Best/Worse signers

[skyking26]

Re: Best/Worse signers

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.

Alot of ball players have a bad day, just like anyone else. Perhaps Mike caught Gwynn on one of those. I myself have been known to have a few bad days...per my wife anyway. I see myself as 24 hour joy.

[Mr.3000]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Alot of ball players have a bad day, just like anyone else. Perhaps Mike caught Gwynn on one of those. I myself have been known to have a few bad days...per my wife anyway. I see myself as 24 hour joy.

lol Too funny.

[nealdevelopment@yahoo.com]

Re: Best/Worse signers

MVandor,
This post is for people who had a bad experience with a signer for everybody to hear. Can't i tell people about my bad experiences without you throwing in your two cents. I had a bad experience, ok?
You almost remind me of when i was with tony at the signings.

[gingi79]

Re: Best/Worse signers

In person, I hated going to ask players for autographs at games because I was always ignored. Part of the reason I hate the Mets and love my Braves is because I grew up going to Shea in the 80's. 86-90 Mets were rude to a little kid just asking for an autograph on their baseball card. This included my all time favorite exchange:

"Excuse me, Mr. Dykstra? Can you please sign my card?
(which he ignored. Strawberry says to him, "That kid with the Mets hat is asking for your autograph. He responds
"Who cares what that brat wants."

Dale Murphy however took the time to talk to me about baseball when I was wearing a Mets hat and my Little League shirt. He also signed in a visiting ballpark for people who rooted against him. I wore #3 in baseball for years after this exchange.

To be fair, David Wright signs all the time. I have serious respect for him. Kids, adults don't matter. Talks baseball and signs autographs. Classy guy.

I'll echo Ripken sentiments. I once saw him 3 hours after an Angels game still signing. Seriously, not even rookies do that!


At shows I have met and been overwhelmed by the kindness of:

Dan Marino: (This was as he was deciding if he would go to the Vikes or retire. I told him "It doesn't matter if you never play again, you'll always be the greatest Quarterback ever." He retired a month later. I take the credit HA!)

Barry Sanders: An obvious newbie to the "show scene" For those of you who don't know, when you buy tix for the NJ Triumph Sports show, the earlier you buy dictates the order you meet the athlete. So if you buy your ticket the day of the show, you're the last person to get an autograph. Similarly, if you pre-order 6 months in advance, you get first crack. Each ticket has a number. Well I wanted Barry's autograph since I saw him play live in Giants Stadium in 1991. I pre-ordered. I was number 45 out almost 500 for deluxe signatures (they charge more for jerseys than photos) It took 2 hours of standing on line to get up to him. I realized why when I finally got my turn. Barry spoke to everyone. Not just a few words, he held a conversation. I told him he should come back and play on just Thanksgivings because Turkey always tastes better when he was breaking the ankles of any poor CB who tried to tackle him. He was really appreciative of my support. Just to put it in perspective, Joe Montana was on 300-350 when I got off line and he started an hour later than Barry. Not digging Joe, he's a veteran of these things and the line keeps moving with him. Barry as a rookie, was still amazed so many people paid $150 for his signature that he still felt obligated to talk to all of us. On a side note, I left 6 hours later and Barry was still signing, 4 hours after his contract expired.

Jerry Rice: Just like Barry, big smile, told stories, took pictures, shook my hand like we were college roomates and thanked me for my support with sincerity.


Zack Thomas/Ricky Williams: Both sweet guys, took time to talk and answer questions. Ricky has a bad rep but he's a really cool guy one on one. Zach looks small on TV, he's a bull up close. Jason Taylor same thing. Looks almost skinny out there on TV but huge shoulders.

I realize I may have to part with a gamer now and then but my Sanders, Marino and Rice will be handed down to my kids.

[xpress34]

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.

Not jumping on the bandwagon here or anything, but in your original post, you only mention ONE bad experience - witha GU piece of equipment.

If you have had multiple bad experiences, maybe you should lay them all out like I did about my various experiences the Rafael Palmiero. Other people had great experiences with him , but I had multiple bad ones and I listed them all.

Just my observation and .02 here.

- Chris

[Mr.3000]

Re: Best/Worse signers

In person, I hated going to ask players for autographs at games because I was always ignored. Part of the reason I hate the Mets and love my Braves is because I grew up going to Shea in the 80's. 86-90 Mets were rude to a little kid just asking for an autograph on their baseball card. This included my all time favorite exchange:

"Excuse me, Mr. Dykstra? Can you please sign my card?
(which he ignored. Strawberry says to him, "That kid with the Mets hat is asking for your autograph. He responds
"Who cares what that brat wants."

That is so funny that you told that story....funny because nearly the same EXACT thing happened to me with Dykstra when I was a kid.

It was my birthday 1987. My oldest sister took me to a Mets game for my present. All I wanted the entire game was to see one player up close and maybe get my Mets yearbook signed. We had nosebleed seats. I mean seriously, we had binoculars lol

After the game I rushed all the way down to the field level and another fan swapped tickets with me so that I could get into the field level...by now nearly everyone was gone (guess I wasn't as fast as I thought I was lol). I make it to right up to the wall and there I see Roger McDowell and Dykstra ...from what I recall they were carrying equipment I believe....and I say "Mr. Dykstra could you please sign my yearbook?"

He replies, "Get lost kid. Games over, go home."

McDowell turns to him and says, "It's one kid, just sign it for him".

Dykstra says to him...and I quote...."---- that kid."

McDowell looks up (by now they're next to the dugout) and says, "Sorry kid, I tried."



Ever since that day, 22 years ago, I can't stand Dykstra and I wouldn't take his signature if he offered it to me for free. I should have gotten Rogers sig. but what did I know, I was a silly 12 yr old that loved hitters and fielders. I wasn't much of a fan of pitchers lol Looking back now.....McDowell was the winning pitcher too (3 Aug, 1987).

[frikativ54]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Ever since that day, 22 years ago, I can't stand Dykstra and I wouldn't take his signature if he offered it to me for free. I should have gotten Rogers sig. but what did I know, I was a silly 12 yr old that loved hitters and fielders. I wasn't much of a fan of pitchers lol Looking back now.....McDowell was the winning pitcher too (3 Aug, 1987).

Sorry guys, about your experiences with Dykstra. Only thing I remember about him was nickname and that conspicuous wad of chew. But isn't it interesting how most of us can remember the date of our first really rude encounter with a pro athlete? It will turn us off an athlete for life.

[Rob L]

Re: Best/Worse signers

The greatest signer I ever saw was Benjie Molina. Used to see him every year at the Angels Spring Training and he would sign for everyone. Saw this happen at least 4 years in a row. That was always cool to see.

[dcrules01]

Re: Best/Worse signers

That is so funny that you told that story....funny because nearly the same EXACT thing happened to me with Dykstra when I was a kid.

It was my birthday 1987. My oldest sister took me to a Mets game for my present. All I wanted the entire game was to see one player up close and maybe get my Mets yearbook signed. We had nosebleed seats. I mean seriously, we had binoculars lol

After the game I rushed all the way down to the field level and another fan swapped tickets with me so that I could get into the field level...by now nearly everyone was gone (guess I wasn't as fast as I thought I was lol). I make it to right up to the wall and there I see Roger McDowell and Dykstra ...from what I recall they were carrying equipment I believe....and I say "Mr. Dykstra could you please sign my yearbook?"

He replies, "Get lost kid. Games over, go home."

McDowell turns to him and says, "It's one kid, just sign it for him".

Dykstra says to him...and I quote...."---- that kid."

McDowell looks up (by now they're next to the dugout) and says, "Sorry kid, I tried."



Ever since that day, 22 years ago, I can't stand Dykstra and I wouldn't take his signature if he offered it to me for free. I should have gotten Rogers sig. but what did I know, I was a silly 12 yr old that loved hitters and fielders. I wasn't much of a fan of pitchers lol Looking back now.....McDowell was the winning pitcher too (3 Aug, 1987).

I went to a show a few years ago and met Dykstra Backman and Ventura...Dykstra was nice as can be chated with me for about 10 minutes complimented me on the jersey I had signed an 86 Dykstra Mitchell and Ness..Backman was a little cold signed my jersey in black sharpie so on the reccomandation of a few guys that were there with me I went back up and he resigned it in Silver and was a lot happier the 2nd time around and even added 86 World Champs..

[metsbats]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Dykstra was never a pleasant signer. The first time I got his autograph was at a show in NYC (being sponsored by Mr. Mint Alan Rosen back in the late eighties). Dykstra signed with his head down and didn't even look up to see who he was signing for. He looked like he didn't even want to be there.

Here's an interesting story from the book The Bad Guys Won on one of those occassions he did look up...

"Once, a bunch of Mets spent a couple of hours at a collectibles show in New Jersey. Dykstra signed hundreds of items, rarely glancing up from beneath his sunglasses. Near the end of the session a Roseanne Barr look-alike handed him a baseball. Dykstra snapped. "Lady", he said, "you are too f***** fat for me to sign this thing for you!" Security was called in to escort Dykstra to his car."

[whirl]

Re: Best/Worse signers

I saw Joe Namath at a show in Kansas City some years ago. He was absolutely super. He smiled; chatted with everyone; and even let several people wear his Super Bowl ring. I told him I got some mileage out of bearing a passing resemblance to him while I was in college (he doesn't have too many years on me), and he laughed and said he hoped it didn't get me in too much trouble. I also had the opportunity to see Mickey Mantle during his playing days in the early 60's. There was always at least one day during his trips to Kansas City where he took some time at the hotel to sign for all of us kids. After his retirement I got to see him at several shows around the Midwest, and I was never disappointed at the way he treated people.

[dcrules01]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Dykstra was never a pleasant signer. The first time I got his autograph was at a show in NYC (being sponsored by Mr. Mint Alan Rosen back in the late eighties). Dykstra signed with his head down and didn't even look up to see who he was signing for. He looked like he didn't even want to be there.

Here's an interesting story from the book The Bad Guys Won on one of those occassions he did look up...

"Once, a bunch of Mets spent a couple of hours at a collectibles show in New Jersey. Dykstra signed hundreds of items, rarely glancing up from beneath his sunglasses. Near the end of the session a Roseanne Barr look-alike handed him a baseball. Dykstra snapped. "Lady", he said, "you are too f***** fat for me to sign this thing for you!" Security was called in to escort Dykstra to his car."

I read that book...I was 15 in 86 and him and Backman were my favorites so I am thankful my encounter was good.His exact phrase when I showed him the jersey was bitchin jersey dude where did you get it...I told him where and he asked me what pen to use and added the incriptions Nails and World Series Champs taking his time..I told him I always liked his style and he thanked me for supporting him..I guess I was one of the lucky ones..That poor lady ..

[Capital-Sports]

Re: Best/Worse signers

My Marine Corps years led to many great meetings....Jeter was ALWAYS great in Tampa's Legends Field, and so was Jason Varitek at Tropicana....Two of the best! JOHN WOODEN is by far probably one of the GREATEST signers EVER!

[murfsteve25]

Re: Best/Worse signers

I'd say best signer I'VE ever encountered was Andruw Jones. I went to a Reds/Braves game in 2005 and my goal was to get my first AJ autograph. Durying BP he came over and signed for many people. He didnt sign mine on the sweetspot(i forgot to ask) so after the game i went to the team hotel and got him to sign again, this time on the SS. The next series that the Braves came back to Cincy, I bought a Jones jersey that I wanted singed. Again, at the hotel I found him in the bar. I went up to him and asked him to sign it. Smooth as butter.

[cordovacollector]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Best By Far: Harmon Killebrew ! Each signature is perfect, clean, ledgible ... every time! And he will smile and talk to you like you're best friends all the while he is signing.