Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

[player_collector]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

This is a good experience, my father took me to a card show when i was younger, probably in 6th grade or so. Lou Brock was signing that day. Of course it cost and we didn't have enough to get it, so we stood on the side and watched him for a little while. As we were standing there, my father was telling me stories about his (Lou's) playing days. We continued on and later we were walking past the area that the players left the stage from. Mr. Brock walked out as we were standing there and my father greeted him. He talked to us for about 15 minutes and introduced himself to me. Although we didn't get an auto (we thought it would be rude), it was nice that he was willing to stop and say hi and even more nice that he actually carried on a conversation with us.

The only bad one that comes to mind is Billy Wagner. We were at a game and people were saying good things to and about him and he wouldn't look at anyone or say anything, he just walked past and stood near the foul line for 10 minutes, doing nothing.

[stkmtimo]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

I know this is an older thread but I'd like to share a good experience with a true class act - the legendary Bob Feller. I heard Bob was going to be signing at a card show last year near my house so I decided to go see him since I'm a big fan of his and wanted to meet such a legendary player like himself in person.

I get to the show and it's SMALL - there are only about 20 tables set up and not many people getting Mr. Feller's autograph. I wound up paying for the autograph (without inscription) and bring up a copy of his autobiography for him to sign since I already have a signed ball and HOF plaques. Mr. Feller shakes my hand, signs my book and inscribes his HOF Induction year without being asked and I proceed to ask him a question about one of his playing experiences and for about 5 minutes he tells me a story about playing minor league ball as a 16 year old and striking out 18 batters. I told him I really admired him and was a big fan and he was just a gracious man. If only today's ballplayers were more like Bob Feller!

[frikativ54]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

Mr. Feller shakes my hand, signs my book and inscribes his HOF Induction year without being asked. ...I told him I really admired him and was a big fan and he was just a gracious man. If only today's ballplayers were more like Bob Feller!

I find it especially interesting that you mention his signing the inscription "without being asked." Am I the only one who finds it troubling that today's athletes aren't even willing to take the time to put an inscription on a ball, without having to take an extra ten dollars? I love the way the same players who make people personalize everything somehow don't have time for taking pictures. A big reason why I didn't attend the TriStar show in Houston is because athletes are so entitled that they charge a fee for signing, for personalizing, for a picture, et cetera. Makes me hearken back to the days where you could get a free photo with an athlete. Glad you had an awesome experience with Bob Feller.

[both-teams-played-hard]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

Makes me hearken back to the days where you could get a free photo with an athlete.

I've still never paid for an autograph or photo.

This photo was taken 23 years ago this month. Got 3 autographs that day in Apex, NC. Got the original of this print signed in 1990. No charge. Crockett and Tubbs would be proud!


Taken in the Fall of 1985. Got 3 autographs and a photo, no charge.

I'm all growns up now, and don't ask for autographs unless they're on a paycheck.

[loumud]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

Roger Clemens.

I volunteered work a United Way golf tornament in Houston back in high school in the early 90s. I didn't know ahead of time that there were going to be some pro athletes there, or I would have come prepared. I soon learned that Roger Clemens and Doug Drabek were there, and I was upset for not having brought anything for them to sign. Later on we were setting up a banquet room for a dinner and silent auction, and I had to run out to my car to grab something. Low and behold Clemens and Drabek were sitting by themselves in a cart off to the side having a beer and laughing with each other. I ran back in and scrambled to find some things for them to sign, and was able to scrounge up a couple of golf balls and 2 index cards with a black sharpie.

I humbly approached the cart with a smile and politely asked if they would be kind enough to autograph my items. Roger's mood noticeably changed, and his face turned beet red. He rolled his eyes and held out his hand to me gesturing for the items. He signed a golf ball and the index card and handing it back to me abruptly. I then asked Doug if he would be kind enough to sign, and he gave me a big smile taking my items and chatting it up with me as he signed. When he was done I thanked both of them for their time and walked off with my prizes. I was amazed at how rude and snobby Roger came off, especially since he was one of my favorite players at the time; and, especialy considering how genuinely nice Doug Drabek was to me in the same setting.

I have run into Roger several times in person since then, and have never witnessed him being nice to fans, unless of course there's a camera around. However, I don't hold anything against him. Sure he and other athletes with unsavory reputations could be a little nicer to fans in person, but I don't take any of it personal. I think if you're going to undertake the hobby of collecting autographs in person you have to grow some thick skin. I've seen players be great one day, and be total jerks the very next day. I guess everyone is entitled to a bad day, it's just that some seem to have more of them then others!

Regardless of how a player reacts to me in person, I am always polite and thank them for their time anyway even if I don't walk away with an autograph. It's the 'thrill of the hunt' that keeps me going. That's reason enough to collect for me!

[mvandor]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

Roger Clemens.

I volunteered work a United Way golf tornament in Houston back in high school in the early 90s. I didn't know ahead of time that there were going to be some pro athletes there, or I would have come prepared. I soon learned that Roger Clemens and Doug Drabek were there, and I was upset for not having brought anything for them to sign. Later on we were setting up a banquet room for a dinner and silent auction, and I had to run out to my car to grab something. Low and behold Clemens and Drabek were sitting by themselves in a cart off to the side having a beer and laughing with each other. I ran back in and scrambled to find some things for them to sign, and was able to scrounge up a couple of golf balls and 2 index cards with a black sharpie.

I humbly approached the cart with a smile and politely asked if they would be kind enough to autograph my items. Roger's mood noticeably changed, and his face turned beet red. He rolled his eyes and held out his hand to me gesturing for the items. He signed a golf ball and the index card and handing it back to me abruptly. I then asked Doug if he would be kind enough to sign, and he gave me a big smile taking my items and chatting it up with me as he signed. When he was done I thanked both of them for their time and walked off with my prizes. I was amazed at how rude and snobby Roger came off, especially since he was one of my favorite players at the time; and, especialy considering how genuinely nice Doug Drabek was to me in the same setting.

I have run into Roger several times in person since then, and have never witnessed him being nice to fans, unless of course there's a camera around. However, I don't hold anything against him. Sure he and other athletes with unsavory reputations could be a little nicer to fans in person, but I don't take any of it personal. I think if you're going to undertake the hobby of collecting autographs in person you have to grow some thick skin. I've seen players be great one day, and be total jerks the very next day. I guess everyone is entitled to a bad day, it's just that some seem to have more of them then others!

Regardless of how a player reacts to me in person, I am always polite and thank them for their time anyway even if I don't walk away with an autograph. It's the 'thrill of the hunt' that keeps me going. That's reason enough to collect for me!

I accept players have bad days, but when you say you saw him multiple times and he only turned it on when cameras were present, that spells horse's ass to me.

Nice to see karma catching up with ole Rog.

[loumud]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

I accept players have bad days, but when you say you saw him multiple times and he only turned it on when cameras were present, that spells horse's ass to me.

Nice to see karma catching up with ole Rog.

I completely agree with you, mvandor! I didn't mean to infer that he was a nice person just having a bad day. Roger's never been nice to fans out in public that I've witnessed or heard of, unless he was at an organized paid signing or something. Some people might have had different experiences with him, but this is what I've seen. I collected Roger throughout the years because I respected his talent and achievements, not because I thought he was a nice person. The events over the past year or so have been very unfortunate for Clemens collectors like myself, but it's like you said - it's probably karma coming back to him!

[hblakewolf]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

I completely agree with you, mvandor! I didn't mean to infer that he was a nice person just having a bad day. Roger's never been nice to fans out in public that I've witnessed or heard of, unless he was at an organized paid signing or something. Some people might have had different experiences with him, but this is what I've seen. I collected Roger throughout the years because I respected his talent and achievements, not because I thought he was a nice person. The events over the past year or so have been very unfortunate for Clemens collectors like myself, but it's like you said - it's probably karma coming back to him!

I attended several of the New York Sports Writers Award Dinners in the past ($200.00 a plate award dinner), and Clemens was there. At one of these events, I was standing near the stage when he came down to speak with his wife. There could not have been more than a handful of people near him, so I asked him to sign his game worn Yankees jersey I had with me. He took one look, snarleed his face and shook his head to basically motion "you have to be kidding". Likewise, he literally pushed away those folks who had pen/paper/baseball card extended for him to sign.

Howard Wolf
hblakewolf@comcast.net

[godwulf]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

The more I hear stories about athletes and other celebs who are really very bad signers, or who never seem to get tired of being asked for their autograph, the more interested I become in the psychology of the thing.

It doesn't seem to matter whether the guy is a Hall of Famer or some second-string catcher in double-A ball, you get some of one persuasion and some of the other.

I think that anyone with half a brain can understand how somebody would get "edgy", at the very least, if a fan strolled up to their restaurant table or otherwise interrupted them at an inconvenient time...but with some of these guys, it doesn't matter when you approach them.

On the flip side, Dan Carlson was the pitching coach for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League a couple of years ago, and I wanted to get him to sign one of his old Phoenix Firebirds caps. After the game, he had a long conversation with a lady who was obviously his wife, through the netting behind the plate, and I waited patiently about twenty feet away. After they'd parted, I went down and asked him to sign the cap, and he was very nice, and made a point of saying, "Thanks for waiting."

[shirkr]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

I'm not much of a story teller but I thought you might enjoy this. Back in the early 90's my parents were season ticket holders for the KC Royals. Therefore I attended my fair share of Royals games (I was 15 or 16 at the time). I got used to the routine of the bigger named players parking in the tunnel in centerfield. One night a friend and I were waiting outside the centerfield gate when Storm Davis popped out and jumps into his brand new Mazda Miata (sp?). He signed a few cards for me at the time and drove off. About 5 minutes after he signed my cards we heard/saw this car come screaching and speeding through the parking lot and it's headed directly towards us. It was Storm and he was pissed! Jumps out of his car and confronts us both about someone spitting on his car. We both were stunned with the deer in the headlights look. We had no idea what he was babbling about. He went on to tell us about how he was going to give this car to his kids...blah blah blah. Anyways, wasn't us Storm...sorry. Story over.

Ryan

[both-teams-played-hard]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

One night a friend and I were waiting outside the centerfield gate when Storm Davis popped out and jumps into his brand new Mazda Miata (sp?). He signed a few cards for me at the time and drove off. About 5 minutes after he signed my cards we heard/saw this car come screaching and speeding through the parking lot and it's headed directly towards us. It was Storm and he was pissed! Jumps out of his car and confronts us both about someone spitting on his car. We both were stunned with the deer in the headlights look. We had no idea what he was babbling about. He went on to tell us about how he was going to give this car to his kids...blah blah blah. Anyways, wasn't us Storm...sorry. Story over.

A grown man named Storm driving a Miata. Wonder if he would get mad if I spit in his Zima? Tough guy.

[both-teams-played-hard]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

A grown man named Storm driving a Miata. Wonder if he would get mad if I spit in his Zima? Tough guy.

[Jayworld]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

My best experiences:
In the summer of 1987, one of the officials on my Dad's crew (he was an SWC official for many years) worked for The Equitable, which used to sponsor "Old Timers" games at major league ballparks (remember those)? This was in Arlington, and I had the privilege, along with my dad, to attend a meet and greet session at the Sheraton hotel (was next to the old Arlington Stadium) with many of the players that were playing in the Old Timers game, then go on the field for pre-game batting practice, and finally another meet and greet at the hotel after the game. So many of the old timers were very gracious and full of stories.

Among the best: Al Oliver, Ernie Banks, Ralph Branca, Bob Feller, Warren Spahn (a very nice man who loved to tell stories), Bob Gibson, Bill Stein (who played for Texas at the time as a pinch-hitter), Alvin Dark. Bobby Valentine, then the Rangers manager, was particularly nice and posed for pictures on the field.

So-so: Johnny Mize was not particularly friendly, but he did sign.

The worst: Willie Mays, who did not show up for either meet and greets (although he was required by contract), nor did he sign on the field, etc.

Very recently, I've attended Frisco Roughriders games, and the manager of the visiting San Antonio Missions is Terry Kennedy, one of my favorite former Padres players. He is very gracious, and has signed four cards, a 1981 yearbook, and a ball for both my son and I. He likes to chat, and he even knew the year of the yearbook without seeing the cover just from the photos inside.

Jay

[justinwc80]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

I'm a little biased but I'll give a run down of my best experiences:

Pete Rose: although you have to pay he makes it worth the money by posing for pictures and taking time to talk to you. He is a very personable guy and a pleasure to meet.

Sean Casey: not many nicer guys than the "Mayor" he treats the fans like I wish every ballplayer would.

Walt Jocketty: at a recent Reds signature event I was able to talk to Walt for about ten minutes without interruption, he was a very nice guy and answered mine and others questions about the team very honestly.

Jay Bruce: at the same event I brought a picture I had taken with Jay after throwing out the first pitch at an earlier game, we were not supposed to get additional items signed but when I pulled out the pictures his face lit up and we talked for quite awhile, although the line backed up a bit. He is a great kid especially considering how young and talented he is.

The Reds in general seem to have the right attitude towards fans. I love to get to games early and it seems there is always at least one or two Reds at a time signing home and away. In Houston I counted at least 6 players for the Reds that signed autos and only one Astro. They may not be making the playoffs lately but when it comes to personalities I'll take them over anyone else.

[capitalssticks]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

I had a great run in with Peter Bondra while playing with the capitals. Bondra would always sign autos (very nicely i might add) for everyone, but when he was ever approached with one of his game used sticks his mood would quickly change. Bondra put alot of work into each of his sticks, shaving, molding, taping etc. Anytime you approached him with one, he would ask "where did you get my stick" and whatever your answer would be he would say "your lying your lying" so one day i try to get a gamer signed same thing, as i pointed out a microscopic crack on the blade, he rips the stick out of my hands and says "you wanna see a crack" and breaks the blade in half and throws the stick. I was speechless, cause bondra was always pretty cool, realizing what he did was wrong he says wait here and goes into the locker room and gets another stick and gives it to me and says "its not right what they do, selling my stuff"(talking about then equipment manager sluggo) at that point i realized his anger was more at them and not me. So then i ask him to sign that stick he declined Worked out for me though because i ended up putting the broken one back together and selling them both