Non-Signers

[The Commissioner]

I was just curious, for those of you that collect autographs, which player/players have you had the most unpleasant experiences with trying to obtain their autograph either in person or through the mail?

[Zito75]

It took me 3 years to get Canseco in person... Willie Randolph was a hard signer, it took several in person attempts, Bret Saberhagen told me to F-Off, Clemens was just an A-hole, I had to lean inside a car window to get Mark Whiten, and had to stand on a fence to be able to reach Bret Boone on the team bus.

As far as mail goes, these guys never sent anything back: Tony Gwynn, Yaz, Mattingly, Canseco... and tons of others.

[The Commissioner]

That's interesrting about Saberhagen because he used to be known as a very good signer. As for Canseco, I'm surprised you were able to obtain any signtaure from him what so ever.

[Jose_Reyes_Revolution]

Rickey Henderson.

[yellowdog]

I've never collected autographs and I've never asked a major league player for one. But I've heard more than one person who does seek them say that Johnny Bench was the rudest, most vulgar and difficult player they ever dealt with.

[The Commissioner]

I've heard that quite a lot too. Apparently, he's just not a very nice human being in general.

[Captain Cold Nose]

I will concur with yellowdog and the Commish. I have never heard a good experience with Bench unless he was making a personal (for pay) appearance.

Jim Rice and Tony Armas both totally ignored everybody the couple times I saw the Red Sox play at Tiger Stadium during Yaz's last series there. Yaz, of course, didn't even come out. (He is a private person, I understand, and there was quite a throng of people.)

Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken, and Rick Dempsey all had arranged "dates" after one Baltimore-Detroit game and were the last three to leave. Dempsey was joking with everybody, while Murray and Ripken had their share of autograph seekers. Ripken moved away a bit quicker than Murray, and the recent HOF'er had to yell he was done as a few people tried to stop him on his way to his ride. He didn't seem happy. My brother managed to chase Ripken (and his date) all the way to his car, where he wrangled an autograph.

[Zito75]

Rickey Henderson was easy for me. Strange. He was pretty cool.

[Etheridge2]

Originally posted by Zito75
Rickey Henderson was easy for me. Strange. He was pretty cool.

That's cause The Rickey is only mean when the Rickey is mean and when the Rickey is he am nice because he am the Rickey


The following players are absolutely WONDERFUL when it comes to signing from personal experience

Rick Sutcliffe (Could be the nicest guy on the planet)
Shawon Dunston
Andre Dawson
Bobby Bonilla
Brett Butler (I had like a 45 minute conversation with him at Dodger Town)
Lou Boudreau ( I was lucky enough to meet him multiple times RIP)
Buck O'Neil (Negro Leaguer with a heart of gold great signer)
Rich Gedman
Mark Grace
Felix Jose
Todd Benzinger
Craig Counsell
Dale Murphy
Willie McGee
Jose Oquendo

Ozzie Smith and Ryne Sandberg (it all depends on the day sometimes they are great sometimes they are moody)

[Zito75]

Willie McGee was really nice to me too. I got Otis Nixon once, and he was smoking a giant cigar while he was signing. That was good for a laugh. The nicest player I have gotten has to be David Cone or "The Eck." Both of them asked me how I was doing, and we chatted about weather, stuff like that. Cone wanted to know what there was to do for fun in Seattle, and he was joking about us having cars and electricity up in the North West.

[The Commissioner]

I have to echo Eth's experience with Sutcliffe. i met him the year after he won the Cy Young Award and he was as nice as could be. He signed and chatted and posed for photos. He really made a kid feel special and I'll always admire him for that. He's truly a classy gentleman.

[MikeCameronFAN]

My favorite autograph experience was with Mike Jackson. I was at a game in the Kingdome, out by the Mariners "bullpen" as a little kid. I was standing there with a pen and paper when the National Anthem started. Mike Jackson reached his hands behind his back, grabbed the pen and paper out of my hands and signed it behind his back!

[Etheridge2]

Originally posted by The Commissioner
I have to echo Eth's experience with Sutcliffe. i met him the year after he won the Cy Young Award and he was as nice as could be. He signed and chatted and posed for photos. He really made a kid feel special and I'll always admire him for that. He's truly a classy gentleman.

I once saw him after a game leaving the park and he was on thr DL and had his arm in a sling and he stuck around for about 75 minutes after the game just signing for people. I've bumped into him a couple of times outside of ballparks since h has been abroadcaster and he is still as nice as they come...total class act.
Baseball needs more guys like him. Cub or not....

[Eddie Collins]

Tony Gwynn was really cool!

Non-signers:

Frank Thomas
Pudge Rodriguez(wanted money)

AND THE BIGGEST JERK OF ALL:

barry bonds

[bengalbill]

The Midwest League put out an All-Star set and I tried to get as many of the cards autographed as I could. At the All-Star Game you were allowed to go on the field to get autographs for a 45 minute period of time, all players were available. The problem was with the amount of people seeking autographs, you were lucky to get 15-20 during the period. The set had 60 players and of course, 30 were on one side of the field and 30 were on the other.

I got 18 the day of the game. And plugged along the rest of the season trying to fill the set. In Class "A", 98% of the players are great when asking for autos but some are tough, and some have bad days. I ended up with 48 autographed, 47 were fun and friendly experiences.

My only opportunity to get the Cardinals' prospect Travis Hanson was a two game (for me) series that the Peoria Chiefs were playing in Grand Rapids (besides the all-star game played earlier in Grand Rapids). As the season was nearing it's end, there were no autograph seekers by the visiting dugout. I was in the wrong place when a small boy asked and received Travis' auto the first day, I couldn't get his attention before he went out to warm up. Two other Chiefs' were in the set and signed for me when I called to get their attention. Travis ignored me during several trips into and back out of the dugout and never looked at the stands when he came back in. I stayed after the game by Peoria's bus, but couldn't recognize him in the dim lights leading to their Bus.

The next night I waited by their dugout again, I was the only auto seeker that night for the Chiefs. Don't get me wrong, Travis was never rude about it but it seemed like it was a challenge to him to ignore all my requests. John Santor, who had signed for me the night before, saw what was happening came and talked to me and promised to get that card signed for me. Travis saw him coming and took off for the outfield. He didn't get it signed for me. And when Travis came into the dugout again he never looked into the stands. I was loud enough that people across the way could hear my request (but always pleasant and polite like my mother would expect). Box-seat holders and ushers patted me on my back consoling me as I went to my seat without the desired signature.

As I had spent so much time trying to complete that set; after the game I couldn't not wait for their bus because that would be my last opportunity for the Chiefs' Travis Hanson. An hour and fifteen minutes after the game the last three Peoria players came out of the lockerroom. Santor grabbed Travis by the arm and dragged him to me saying, "Here's who you're looking for!"

He smiled and signed quickly in the dim light, I said "Thank you!" and he hurried to the bus. Santor gave me a wink and slapped me on the shoulder.

I've got spring training and hopefully several years to catch the other twelve players. I hope none of them put me through the paces like Travis Hanson did.

[tmorss9]

In all the times I ever saw Ripken & Frank Thomas, they were good about signing at Tiger Stadium. In fact, I saw Ripken sign for about an hour during a rain delay right before it was announced to be a rainout. Like someone said, it probably depends on the day and the mood. One guy who was really cool in his White Sox days, and I'm not just saying this because of someone's username, was Mike Cameron. Very talkative, and as I recall, his sig was even legible. The worst thing I ever saw was Willie Mays at a show. He said absolutely nothing to anyone, and never looked up. They may as well have had an Autopen behind the desk. But not everyone can be Brooks Robinson. Thankfully there are alot of generous and good natured people in baseball that make us forget about the guys who leave you wondering about them.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Originally posted by tmorss9
In all the times I ever saw Ripken & Frank Thomas, they were good about signing at Tiger Stadium. In fact, I saw Ripken sign for about an hour during a rain delay right before it was announced to be a rainout. Like someone said, it probably depends on the day and the mood. One guy who was really cool in his White Sox days, and I'm not just saying this because of someone's username, was Mike Cameron. Very talkative, and as I recall, his sig was even legible. The worst thing I ever saw was Willie Mays at a show. He said absolutely nothing to anyone, and never looked up. They may as well have had an Autopen behind the desk. But not everyone can be Brooks Robinson. Thankfully there are alot of generous and good natured people in baseball that make us forget about the guys who leave you wondering about them.

Mays has always been like that. He also needed Monte Irvin to be signing as well at the same show. That's the opposite of Mickey Mantle. He was very engaging when I got his autograph, along with Whitey Ford's, at a show.

I have found that many players, if they're not swamped, will talk to you. I was able to strike up a conversation with George Foster at a Detroit-area show a few years back about all his appearances in Southwest Ohio. He is extremely accessible. I got Yaz's autograph at a show shortly after he retired. Fergie Jenkins was there, and he was virtually ignored. That bothered me.

[tmorss9]

Did Jenkins get ignored at a Detroit-area show? Usually he's a pretty big draw around here, being that he's from Chatham, ONT. He always seemed like a pretty good guy at shows. What I used to love is when I'd find out someone was signing that I never really cared for, but after the watching him interact with fans finding out that the player is a a decent guy, and liking him.

[racosun]

Hanging out with my new cousin, Cliff Robinson, gave me a new prospective of autograph seekers and the people they seek them from. We were all over Detroit, hanging out at restaurants, bars, pool halls, etc. Cliff never once denied an autograph seeker, and was always very polite. In fact, he was pretty much the only Piston to hang around after the game to sign and get his picture taken. This one time, we were eating steaks at the Sweetwater Tavern (?) in downtown, when someone asked for his picture mid-bite. He stashed away the bite of steak in his cheek, gave a smile without showing the food in his mouth, shook the guys' hand, and went back to his food. It never bothered him one bit, and he got it all the time. I was losing my patience by the end of the summer, but he's truly a class act and a gentleman. Some people were rude enough to interrupt his lunch, but he never gave a crap what he was doing.

As far as baseball autographs, Lance Parrish let me take his picture, but wouldn't sign my card I offered.

Mike Henneman checked out the card I wanted him to sign, and he said it was pretty cool and that he wanted it. I said 'no way' since it was a rare Topps 'Traded' rookie card, and he laughed and signed it.

My brother got swore at by Alan Trammell for commenting on his pock-marked face. He was only 8 or 9 years old when he said it. I think that ruined Tram's day, since he quit signing after that.

[Zito75]

Cliff Robinson? The same guy that drove around Phoenix totally loaded? This explains why he's so mellow... :laugh :laugh :laugh

[BigRedMachine]

Originally posted by yellowdog
I've never collected autographs and I've never asked a major league player for one. But I've heard more than one person who does seek them say that Johnny Bench was the rudest, most vulgar and difficult player they ever dealt with.

I've met Bench and have his autograph. He wasn't rude but he wasn't exactly engaging either. Of course, I had to pay to get his signature on the picture of him that I bought at the card show.

I've also heard the same thing from many other fans about Bench.

[Sashag]

I met Johnny Bench last summer and he could not have been nicer. He was very polite and was willing to sign and pose for a few pictures. He was one of the best signers. A guy I did have problems with was Spahn, but that is another story. --Johnny was a wonderful guy. -Sasha

[yankeesfan78]

I was surfing around when I found this webpage and thread. Awesome! My Yankees collection is pretty solid so here goes.

First the Hall of Fame.
(The King) Donnie Baseball, (the rest in no particular order) Mariano Rivera, Joe Girardi, David Cone, John Wetteland, Charley Hayes, Jim Abbott, Sparky Lyle, Goose Gossage, Greame Lloyd, Chris Chambliss, Ed Fig, Mickey Rivers, Don Gullet, and Pauly O'neill.

Next the mediocre. Nothing Special, but nothing negative either.
Tino Martinez, Wade Boggs, Don Larsen/Yogi Berra, Jim Leyritz, Whitey Ford, Roy White, Sweet Lou, Jay Johnstone, Fred Stanley, Moose Skowron, El Duque, Don Zimmer, Mel Stottlemeyer and Greg Nettles

Hall of Shame.
(Matching Twin King Jerks) Reggie Jackson and Bernie Williams (the rest in no particular order) Darryl Strawberry, Cliff Johnson


In Football

Dan Marino, Don Shula are Hall of Famers


Probowlers OJ MacDuffie, Ron Heller, Richmond Webb, Keith Jackson, Crash Jensen, Zach Thomas, Larry Csonka, Jake Scott, Dwight Stephenson, Mark Higgs, Shawn Wooden, Troy Drayton, Mike Ditka and Steve Largent were just great.

Journey Man -- Jr. Seau, Ricky Williams, Yale Larry, and Jackie Slater.

Hall of Shamers
No surprise -- Mark Duper and Mark Clayton.

[bonnell9]

I am not one to hound athletes in person. I hound thru mail. I have gotten thousands. The ones that are the toughest are the "unknowns". Paul Serna, Dave Hamilton, Rich Murray, EricWilkins, Richie Zisk, Bud Bulling, John Littlefield, Pete Vuckovich, John Denny etc. Some of the great thru mail signers are: Bill Atkinson, Dell Alston, Andy Rincon, Barry Bonnell, Garth Iorg, Dane Iorg, Gene Garber, Larry Bowa, Jerry Garvin, Jim Clancy, Alan Ashby, Ron Cey, Fernado Valenzuela, and Randy Lerch. You can't expect to get the stars thru mail. Be realistic.

[AutographCollector]

I am not one to hound athletes in person. I hound thru mail. I have gotten thousands. The ones that are the toughest are the "unknowns". Paul Serna, Dave Hamilton, Rich Murray, EricWilkins, Richie Zisk, Bud Bulling, John Littlefield, Pete Vuckovich, John Denny etc. Some of the great thru mail signers are: Bill Atkinson, Dell Alston, Andy Rincon, Barry Bonnell, Garth Iorg, Dane Iorg, Gene Garber, Larry Bowa, Jerry Garvin, Jim Clancy, Alan Ashby, Ron Cey, Fernado Valenzuela, and Randy Lerch. You can't expect to get the stars thru mail. Be realistic.

Who signed for me through your list: Serna, Hamilton, Zisk (went to high school with my uncle, and I made sure to mention that in my letter to him) Littlefield, & Denny.

TTM autographs are weird. One player may sign for one person, and may not sign for another.

P.S.
Wow this thread is old as dirt!

[Dalkowski110]

"Willie Randolph was a hard signer, it took several in person attempts"

Strange. Willie was great for Dad and I. We even had like a fifteen-minute conversation where he recalled some of the plays on Dad's 1981 World Series scorecard ("Oh man, they got me there. That was a hit and run I screwed up. I still remember it!"). Of course, this WAS when he was just the Yankees 3rd base coach.

I've heard Jason Isringhausen is tough in person, but not with me. It was 1996, my first game. Our family came as guests of Pete Harnisch's brother (Harnisch started the game for the Mets). I guess this meant to Izzy that we were important. He signed a baseball for me (I also had it signed by Harnisch) and talked about how "We're gonna win it this year!" and other encouragements (Shawn Estes pitched lights out for the Giants as Harnisch was shellacked).

I haven't had any personal experience with him, but THREE DIFFERENT FRIENDS, none of whom know each other, got cussed out and screamed at when asking for an autograph of Grant Roberts, a relief pitcher on the 2000-2004 Mets. I've also heard some horror stories about Daric Barton and formerly highly touted Minor Leaguers Alhaji Turay and Josh Labandeira.

[Rpollard86]

Hardest I've seen sign is Vlad and Griffey Jr. Never have seen them sign in many times trying to get them....

Nicest guys I've encountered are the best coach there ever will be Bobby Cox, Chipper Jones was a really nice guy who is my favorite player growing up. As well as Jeff Francoeur since watching him in Highschool and my school playing his school for so many years we always have a lot to talk about.

Joe Maddon is a really nice guy and signs very well as well as Scott Kazmir signs really well, James Shield, Johnny Gomes, and Aki Iwamura...

Justin Verlander signed very well his rookie season and is a very nice guy, Rivera is a very good signer been wanting his for 2 years now since I started collecting and finally got his...Finally got Jeter but he signs horrible on balls def. suggest getting his auto on cards or photos as well he doesn't sign on sweet spot...Also suggest you get AROD on cards or photos as well unless you get really lucky....

Josh Hamilton was a very nice guy and signed very well just met him this past tuesday when TEX played the Rays.....

in all I haven't had to many hard time trying to get people except the ones above as well as Don Zimmer he hates signing and Fred McGriff is really hard to and he was one of my favorite players growing up!!

[xholdourownx]

I actually had a few time asking Moyer ip with no success. But hey, got him ttm pretty quickly. Actually, about to send him again.

I have found that Francoeur is very willing to sign and also very friendly.

Maybe it's just because they were at Turner Field, but the Mets entire pitching staff were very unwilling to sign a week or so ago. The only person that signed was Oliver Perez. And he only signed about 3 things.

[J.P]

I think it all depends on the situation, the two times I've seen my fave player Orlando "El Duke" Hernandez have been as part of a crowd asking for his auto, and he's been really rude, I managed to get the auto both times though, dont ask me how; but in the other hand, I've heard from other people(including my mom, who bumped into him at a restaurant and got me a personalized auto, in a napkin, of all places) that he is the nicest guy around, maybe he just doesnt do well with crowds. Former Marlins great Alex Fernandez was really nasty that one time too, and I've heard he is like that to autograph seekers from other people too. As far as nicest, I would have to go with Moises Alou, that day I left because I had gotten all the autographs I could, and Moises was still there signing and taking pictures with the fans with a big smile in his face. From my experience, other players that have been really nice are: Danys Baez, Juan Pierre, Matt Treanor, Doug Slaten, Edgar Renteria, Roger Cedeño, Ruben Sierra, Alex Sanchez, Tony Perez, and John Rocker , yes, that John Rocker!

[Dalkowski110]

"John Rocker , yes, that John Rocker!"

I would add "so long as you're not in New York." He did horribly at Long Island Ducks games. But from my friends who went to ST while he was with the Rangers and Indians, especially, he signed for 'em, including the guy wearing a Mets cap.

[Rpollard86]

I have no respect for that man.. I'd never want an auto or anything from him. He's a coward.


"John Rocker , yes, that John Rocker!"

I would add "so long as you're not in New York." He did horribly at Long Island Ducks games. But from my friends who went to ST while he was with the Rangers and Indians, especially, he signed for 'em, including the guy wearing a Mets cap.

[SDL]

I've had Jim Morrison (manager in the Rays system, not THE Jim Morrison) refuse to sign two of his cards, claiming he looked drunk and stupid in them (huh?); Davey Lopes pull the "I'll sign tomorrow"/on cell phone stunts and Richie Zisk tell people he doesn't sign because of "identity theft." I'd have to give Zisk points for originality on that one.

I recently sent to McGriff TTM. Hope I didn't waste postage here...

[Rpollard86]

I heard McGriff does do TTM...Just hard to get him in person.

I've had Jim Morrison (manager in the Rays system, not THE Jim Morrison) refuse to sign two of his cards, claiming he looked drunk and stupid in them (huh?); Davey Lopes pull the "I'll sign tomorrow"/on cell phone stunts and Richie Zisk tell people he doesn't sign because of "identity theft." I'd have to give Zisk points for originality on that one.

I recently sent to McGriff TTM. Hope I didn't waste postage here...

[SDL]

I heard McGriff does do TTM...Just hard to get him in person.


Not like I am going to hang around outside Catch 47's studios...

[Rpollard86]

haha i've been thinking about doing that.. Hey are you interested in going up to the MLB Draft Thursday?

Not like I am going to hang around outside Catch 47's studios...

[Gary Dunaier]

Davey Lopes pull the "I'll sign tomorrow"/on cell phone stunts

I'd like to see somebody actually get called on one of those 'I'll sign tomorrow' excuses.

[SDL]

I'd like to see somebody actually get called on one of those 'I'll sign tomorrow' excuses.

Lopes says he'll sign tomorrow on a Monday. Pulls the cell-phone trick on a Tuesday. Ignores people on a Wednesday.

No wonder the best he can get is a coaching gig. With that attitude, I doubt he'll ever manage again.

[RuthMayBond]

Jim Rice and Tony Armas both totally ignored everybody the couple times I saw the Red Sox play at Tiger Stadium during Yaz's last series there. Jim Rice was in his hotel room after a rainout. I had the hotel staff call and ask if they could bring my baseball up, he wouldn't even have to meet me.
No dice :evil:mad::rant::grouchy

[icee82]

The hardest auto for me to get has been Tommy Harper, a former Red from the 60's. What's up with him?

[steve rogers]

Jim Rice was in his hotel room after a rainout. I had the hotel staff call and ask if they could bring my baseball up, he wouldn't even have to meet me.
No dice :evil:mad::rant::grouchy

Jim Rice is not a pleasant person, but did you really think having the hotel staff bring a baseball up to his private room was a good idea? If someone did that to me I'd have them send the ball up and I'd just keep it and give it to someone else.

Scott

[Extra Innings]

Barry Larkin was impossible during his Reds days. No acknowledgement to the fans, nothing.

[RuthMayBond]

Jim Rice is not a pleasant person, but did you really think having the hotel staff bring a baseball up to his private room was a good idea?So he wouldn't have to deal with fans, I was trying to spare him that

<If someone did that to me I'd have them send the ball up and I'd just keep it and give it to someone else.>

And I resigned from your fan club, Mr. Rice

[Zito75]

I have another non-signer. Former Mariner Edgar Martinez. I've tried to get him in person and sent cards to both his home and to his business in Redmond, WA. Never heard anything back and it's going on 2 years. Still nothing back from Tony Gwynn either.

[psbaseballfan27]

Looking at this thread its seems like no matter who the person is there good on some days( some more than others) and awful on others. Heck I heard a few people who though Willie Mays was a great guy. Bottom line these guys are human.

[bonnell9]

Had a tough time recently getting Joel Youngblood in person at a Sidewinders game (Tucson), he was pretty grouchy, and he only signed for us. Walked past everyone else. Coach Bill Plummer is great. Signs everything. Mike Parrott is great too. Zisk is impossible thru mail nowadays, even if you send a check, it gets returned. Jerk. Forget Gwynn thru mail.

[SDL]

Had a tough time recently getting Joel Youngblood in person at a Sidewinders game (Tucson), he was pretty grouchy, and he only signed for us. Walked past everyone else. Coach Bill Plummer is great. Signs everything. Mike Parrott is great too. Zisk is impossible thru mail nowadays, even if you send a check, it gets returned. Jerk. Forget Gwynn thru mail.

Zisk doesn't sign for anybody..period. Gives the "I was a victim of ID theft" song and dance even to kids (I've seen it). Wants to be a jerk, fine. I hear he avoids going to the annual Daytona Cubs pre-season fan fest so he doesn't have to sign.

[Zito75]

Had a tough time recently getting Joel Youngblood in person at a Sidewinders game (Tucson), he was pretty grouchy, and he only signed for us. Walked past everyone else. Coach Bill Plummer is great. Signs everything. Mike Parrott is great too. Zisk is impossible thru mail nowadays, even if you send a check, it gets returned. Jerk. Forget Gwynn thru mail.

Wow, you live in Tucson too? I've never had much luck getting any of the Sidewinders or coaches for that matter to sign. I do however hang out on the first base side and get the visitors often, before games. My record so far is 16, but I usually average about 7 or 8. Spring Training is a bit tougher, your best bet there is behind home plate when the guys come out of the tunnel.