Your Baseball Autographs

[Tracer Bullet]

I have a number of guys from the mid-80s to early 90s. Can't even remember them all. Jerome Walton - thought that would be big. Guys like Grace and Stoney. Hawk refused to sign after a game in St L on the walk back to the Cubs' hotel, said we could walk with him though - he talked about the game with us. Always loved Hawk after that. I just remember how huge he was in person. Got Wild Thing's autograph and sat with him while he waited for a pizza in the hotel lobby (sans shoes). That's when I got Walton's. I just remember how many huge gold chains he had on. Williams was making fun of him (I think it was his rookie year).

 

But the best Cubs-related story I have is that Hector Villanueva hit on my sister when she asked for his autograph in an Arizona restaurant (during spring training). She was 15 at the time (and not one of those 15-year-olds that looks 20). Not Hector's finest hour.

[Chris]

One of the perks of being so close to AA ball over the years (pre media pass) was the ability to talk to players and get things signed.

 

Oh, we pitty you so.....:x

 

:D

 

I figured I'd throw that in so folks don't think I'm taking advantage of it.

[erik316wttn]

I have a book, put out by the Louisville Redbirds in 1982, commemorating the year the drew 1 million fans. They held a huge banquest and invited several Hall of Famers in for the event. My grandfather had access since he was the team photographer. I was 1 year old at the time so all credit goes to him for picking one of these up.

 

The cover pages is signed by:

 

Ernie Banks

Joe Dimaggio

Mickey Mantle

Pee Wee Reese

Harmon Killebrew

Vida Blue

Henry Aaron

Carl Hubbell

Brooks Robinson

Al Kaline

 

There are others, those are just the ones of the top off my head. I'd love to know what its worth, juST out of curiosity. I don't think I will ever get rid of it.

 

I would say get it appraised, and take out an insurance policy on that thing just in case of fire, theft, etc. That is worth some bucks.

[Chris]

There are others, those are just the ones of the top off my head. I'd love to know what its worth, just out of curiosity. I don't think I will ever get rid of it.

 

I would say get it appraised, and take out an insurance policy on that thing just in case of fire, theft, etc. That is worth some bucks.

 

Agreed. To get an idea, do an ebay search of completed auctions for a certified autograph of each of those guys. Add the total and then add a ton since all of their signatures are on the same item.

[erik316wttn]

There are others, those are just the ones of the top off my head. I'd love to know what its worth, just out of curiosity. I don't think I will ever get rid of it.

 

I would say get it appraised, and take out an insurance policy on that thing just in case of fire, theft, etc. That is worth some bucks.

 

Agreed. To get an idea, do an ebay search of completed auctions for a certified autograph of each of those guys. Add the total and then add a ton since all of their signatures are on the same item.

 

I'd also buy a safe for it or put it in a safe deposit box or something.

[KatJ]

I haven't done much autograph hunting - don't like the huge crowds post-game, I still can't get my b/f to understand why it's important to go to BP, and the players always defer to the kids when signing autographs, so I rarely luck out.

 

The best opportunity I've had thus far was when we went to ST last year. Kerry Wood was my first autograph - I have him on an ST program along with the troika (many may call them Three Stooges now) of Jim Hendry, Andy MacPhail, and Bud Selig.

 

I guess Kerry is my only autograph, really...

 

Oh, my ex did get me a Mark Grace rookie card for me off eBay. It's in its own plastic holder. Sports was one of the few things we agreed on! :D

[erik316wttn]

I haven't done much autograph hunting - don't like the huge crowds post-game, I still can't get my b/f to understand why it's important to go to BP, and the players always defer to the kids when signing autographs, so I rarely luck out.

 

The best opportunity I've had thus far was when we went to ST last year. Kerry Wood was my first autograph - I have him on an ST program along with the troika (many may call them Three Stooges now) of Jim Hendry, Andy MacPhail, and Bud Selig.

 

I guess Kerry is my only autograph, really...

 

Oh, my ex did get me a Mark Grace rookie card for me off eBay. It's in its own plastic holder. Sports was one of the few things we agreed on! :D

 

A girlfriend dragging her guy to a baseball game?

 

Where were you when I was on the market?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Ok, there's no way I could list all my autographs, but I'll start until I get tired.

 

Auto Bats:

1. Nomar

2. Sammy Sosa

3. Cal Ripken Jr.

4. Ryne Sandberg

5. Frank Thomas

6. Mark Teixeira

7. Eric Chavez

8. Andre Dawson

9. Corey Patterson

10. Jeff Bagwell

 

Autoed mini-bats:

1. Ryne Sandberg

2. Albert Pujols

3. Brooks Robinson

4. Ron Santo

5. Jeff Bagwell

6. Ozzie Smith

 

Autoed mini helmets

1. Ryne Sandberg

2. Cal Ripken Jr.

3. Mark Teixeria

4. Michael Barrett

5. Ron Santo

6. Corey Patterson

7. Aramis Ramirez

8. Derrek Lee

 

Game-worn Diamond Jaxx Jersey signed by Matt Murton

 

Pair of cleets signed by Adam Dunn

 

I have pics of me with Sandberg, Grace, and Sosa all signed.

 

Team Signed Items

2003 Cubs ball (No Sosa, no Wood, no Ramirez)

2004 Cubs ball (No Nomar, no Maddux)

2005 Cubs ball (No Neifi)

1997 Cubs ball (30 sigs)

1998 Cubs ball (No Sosa)

1997 Team signed mini-helmet

1996 Texas Rangers

1997 Texas Rangers

1998 Texas Rangers

 

Balls

1. Kerry Wood

2. Nomar

3. Zambrano

4. Michael Barrett

5. Aramis Ramirez

6. Joe Borowski

7. Moises Alou

8. Corey Patterson

9. Mark Prior

10. Greg Maddux

11. Dusty Baker

12. Andre Dawson

13. Jerome Walton

14. Dennis Eckersley

15. Rick Sutcliffe

16. Harry Caray

17. Rod Beck

18. Rick Wilkins

19. Luis Gonzalez

20. Kevin Foster

21. Turk Wendell

22. Brooks Kieschnick

23. Mark Grace

24. Amaury Telemaco

25. Steve Traschel

26. Eric Young

27. Tom Gordon

28. Ryan Dempster

29. Ryan Harvey

30. Doug Glanville

31. Tom Pacorek

32. Kyle Farnsworth

33. Willie Mays

34. Duke Snyder

35. Willie McCovey

36. Gary Matthews

37. Bob Gibson

38. Red Shoendeist

39. Buck Oneil

40. Wade Boggs

41. Ryne Sandberg

42. Derrek Lee

43. Don Sutton

44. Billy Williams

45. Fergie Jenkins

46. Ernie Banks

47. Cal Ripken Jr.

48. Frank Thomas

49. Tom Grieve

50. Reggie Jackson

51. Harmen Killebrew

52. Joe Morgan

53. Rollie Fingers

54. Hank Aaron

55. Lou Brock

56. Goose Gossage

57. Bob Feller

58. Ozzie Smith

59. Yogi Berra

60. Nolan Ryan

61. Stan Musial

62. Kirby Puckett

63. Mike Schmidt

64. Ken Griffey Jr.

65. Dale Murphy

66. Tom Glavine

67. Terry Pendleton

68. John Smoltz

69. Alex Rodriguez

70. Sammy Sosa

71. Andruw Jones

72. Chipper Jones

73. Jose Canseco

74. Steve Garvey

75. Steve Avery

76. Ben Sheets

77. Brad Lidge

78. Will Clark

79. Geronimo Berroa

80. Jim Kaat

81. Wes Helms

82. Prince Fielder

83. Joe Nuxthall

84. Justin Morneau

85. Alex Gonzalez (Cubs)

86. Cecil Cooper

87. Manny Ramirez

88. Bret Butler

89. Cecil Fielder

90. Rocky Coppinger

91. Danny Tartabul

92. Bob Eucker

93. Chris Berman

94. Steve Stone

95. Jeff Bagwell

96. Ryan Klesko

97. Adam LaRoche

98. Jimmy Key

99. Mariano Rivera

100. John Wetteland

101. Bernie Williams

102. Joe Girardi

103. Derek Jeter

104. Tim Raines

105. Andy Pettite

106. Eric Byrnes

107. Mark Mulder

108. Miguel Tejada

109. Barry Zito

110. Eric Chavez

111. Morgan Ensberg

112. Hee Seop Choi

113. Joe Carter

114. Frank Howard

115. Bo Hart

116. Chuck Knobloch

117. Tim Salmon

118. Brad Wilkerson

119. Raul Mondesi

120. Gabe Kapler

121. Bobby Bonilla

122.Adam Dunn

123. Darrell Hamilton

124. Jose Cruz

125. J.D. Drew

126. Rob Dibble

127. Jose Valverde

128. David Delluci

129. Juan Gonzalez

130. Ivan Rodriguez

131. Dontrelle Willis

132. Luis Castillo

133. Josh Beckett

134. Mike Lowell

135. Rafael Palmeiro

136. Alphonso Soriano

137. Jim Edmonds

138. Charles Nagy

139 Sandy Alomar Jr.

140. Roberto Alomar

141. Buddy Bell

142. Antonio Alphonseca

143. Kevin Orie

144. James Baldwin

145. Vince Coleman

146. Rusty Greer

147. Carlos Beltran

148. Kent Mercker

149. Dave Justice

150. Mark Teixeira

151. Mo Vaughn

152. Gary Sheffield

153. Todd Van Poppell

154. Johnny Oates

155. Dean Palmer

156. Bobby Witt

157. Brady Clark

158. Matt Murton

159. Sergio Mitre

160. Rueben Mateo

161. Victor Santos

163. Gavin Floyd

164. Dallas McPherson

165. Bobby Kielty

166. Todd Wellemeyer

167. Lee Smith

168. Barry Larkin

169. Shea Hillenbrand

170. Tom Seaver

171. Bob Costas

 

I have a Harry Caray signed check.

 

Signed caps by Sandberg, Frank Thomas, and Nomar.

 

I have signed photos of many players and too many cards to list.

Edited January 18, 2006 by vance_the_cubs_fan

[Coach C]

Holy cow Vance. :shock:

 

I just have a David Cone when he had a good year for the Royals. I think that was in 94 or 95, the year where the strike happened.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Holy cow Vance. :shock:

 

I just have a David Cone when he had a good year for the Royals. I think that was in 94 or 95, the year where the strike happened.

 

I have a David Cone signed pic. I just didn't feel like listing all my pics.

[Roast]

Holy cow Vance. :shock:

 

I just have a David Cone when he had a good year for the Royals. I think that was in 94 or 95, the year where the strike happened.

 

I have a David Cone signed pic. I just didn't feel like listing all my pics.

 

who cares. you have a picture of you and god jr. (sammy sosa)

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Holy cow Vance. :shock:

 

I just have a David Cone when he had a good year for the Royals. I think that was in 94 or 95, the year where the strike happened.

 

I have a David Cone signed pic. I just didn't feel like listing all my pics.

 

who cares. you have a picture of you and god jr. (sammy sosa)

 

No, I've never gotten a pic of me and Kent.

[Roast]

Holy cow Vance. :shock:

 

I just have a David Cone when he had a good year for the Royals. I think that was in 94 or 95, the year where the strike happened.

 

I have a David Cone signed pic. I just didn't feel like listing all my pics.

 

who cares. you have a picture of you and god jr. (sammy sosa)

 

No, I've never gotten a pic of me and Kent.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Vance,

 

You da man. Terrific collection. You're not into jerseys though? They're so expensive once you get them framed, but so long as it's a player you admire, they are so worth it. I'm going to be in Central Florida during Spring Training, near Cape Kennedy (and thus, Veira, the home of the Nats). If the Nats do in fact sign Sammy and I bring a Cubs Majestic Sosa jersey with me to the ballpark, you think he'd sign it? Or get all pissed off? I don't know how fan friendly Sammy is, so I can't judge in advance, and I wouldn't want to make the guy angry toting around a Cubs jersey.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Vance,

 

You da man. Terrific collection. You're not into jerseys though? They're so expensive once you get them framed, but so long as it's a player you admire, they are so worth it. I'm going to be in Central Florida during Spring Training, near Cape Kennedy (and thus, Veira, the home of the Nats). If the Nats do in fact sign Sammy and I bring a Cubs Majestic Sosa jersey with me to the ballpark, you think he'd sign it? Or get all pissed off? I don't know how fan friendly Sammy is, so I can't judge in advance, and I wouldn't want to make the guy angry toting around a Cubs jersey.

 

The reason I don't do jerseys so much is that I get a lot of my auots outside ballparks, etc...and it's just very hard to lug a jersey around like that without it getting messed up. Also, my wall space in my office has gotten very limited. In fact, I have a binder full of 8x10's I haven't framed and hung up yet because of that.

 

I would love to get some jerseys signed, but baseballs are so much better space wise.

 

Sammy was an easy autograph to get pre-1998, after that nearly impossible. I got a bunch of Sammy autos early in his career, but only one (on my 2004 team ball) since then.

 

I heard he wouldn't sign jerseys...but now that his career is in the dumpster, he may become more fan friendly again. Your best chance is to let a kid or a hot chick give it to him. Once in Houston, he only signed for kids and hotties.

[Sterling30]

Holy cow, I'm a piker compared to some of you all.

 

Jack Brickhouse

Dick Vitale

R. Lee Ermey

Tom Clancy

Eddy Diaz & Luis Lopez (Hiroshima Carp v. Tokyo Giants)

 

Billy Williams on a foul ball. My brother and I went home and promptly played catch with it and lost it forever in the brush. Just our luck the guy makes the H.O.F.

 

Oddest: My daughter has A.C. Green's autograph on a ticket to President Bush's inauguration last year. After we went to the ceremonies, we walked to Union Station for lunch, and A.C. was standing in line at Au Bon Pain. Of course, she had no idea who he was, just that he was tall. As he's been out of the league for so long, it took the longest time for me to guess who he was, but I was still unsure. She approached him and asked for his autograph, to which he replied, "Do you even know who I am?" to which she lied "Yes". My guess was confirmed when she got back with a big "A.C. Green" on her ticket.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

One of the most unusual items I have in my collection is a plastic maraca that the Rangers gave out at a game on Cinco de Mayo. I had it signed by some of the Hispanic players.

 

I also have a coupon for $2 off a buffet at Luby's signed by Cecil Fielder.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I also have a coupon for $2 off a buffet at Luby's signed by Cecil Fielder.

 

LOL

[Slugger_16]

I also have a coupon for $2 off a buffet at Luby's signed by Cecil Fielder.

 

WOW! Now that's a catch! A coupon Cecil Fielder didn't use himself.

[Chris]

I also have a coupon for $2 off a buffet at Luby's signed by Cecil Fielder.

 

WOW! Now that's a catch! A coupon Cecil Fielder didn't use himself.

 

Gold star.

[Mark_R]

See why I wanna be a teacher!

 

Vance's collection is awesome.

 

I have:

 

Ken Griffey Jr. (bat and ball)

Bob Gibson

Pete Rose

Sammy Sosa

Mark Grace

Jon Garland

Esteban Loaiza

Aaron Rowand

 

My goal is to one day have my basement area just littered with baseball memorobilia, football jerseys, and other sports stuff.

 

I can't wait til I can afford it.

[Abe Frohman]

OK, here goes.....

 

Ted Williams (x2), Ernie Banks (x2), Ryne Sandberg, Andre Dawson, Mark Grace (x3), Sammy Sosa, Rod Beck, Ken Griffey, Ken Griffey JR, Jerome Walton, Joe Adcock, Matt Williams, Willie McGee, Todd Walker, Brandon McCarthy (he's a friend), Vince Coleman, and Juan Gonzalez. Oh, I have a Barry Bonds also, but he is a schmuck.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

See why I wanna be a teacher!

 

Vance's collection is awesome.

 

I have:

 

Ken Griffey Jr. (bat and ball)

Bob Gibson

Pete Rose

Sammy Sosa

Mark Grace

Jon Garland

Esteban Loaiza

Aaron Rowand

 

My goal is to one day have my basement area just littered with baseball memorobilia, football jerseys, and other sports stuff.

 

I can't wait til I can afford it.

 

The only way I could afford mine is to marry a pharmacist...

 

I kid.

 

Actually, I've spent hours before and after games waiting on players to sign. Some I purchased tickets at shows to get signed, but most I got at ballparks.

[Mark_R]

I'm not as much of an autograph hound as I used to be. I think I'd rather have sports jerseys framed all over the wall, ala DKWG.

 

I know Jerseys to be incredibly expensive.

 

I have lots of them right now (probably near 40).

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Yeah, I've never done much with the jerseys. That may be something I add later. My collection of cards that are signed is massive though.

 

When I was in grad school, I lived 15 mins from the Rangers ballpark and some days, I'd just go and wait for the players to arrive, get some autographs and then come home.

 

Now, I have to travel to get them and the older I get the harder it gets.

 

I've given a lot of my duplicates to my nephew.

 

It's fun though. You end up with a lot of cool stories and I still get excited over getting a minor player. Once it loses that thrill, I'll probably stop.