Question about the sweet spot

[ChrisLDuncan]

Why can't active players on a team signature sign a ball on the sweet spot?

[nyyfan]

Not an answer but I was wondering the same exact thing. I have a Joey Votto/Jeff Keppinger dual sign ball; both of them signed on the sides. :-(

[ChrisLDuncan]

I know it's a rule acrossed baseball, but I don't know the reason why. I know owners/former players/managers/GMs can sign the sweet spot but not players.

[ipitch]

Players don't generally sign on the sweet spot because they are reserving that spot for their manager.

[bailiff]

A lot of players also won't sign the sweet spot because that increases the chances (and value) of the person selling the ball. A couple former players told me this.

[ChrisLDuncan]

I heard it was a rule as in players can not do this, like they'll get a fine if they do.

[icee82]

I think that it is a matter of preference. I have had current players sign on the sweet spot.

[E.Banks#14]

I'm fairly sure that there is no such rule, but rather, like bailiff and icee82 said, many players prefer not to for various reasons. If you're at a team signing event, where everyone on the team is available to sign your ball, then players will leave the sweet spot for the manager. In other cases, players often refuse to sign the sweet spot because they expect you to turn around and sell it if they do so.

Ask some unknown rookie to sign a ball on the sweet spot and he'll likely be more than happy to.

[Gary Dunaier]

I've thought it was more due to tradition or respect for the manager than anything else.

[ChrisLDuncan]

I think that it is a matter of preference. I have had current players sign on the sweet spot.

On a team signed ball?

[metrotheme]

I was at an "A" league game (short season New York Penn League) this summer and I heard low-round draft picks refusing to sign the sweet spot when people were asking them.