Your Baseball Autographs

[Chris]

Personally I'm a fan of memorabilia in the form of jerseys and game used stuff, but I love autographs obtained in person and framed pieces. In regards to jerseys, I go the route of a big jersey display with a hinged opening. Rather than pay a ton of money for one jersey to get framed, I change out the display.

[rocket]

I have tons of baseball cards signed by various players, using the old SASE method. Most of them forgettable 90's mediocre baseball players. It was a lot of fun though, checking the mail everyday to see if something got returned.

 

As far as autographed baseballs, I only have 2. One is Frank Thomas. :( This was after I moved from Chicago, and before I had the internet, so I liked the White Sox and thought the world of Frank Thomas, since I never had any negative encounters with Sox fans or pro-Sox media. Good thing the internet made me see the light.

 

And I also happen to have God's autograph on a baseball. thx vance

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I have some cool non-baseball stuff as well. My favorite is likely my 16x20 framed print bw print of Ali knocking out Liston that I got Ali's autograph on.

 

I also have a cover of the SI from when Michael Johnson won four gold medals autographed by him. That was neat.

 

I also have some signed photos and mini helmets from some of the Dallas Cowboys.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

Baseballs:

 

Ryno

Clement

Patterson

Aram

DLee

Burnitz

Karros

Dunston

Grace

Moreland

Stone

Prior

Zambo

Maddux

Wood

Santo

Baker

Banks

 

 

Bats:

 

Prior/Wood/Maddux (all on 1 bat)

Aram

Moises Alou

Sammy

Nomar

Santo/Pat (together)

 

Seatbacks from Wrigley Field:

 

Banks

Wood/Prior together

 

Baseball Cards:

Way too many for a list

 

Helmets: (all mini)

 

Santo

Murton

Guzman

Sammy

Jenkins

Banks

Grace

Ryno

Dunston

 

Jerseys:

 

CPatt :(

Santo

Banks

Ryno

Nomar :(

DLee

Zambrano

Prior

Alou

Sosa

 

Mugs:

 

Santo/Hughes

Sammy

Baker

Grace

Dunston

Dawson

 

Game Programs:

 

Pretty much every ST program from 1980 - 1994 all signed up: Players who I have never even heard of but looked awesome growing up.

[erik316wttn]

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.

 

Odd. Both of my Sammy autographs I got before games at Miller Park in 2000 and 2001. I know I got my first one right after he almost got traded to the Yankees.

[treebird]

VANCE I DESPERATELY NEED YOUR STEVE STONE CARD FOR USE IN A BEWITCHING EXPERIMENT

 

FEDEX IT TO ME AT ONCE

[AllStarMe]

Of my autographs from Cubs players I have:

 

baseball card signed by Mark Grace

 

homemade sign signed by Ryne Sandberg

 

baseball cap signed by Billy Williams, Dave Otto, Chuck Crim, Bob Scanlan, and Heath Slocumb.

 

and a program signed by Doug Dascenzo and Shawn Boskie.

 

Except for the Grace card which I mailed to him and recieved back, I got all the autographs outside the players' lot at Wrigley, in the early 90's when I was but a lad.

[Laura]

This is probably the right thread to mention that HBO Real Sports is currently running a special on forged autographs -- cut and otherwise -- on the sports memorabilia market. It seems that most of the autos mentioned here were obtained in person. You can see a video preview of the show here.

 

Among the autographs they believe were forged is an Upper Deck cut quad autograph card of Babe Ruth / Ty Cobb / Honus Wagner / Walter Johnson that sold for $85,000. Two autograph authentication companies, GAI and PSA, say the Ruth / Johnson sigs are likely fake. Upper Deck as of the filming of the show says they stand by the card, though one wonder whether they stand by it to the tune of $85,000.

 

The show -- which I haven't seen -- apparently also has Dan Marino cruising the net and marveling at the sheer number of his autographed items for sale that he never signed.

 

Who knows? Autograph authentication companies have as many problems as memorabilia companies that try to put out authentic items. The safest thing is to collect what you like, and what you get in person is always the best. :mrgreen:

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I have...uhh...

 

Ryan Harvey autographed baseball (thanks, Jon!)

Corey Patterson autographed Cubs convention pass (thanks, Jon!)

Eric Gagne autographed bar tab (met him at a bar in Old Town Pasadena, he was drunk and giving away autographs for everyone in the bar - and he bought us all drinks too).

Pedro Astacio autographed baseball card.

 

And my mom has a movie ticket stub signed by Vlade Divac and Rick Fox.

 

Now that's a collection.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Um....3, 2, 1......shortest membership ever??

[BigbadB]

Um....3, 2, 1......shortest membership ever??

 

He Gawn!

[hardcorecubfan]

I drank beer with Rod Beck at his RV. That's the stuff.

 

He did sign some stuff for me too, but I drank beer with The Shooter!

 

what was his preference in beer? Other than a large amount of it

[Bergy92]

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

 

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

 

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

 

vance, I guess that ball has been devalued, huh?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

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

 

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

 

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

 

vance, I guess that ball has been devalued, huh?

 

Pretty much.

[Derwood]

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.

 

Did you get every one of those autographs personally or did you buy some stuff at card shows/memorabilia shops?

[Derwood]

Um....3, 2, 1......shortest membership ever??

 

He Gawn!

 

Wait, who, what? Did I miss something?

[BigbadB]

Yep, you missed all the fun.

 

Maybe next time you'll be in here at the crack of dawn rather than wait until your 5th cup of coffee, eh? :D

[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.

 

Did you get every one of those autographs personally or did you buy some stuff at card shows/memorabilia shops?

 

I'd say 90% or more I've gotten in person. The ones from card shows are those that I paid for a ticket and watched the player sign my item. I have bought a select few items from memorabilia shops...but I'm so skeptical that I rarely do that.

[Derwood]

Yep, you missed all the fun.

 

Maybe next time you'll be in here at the crack of dawn rather than wait until your 5th cup of coffee, eh? :D

 

Some of us have small kids who wake up in the night so we need to go to bed at a somewhat reasonable time. Ah well, I'm sure it was fun for those who saw it.

[danonwaveland]

I've got a couple: MadDog on an all-star ball from Pittsb'gh; Ronnie and Pat; Ryno; a fading ink ball from the Big Red Machine -- not sure what year. My son has Sammy's, Konerko (on a card), Eric Young on a bat, and lots of lesser lights.

 

What he does have that's interesting is an autographed hat with Alfonseca's and Don Baylor's sigs. After Baylor was fired, he was able to get a ball autographed by Alfonseca and Bruce Kimm. I'm trying to get another ball with Alfonseca's sig and then get Dusty to sign it -- maybe that's how we can get rid of him.

[bhogg]

I can attest to Vance's talents --- the guy has a knack for the autograph.

 

I don't have many autographs. I have 2 Sandbergs-- one of which I got at the Albany airport following HOF weekend. The other is a 1985 Donruss 5x7 Diamond King.

 

I have an 88 Score Andre Dawson Signed.

 

I have a couple Frank Thomas Cards signed.

 

 

 

I just repainted my den and have started adding miscellaneous baseball cards and baseball photos on the walls. Maybe I should take some pics for you guys. . . . . . who else has a Jody Davis card displayed in their home? I do :D

[Illini25]

Willie Mays- baseball

 

Barry Bonds - 1994 All-Star Game Ball. (if it's real, I dont know. I have a COA, but who knows if it's a fake or not. Bought it many years ago from QVC. Barry was on at the time, so im hoping it's not a fake, LOL.)

 

http://members.speedguide.net/illini25/1994_all_star_game_ball.jpg

 

http://members.speedguide.net/illini25/bonds_autograph.jpg

[adamb0719]

Not a lot of baseball signatures,

 

Dawson, Grace, Conseco, and Jodi Davis on baseballs. Kent on a mini-bat.

 

Every ND team from 88-96 (I think, could be 97), many of them personalized to me, which is very nice.

 

Almost every QB from the 86 NFL season. (my dad attended a QB club meeting in DC, on accident.) McMahon, Montana, Jaws, Marjowski (I think that was the GB QB,) Simms, etc...

 

And my most prized possession: A David Hasselhoff signature, on a picture of me sitting in Kit, no less.

[illiniguy]

I, like Vance, have a buttload of autographs. My favorite would have to be my team signed ball, sans Nick Smith, of last years Runner up Illinois team. I also love my Luther Head jersey.

Balls

Scott Kazmir

Felix Hernandez

Miguel Cabrera

Carlos Zambrano

Mark Prior x2

Jose Canseco

Ernie Banks

Barry Zito, Eric Chavez, Bobby Crosby, Dan Haren, Dan Johnson, and Rixh Harden(Oakland in person rocks)

Kevin Millwood

Ryan Harvey and Epatt

CPatt

Cole Hamels

Javy Lopez

Dontrelle Willis

David Wright

Alphonso Soriano

Some in person a couple sase. The sase method is great on young guys in the minors. I think I have about 15 of each of Prior, Z, and Felix cards getting them before they hit it big.

 

Then I have a billion or so cards.

[DonnieD]

I have quite a collection also. Unlike Vance, I don't have enough patience to type even half of them out. Although I do have some miscellaneous signed items like Hats, Bats, Mini-helmets, a bunch of 8x10 photos, and innumerable signed baseball cards, I have, for the most part, started concentrating on single-signed baseballs. My main emphasis right now is on HOF'ers with "award winners" also being an emphasis (MVP, CY, & ROY) for now. If I go to a show or something and can get a star player on a ball, I ususally will, but I have stopped putting non-star players on baseballs. I will still get them, I just try to put them on baseball cards. Right now some of my collection is this (99% of my stuff was signed in person):

 

HOF single signed baseballs

1 Dizzy Dean (a picture of which has been inhabiting my Avatar for a while now)

2 Bob Feller

3 Yogi Berra

4 Monte Irvin

5 Mickey Mantle

6 Ralph Kiner

7 Robin Roberts

8 Bob Lemon

9 Ernie Banks

10 Eddie Matthews

11 Al Kaline

12 Duke Snider

13 Juan Marichal

14 Luis Aparicio

15 Harmon Killebrew

16 Rick Ferrell

17 Enos Slaughter

18 Willie McCovey

19 Bobby Doerr

20 Billy Williams

21 Ray Dandridge

22 Red Schoendienst

23 Jim Palmer

24 Rod Carew

25 Gaylord Perry

26 Fergie Jenkins

27 Tom Seaver

28 Rollie Fingers

29 Reggie Jackson

30 Steve Carlton

31 Jim Bunning

32 Earl Weaver

33 Don Sutton

34 Robin Yount

35 Tony Perez

36 Dave Winfield

37 Kirby Puckett

38 Ozzie Smith

39 Paul Molitor

40 Ryne Sandberg

 

 

Other Superstars/Award winners on baseballs

Pete Rose

Greg Maddux

Goose Gossage

Tony LaRussa

Andre Dawson

Ron Santo

Buck O'Neil

Trevor Hoffman

Tony Oliva

Bert Blyleven

Lee Smith

Minnie Minoso

Maury Wills

Dale Murphy

LaMarr Hoyt

Rick Sutcliffe

Bret Saberhagen

Jack McDowell

Barry Zito

Johan Santana

Frank Howard

Gary Peters

Gary Matthews

Darryl Strawberry

Ron Kittle

Pat Listach

Todd Hollandsworth

Kerry Wood

Harold Baines

Torii Hunter

Carlos Zambrano

Bill Madlock

Tim Raines

Billy Pierce

Johnny Podres

Joe Mauer

Mark Mulder

 

I was just counting the other day and I have 98 baseballs in ball cubes on shelves in my office and another 7 dozen in boxes with no room to display. I still have 29 living HOF'ers still to get, that will keep me busy for a while.