Comments on: “I want his autograph. That’s all I want.”

By: stercuilus65

stercuilus65 — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:46:26 +0000

I saw Elway was going down at the truck stop.

By: stercuilus65

stercuilus65 — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:44:39 +0000

My most treasured possession is the bible I got off eBay autographed by Jesus…

By: stercuilus65

stercuilus65 — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:40:53 +0000

tyson can’t even write his own name. I guess he could have made his mark (whatever that would be”.

By: badintent

badintent — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 04:25:32 +0000

Clarke is a rat. From day one.Cheap shot punk.My Islanders owned him and his no skills thugs in the 80′s.The idiot even washed his Eric Lindross laundry in the press like the punkass he was as a player. Pathetic POS.

By: badintent

badintent — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 01:33:23 +0000

“I wouldn’t want it ” You have something in common with Minka Kelly. Get in line, it goes around the block.

By: rich7041

rich7041 — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 00:51:12 +0000

Back in the late 60′s when I was about 10, my mom took me to see Bobby Clarke, rookie center on the Philadelphia Flyers. He was at a Woolco store about 50 miles outside Philly and I was the only person to show up (besides the photographer from the New Brunswick Home News.) He signed for me, then we proceeded to talk hockey for nearly an hour. The photog grabbed two other shoppers for a quick pic which ran in the paper the next day. It was all very cool & I remember every detail almost 45 years later. Clarke went on to a Hall of Fame career and later became the Flyers’ GM. Being a huge Rangers fan, I always root against the Flyers, but always rooted for Clarke.

By: Corethree

Corethree — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 00:02:50 +0000

I’ve sent cards to jeter. One about 3 or 4 years ago and one a couple years ago, asking for his autograph. I’ve never been able to get to a Yankees game ever. I never got the cards back, never mind the autograph. I’f he offered it now, i wouldn’t want it.

By: kalinedrive

kalinedrive — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 22:05:50 +0000

Oops, that wasn’t meant to be a reply to you, bosco. But good story! I have read quite a few Stephen King stories myself.

By: kalinedrive

kalinedrive — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 22:03:57 +0000

My two brothers, my sister-in-law and I got together in Lakeland a few years back to see a couple of spring training Tigers games, a home game one day and an Indians game in Winter Haven the next day. After the road game we went to a local steakhouse in Lakeland where we had heard the Tigers players often eat, and we were eating dinner when I looked up and saw Todd Jones walking by our table on his way out.

He was pretty recognizable with his moustache, although if we hadn’t been in a Tigers hangout in Lakeland I probably wouldn’t have given him a second thought. But as soon as I saw him I said “Hi Todd.” He stopped and talked to us (his wife continued outside), asked us where we were from, and generally chatted with us long enough that I started to feel uncomfortable about keeping him. Heck, I just said “Hi Todd.” He could have waved or said hi and kept going.

Earlier that same day, at the Indians park in Winter Haven, Bob Feller was signing autographs. He was about 90, but still an active icon for the Indians. None of us wanted to wait in line to get his autograph, but some young guy behind us in the stands came back and told his friends he got “some old guy’s autograph.” We laughed and told him who Bob Feller was.

By: bosco66

bosco66 — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 21:01:06 +0000

In 2005 at the only Red Sox playoff game that year held at Fenway, I ran from the Lansdowne Shop into Fenway Park, calling “Mr. King! Mr. King!” I had seen Stephen King, my very favorite author and notoriously huge Sox fan, wearing the same Wakefield jersey I was, entering the park. He stopped and said, “Oh, you’re going to get me in trouble….”, I grabbed the first person passing by and said “Please take our picture!” I told him I was his biggest fan, he told me “I think I wrote a book about you”, smiled, and went on his way, while I floated back to the street to find my husband. He asked if I’d gotten his autograph, and I told him “I can get his autograph on EBay- where else can I get a picture of me WITH him?” The Sox lost that day, but it’s still one of my best trips to Fenway, one I’ll never forget.

By: papacrick

papacrick — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 19:14:14 +0000

Does anybody know why there’s no stories this weekend?

By: cosanostra71

cosanostra71 — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 18:58:01 +0000

I just like autographs. No particular reason, I just think they’re cool…

By: cameltoehoe

cameltoehoe — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 18:34:31 +0000

Sounds like Melissa has the problem. Obsessive anybody?

By: esracerx46

esracerx46 — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 14:55:32 +0000

When I was youngerwe went to a celebrity golf tournament. This is when Elway was playing, and I hated the Packers so I became a Broncos fan. I was wearing my Elway jersey when Walter Payton picked me out of the crowd because it wasnt a Bears jersey, he did say, “It’s better than a Packers jersey.” He then picked me upside down and shook me. He took the ball I had for him to autograph and played catch on one of the tees. I was in 3rd grade, and had no idea who he was. The autograph doesnt really mean anything to me anymore, but the story is kind of cool.

By: sufferingphilsfan

sufferingphilsfan — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 12:59:25 +0000

that’s what its all about…memories..he took five seconds to pat your head and you remember that for a lifetime..imagine if jeter or another one of the prima donnas took those five seconds to pay attention to some kid–back in 86 tom hume pitched for the phillies..we were outside the vet at the time and people were waiting to see the players..mike schmidt comes roaring out of the clubhouse..out the door and into a waiting car which practically runs people over getting out of there..tom hume comes moseying out with his wife..kids..stops and talks to us..introduces us to his family…a regular guy..not a star ..but imagine if these guys took that time every once in a while…the benefits would be tremendous..instead we have care package derek…pin cushion arod..and hammerheads like jayson werth yelling at fans in the stands…

By: jaybyrd99

jaybyrd99 — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 12:38:33 +0000

The memories as a child are priceless. Richie allen in 1969 patted my head during a rain delay while i was on my father’s shoulder. That is a memory i cherish forever as he was my favorite as a 5 year old . Flash forward to 1994 Clearwater . He was Dick Allen then, helping the phillies . I introduced myself , tapped him on the head and told my childhood story quickly so he wouldn’t hit me haha . He then got a ball and signed it for me and today that’s my most cherished autograph . It sits behind glass in my family room.

By: sufferingphilsfan

sufferingphilsfan — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 11:39:06 +0000

hmmm. remind me not to visit Gary in July.

By: packersfansuck

packersfansuck — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 11:36:48 +0000

Yankees suck.

By: sufferingphilsfan

sufferingphilsfan — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 11:36:05 +0000

I actually get the point of Craig’s article..for once. Autographs are stupid–but its the connection people get with someone that they wouldn’t get any other way..they took the time to do something..special for someone–may sound silly but it is what it is…what i find silly is that some aloof POS like Jeter wouldn’t or couldn’t sign someone’s stuff…He’d be working a real job without fans–not dictating how someone has to behave to get his signature..now for the rip job on Craig..yes, the resident sycophant sportswriter for baseball players.

By: sportsnut101

sportsnut101 — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 05:30:12 +0000

Some players hate to sign but yet if it wasnt for the fans there would be no1 watching their games or getting them these big pay days

I know they can’t stand there n sign 1000 autographs. But least 20 a game wouldn’t hurt. I shouldn’t have to buy a meet n greet for 400 to get it Isn’t the ticket price enough.

By: superpriebe

superpriebe — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 01:26:01 +0000

That’s a great story. When I was little, Indians DH Andre Thornton was walking around the stadium by the concession stands (I have no idea why), smiled at me and pushed my baseball cap down on my forehead a bit. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Your story reminded me of that.

By: hodaghunter

hodaghunter — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 23:57:36 +0000

On the other hand I remember being in 7th grade and going to a Reds game. It was just the 6 of us kids getting some pre-game behind the scene tours. Bunch of players stopped by and chatted with us and shared some jokes, signed some stuff. But the one thing at the time that always stuck with me is when I said hello to Deion Sanders, who prompted responded with, “Don’t f**king talk to me kid.” I was baffled and pretty crushed by that since I always loved watching primetime on the tv…

By: hodaghunter

hodaghunter — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 23:53:17 +0000

I remember being in Arizona for spring training one year about 6 years ago now… Ryan Braun was in AAA ball at that time and with the club for spring training. Guy took about 30 minutes of having a conversation with me before asking to sign the ball I was holding onto at the time. Cool guy all around that’s why I’m still a fan of his.

By: hojo20

hojo20 — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 23:18:40 +0000

Great post Craig, I could read these stories all day.

By: garrettberthiaume

garrettberthiaume — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 22:26:13 +0000

I couldn’t disagree more, autographing is a very fun hobby, and there is an entire subculture containing it. People love it, and just because you “don’t understand it” doesn’t make it invalid. Maybe some people don’t understand “hiking”, or “collecting coins”. How is collecting autographs any different?
http://www.gbautographs.com

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 21:29:13 +0000

My most prized possesion is my Ozzie Smith autographed baseball.
Followed closely by my Albert Pujols autographed picture.
Hell…I even have my Roger Clemons autographed baseball in a display case.

By: yousuxxors

yousuxxors — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 21:24:01 +0000

there isnt a person on earth that would make ne go crazy meeting them. i dont get it either.

By: joebone

joebone — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 21:21:12 +0000

I was in the gallery watching Michael Jordan at the Western Open Pro-Am several years ago when it was held at Butler outside Chicago. Michael made a great approach shot and made his short putt for the birdie, and as he moved to the next tee he was mobbed by autograph seekers, none of whom seemed to be actually attending to the golf. Needless to say, Michael brushed through the crowd, signed nothing— but when I hollered “great shot, Mike” he whipped around, looked me right in the eye and said, “Thanks, buddy.”

So I’ve got that going for me, which is nice. Certainly better than any autograph.

By: Sign Ahead

Sign Ahead — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:55:01 +0000

I wanna live somewhere that has a baked clams franchise. Just one would be sufficient. But a wide enough selection that there could actually be a “best baked clams franchise” sounds a little bit like heaven.

By: lifer124

lifer124 — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:49:00 +0000

I ushered in Milwaukee for a number of years. I was near the clubhouse entrance before the ’02 All Star game and saw probably half the NL team walk in. It never struck me to seek an autograph, it was just cool to see them. There’s always some guy who would pester players during the season for autographs while they’re at work going to the cage or whatever, I always just saw those guys as kind of d-bags. But I definitely remember small encounters with players. Marquis Grissom saying “whats up big guy?” in his funny voice always cracks me up, or Prince Fielder holding a door for me. The best guy around that I recall was Ben Sheets. He’d run around with a Saints helmet on like a wild man just having a good time, he didn’t care if it was with stadium employees or fans or whoever. These guys are just people, men with wives and families just doing their jobs, and when you see them away from the crowds, it’s much easier to realize that.