Worse signers

In my experience with notable players...

Best:

Adam Dunn, Greg Maddux.

Worst:

Larry Walker.

Red -

My experiences with the above three are the only ones were they were different than yours....

Dunn has blown off everyone here in Denver since his rookie year... I even mentioned to him once about having been born in Waco, TX as well (his hometown) and he made some smart @$$ comment about it... Maddux was even worse here - in fact two years ago he called me and another guy over to his cab at the hotel, we each leaned in a window - I had a card the other guy had a ball - he looked at each piece, never said a word and then tapped the cabbie to drive off - while we were still leaned int he windows!!! JERK MOVE!

Walker on the other hand - at least in Denver and Spring Training has always been a class guy - in fact when he went to St Louis and then cam back to play the Rox, he stopped EVERY day out back and signed everything anyone had... my most amazing instance with him though was the day he was traded from the Rox - I wne tout back and caught him as he was leaving (he was the last guy I needed on a team ball that year)... he stopped and signed - and when i said Denver would miss him, he got all teared up - which made me tear up and the big lug gave me a bear hug before he drove off. YES, I had a cry with Larry Walker - and it was one of the most memorable MLB experiences I have had...

My experience with Sosa is interesting... in the heat of the '98 HR race (he was at 56 at the time), he gladly signed a bat for me beautifully and actually thanked me for my comment on a great season. One year later in '99, he refused to sign a ball for me, but went on to sign cards and lesser value items for the half-dozen others nearby. I eventually got an 8x10 signed at this time, but noticed that he also refused to sign a jersey. It was clear that he was avoiding anything of "value".

I wonder if his stance has now changed, as the last 10 years have been unkind to his popularity.

Two years ago at Surprise during Spring Training when he was chasing 600 in comeback with the Rangers he was an @$$ (unless the cameras were on him - then he was all smile snad waving and signing)... we were down the line when he left the game on day and some people were yelling for them and he literally gave them the brush off with a wave of his arm - what a FRAUD - good when the press might catch him...

Worst: Bob Uecker didn't seem thrilled when I approached him at spring training but he signed.

Funny story here - but doesn't make Uke any better - he has blown me of for 6 years at the team hotel and the ballpark in Denver... always acts like he's put off by even being asked to sign - even when there is NO ONE there for the Brewers!!! Last year, I took my catchers mitt (Gold Glove Model with about 50 MLB Catchers on it) and again at the hotel he blew me off - but at the game (Sunday's at Coors Field are Auto days) I get to go down behind home plate (I have a 20% disabilty through the VA)... Uke is in the Brewers dugout interviewing Ned Yost. Everyone is yelling at Uke and I hold up my Mitt again. Uke doesnt come over - he taps Ned Yost and makes Yost come and ask for my mitt. Ned takes it back to the dugout, Uke signs it and then makes Ned bring it back to me! That's some power when an ANNOUNCER can make a MANAGER do his bidding...

Uh, the bankruptcy was 19 years ago. When did you have him sign this, what was it, and what was the basis for him giving you a hard time? I'm a San Diegan and this is the FIRST negative story about Gwynn I've EVER heard.

I agree with you here... we go down to Colorado Springs to watch SD State play Air Force when they are here and Gwynn has always been great about Autos there... no matter how many people or how many things they have... teh ONLY grief he ever gave me (and it made sense) was when I asked about a picture with him (I was wearing my AF Hoodie) and Tony said, "Are you trying to trick me? You're wearing the wrong team." I said that's cool, but after 12 years of service in the USAF I have to support my guys. Tony asked me , "So you served in the military?" When I said yes, he told me he respected the hell out of that and took the photo with me.

[spartakid]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Uh, the bankruptcy was 19 years ago. When did you have him sign this, what was it, and what was the basis for him giving you a hard time? I'm a San Diegan and this is the FIRST negative story about Gwynn I've EVER heard.

I agree, I went to the all-star fanfest in San Francisco and he was there signing. We waited in line for like 3 hours, but it was worth it. I got to get Juan Marichal, Rollie Fingers, and Tony Gwynn. Tony was the nicest of them all he actually thanked us for standing in line so long just to get his and the other's signatures. Granted I had him sign a baseball, but he couldn't have been further from mean, in fact we was the nicest of all 3 people I got to meet. Ricardo

[Tedw9]

Re: Best/Worse signers

I have not had the good fortune of being able to get too many autographs without paying, but I have met a couple of good guys.

Adam Vinatieri was by far the nicest guy I met. I met him 3 times after games and he stayed and signed for everybody before he left. The last time was a brutal cold night, but he still stayed. I missed him at the players entrance, but he stopped on the way out in his truck to sign my jersey. One news story I read was talking about the Pats flying home after a playoff game. They mentioned in the article that Adam was still there long after every other player left because he wanted to sign for everyone. He is just a very genuine nice guy who truly cares about his fans.

Another of my favorites is Bob Feller because of the stories he tells while you are in line. I could listen to him talk all day, he has the best stories!

A few months ago I met Jonathan Papelbon who was friendly to me and really made a point to talk to me. It was a nice change from other players I met who didn't even look at me. He also came across as someone who cares about his fans.

And on the topic of Tony Gwynn, he was at the same signing as Jonathan. I was waiting for my number to be called for Yogi Berra and noticed Tony was just sitting there chatting with a handler with no one in line. I just walked up and started talking with him and shook his hand. I'm a big fan of his and he seemed to be cool to me. Maybe the other poster caught him on a bad day?

[spartakid]

Re: Best/Worse signers

I've noticed Nick Swisher's name come up in a few posts. I know when he played for Oakland he was the best singner that I've ever seen, as well as a great person. I think I've said this before but to my recollection, he signed at EVERY game I went to. He was always smiling and happy to be there. He was one person that hadn't let the being a pro athlete get to his head. Great guy, and we miss him here in Oakland, I'll be interested to see if this changes in New York. Ricardo

[xpress34]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Other GREAT Signers (for me at least):

Nolan Ryan



Dontrelle Willis



Matt Holliday ( That is the ORIGINAL Oil Painting of his 2005 Diamond Kings Card!)



Todd Helton



Mark Grace



Troy Tulowitzki



Tracy Ringolsby aka 'The Cowboy' (HOF 2006 - Writer for the Rox... used to cover the Rangers, the Angels, many teams. Multiple BBWA Award winner.)



Vin Scully



Josh Hamilton - very humble and nice guy....

[godwulf]

Re: Best/Worse signers

xpress34....

Just curious...you appear to own a lot of jerseys, and generally seem to be wearing whichever one would make you appear to be a fan of the team with which the player you're looking to get close to is associated. So...do you have all 30 teams in your closet, on standby, or what?

[yanks12025]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Todd helton aint even looking at the camera. And is that Matt Holliday's kid in the back seat.

[frikativ54]

Re: Best/Worse signers

[quote=xpress34;121147]Other GREAT Signers (for me at least):

Nolan Ryan


Matt Holliday ( That is the ORIGINAL Oil Painting of his 2005 Diamond Kings Card!)



Where did you get that original oil painting? I would really like a Bagwell. Please email me at lazukor@gmail.com; I would be curious to know how you purchased that.

[xpress34]

Re: Best/Worse signers

xpress34....

Just curious...you appear to own a lot of jerseys, and generally seem to be wearing whichever one would make you appear to be a fan of the team with which the player you're looking to get close to is associated. So...do you have all 30 teams in your closet, on standby, or what?

GW -

YEARS of experience showed me that some players tend to sign easier if you are wearing team colors... so NO, I don't own all 30 teams jerseys, but I am aware of what colors or hat I am wearing when I do go to the team hotel... another thing I try to do is make myself familair with the player/players I am seeking for my collection other than just their baseball career (i.e. family, hometown, etc.) as it seems to break the ice with some guys if you can talk to them about something other than last night's HR or pitching performance or whatever...

I have some friends who call me a 'pro' autograph seeker - and I'm fine with that as long as they don't confuse me with the PROS who only do it for profit - you know, the guy who has one 8x10 and when the player approaches, it becomes TEN 8 x10's and then the player doesn't sign for anyone else...

As far as Jerseys, I do have Rangers, Rockies, D-Backs and Marlins in MLB and Stars and AVs as far as NHL goes... most of my Rockies Jerseys are GU.

All the best -

Chris

[xpress34]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Todd helton aint even looking at the camera. And is that Matt Holliday's kid in the back seat.

Yanks -

Someone said something to Todd just as the picture was being taken... and YES, the is Matt's kid in the backseat - we were out back of Coors Field after a day game... what's really funny is you can't see Matt's hands in the photo.

I say that because Matt and I had talked about this piece and he said bring it down and he would sign it... the day I brought it down was the day he slid head first into 2nd and broke his pinkie. One hand is in a finger splint and bandaged up! I told him we could do it later but he said no and signed anyway - actually one of the cleanest most legible Hollidays I have in my collection!

- Chris

[xpress34]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Where did you get that original oil painting? I would really like a Bagwell. Please email me at lazukor@gmail.com; I would be curious to know how you purchased that.

Les -

I bought it on eBay a few years back. After Donruss lost their MLB license, they auctioned a TON of stuff off from their Vault.

You could write Donruss and ask if they know the disposition of Bagwell's piece.

I know that the Pujols sold for around $1,600, Helton went for about $800 and quite a few went unsold...

The Holliday has a good story as I was watching it and I outbid the only other bidder by $2.50... I won this piece for $152.50 because Matt had not yet become a Superstar...

When I told Matt I had won the piece and was waiting for it to come in so he could sign the matte, one of his friends said something about me being the guy that outbid Matt's dad! It really had me feeling a little down.

Well, the day I took it down, I asked Matt if his dad was really upset and he told me his dad wasn't upset, but was more PO'd at himself that he didn't bid more... then Matt just starts laughing and tells me that actually it wasn't his dad, but it was his agent (before Boras) who I had outbid - and Matt was upset with him because he was going to give the painting to his parents.

But, Matt said since he knew I owned his 1st MLB Jersey (from Spring 2000 - #84) he was happy that the piece was in the hands of a true collector and fan. That made me feel a whole lot better.

Since then, Matt has signed anything I have had for him including any inscriptions I wished including: 2006 All Star Hat w/ '1st AS Game 2006' inscription, 2007 Gold Band 'MoneyBall' from AS HR Derby w/ '1st HR Derby 2007' inscription and his 2007 GU WS hat w/ '1st WS Game Used' Inscription.

- Chris

[frikativ54]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Les -

I bought it on eBay a few years back. After Donruss lost their MLB license, they auctioned a TON of stuff off from their Vault.

You could write Donruss and ask if they know the disposition of Bagwell's piece.

I know that the Pujols sold for around $1,600, Helton went for about $800 and quite a few went unsold...

The Holliday has a good story as I was watching it and I outbid the only other bidder by $2.50... I won this piece for $152.50 because Matt had not yet become a Superstar...

When I told Matt I had won the piece and was waiting for it to come in so he could sign the matte, one of his friends said something about me being the guy that outbid Matt's dad! It really had me feeling a little down.

Well, the day I took it down, I asked Matt if his dad was really upset and he told me his dad wasn't upset, but was more PO'd at himself that he didn't bid more... then Matt just starts laughing and tells me that actually it wasn't his dad, but it was his agent (before Boras) who I had outbid - and Matt was upset with him because he was going to give the painting to his parents.

But, Matt said since he knew I owned his 1st MLB Jersey (from Spring 2000 - #84) he was happy that the piece was in the hands of a true collector and fan. That made me feel a whole lot better.

Since then, Matt has signed anything I have had for him including any inscriptions I wished including: 2006 All Star Hat w/ '1st AS Game 2006' inscription, 2007 Gold Band 'MoneyBall' from AS HR Derby w/ '1st HR Derby 2007' inscription and his 2007 GU WS hat w/ '1st WS Game Used' Inscription.

- Chris

Cool story - sounds like you are a true fan. Do you have any good contacts at Donruss or a general address where I could write?

-Les

[xpress34]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Cool story - sounds like you are a true fan. Do you have any good contacts at Donruss or a general address where I could write?

-Les

Les -

http://www.donruss.com/

Address Phone Number Donruss Playoff L.P.
2300 E Randol Mill Rd
Arlington, TX 76011 (800) 852-8833
(817) 983-0300 ContactPhone Number Customer Support(817) 983-0203

[nealdevelopment@yahoo.com]

Re: Best/Worse signers

MVandor. Unfortunatly your having trouble with someone who has had numerous bad experiences with Gwynn. Like the other guy says about S Sosa hes a great guy until it comes time to have him sign something that is of value. His "real stuff" Get over it. This thread is about good and bad experiences. Tony Gwynn was a real downer.

[mvandor]

Re: Best/Worse signers

MVandor. Unfortunatly your having trouble with someone who has had numerous bad experiences with Gwynn. Like the other guy says about S Sosa hes a great guy until it comes time to have him sign something that is of value. His "real stuff" Get over it. This thread is about good and bad experiences. Tony Gwynn was a real downer.

Your story appears to be the exception, everyone else says Gwynn is just a happy guy, hardly ever down or negative or surly. And very down to earth.