Best/Worse signers

[cordovacollector]

Re: Best/Worse signers

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

Ken
earlywynnfan5@hotmail.com

Amen to Buck O'Neil! And Buck Leonard, Mudcat Grant, and Larry Doby. They'd all sign ... and then tell you stories! Priceless!

[stretch]

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.

I'm amazed to hear this because I only management to get him one time at Turner Field. It was outside after he pulled into the parking lot and he was normally the last one to arrive. He signed just the "AJ" and I didn't waste a good MLB ball on it when I noticed. I did get a good signature from him when he signed at Publix for a fanfest. I never felt he treated the Atlanta fans very well when it came to signing.

[coxfan]

Re: Best/Worse signers

We also had a good experience with Andruw Jones, when the Braves visited Vero beach in 2005 Spring Training. He pulled up a portable chair and told the throngs approachng him that he'd try to get to everyone. When signing for my wife, he pleasantly interacted with her and was sure to sign under the " Braves" on the ball we were using.

But he ran out of time ( practice and the game-time were pressing) and couldn't get everyone. That led to someone at the back of the line cursing him loudly enough for him to hear. People like that can turn off athletes to signing.

[NEFAN]

Re: Best/Worse signers

2000 at the NFL Hall of Fame induction. I paid 100 to get the five inductees signatures. The Autograph session was the morning after the incuction ceremonies. Dan Rooney (Steelers Owner) decided not to show up so he could attend a preseason game 12 hours later. (I think he was pissed when everybody left the ceremony after Montana's Speech) So that ruined the five inductee's on one item. Joe Montana was talking on the phone for 45 minutes while signing(I have pics somewhere). He wouldn't even look at the person he was signing for let alone speak to them! On the other hand, Lott, Long and Webster were very friendly.

[FastLane80]

Re: Best/Worse signers

On the other hand, Lott, Long and Webster were very friendly.

I too can vouch for Lott and Long. Howie even held the elevator in the hotel to sign. That same night, I also met Jim Otto and Fred Belitnikoff and both were very pleasant to me and my dad and were very patient signing.

[NEFAN]

Re: Best/Worse signers

Found it! The employee held the item and Joe ignored the fan and just signed. This lasted for 45 minutes. He was off the phone when I got there but I was so disgusted I didn't speak to him.


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[godwulf]

Re: Best/Worse signers

I had to laugh when I read about Montana and the phone thing. Miguel Batista did a signing at a local bookstore here in Phoenix a few years ago, after he became a free agent and left the DBacks - I think he ended up going back to Toronto - and in addition to getting copies of his novel signed, I brought along my 2001 Opening Day base for him to add his sig to. Anyway, Miguel is usually a very personable and friendly guy - he used to flirt with my teenaged daughter all the time, which my wife thought was cute till she found out he was almost thirty - but this time he was on the phone throughout most of the signing, and he explained why he would be ahead of time, while he was answering questions about his book and doing a reading from it: he was on the phone with his agent, trying to figure out where he was going to be playing the next season. Given the circumstances, everyone understood and there were no hard feelings.