I know that say a Babe Ruth autographed baseball has value, but why do you want someone to sign something for you. It never made much sense, but maybe someone can show me what I'm missing?
But then I went to camp and got a Giants football for my man cave, with no intention to get an autograph, but then I got Eli's at camp after I bought it and that was cool. The older I gets, the less cool it feels. I guess it's the connection to a very good player that one can display. I would never purchase one. I saw grown men and women jumping over kids, or waiting on long lines. That's just not for me. A picture with a notable player is good. I was at an event with Weatherford, Charles Oakley and Jason Williams, and it was so much more cool to get a picture with them.
probably part of the celebrity worship culture we have. The signature is proof you were actually close enough to the celebrity to get the signature. Raises your stature among the other celebrity worshipers I guess.
If you are an adult I agree, it would be odd. I never really was into asking for or getting autographs myself but I don't see anything wrong with a kid asking for one from a player he likes.
The practice of kids getting a ball players autograph has been around a lot longer than this current celebrity obsessed culture.
Steve, I think its a whole different thing with kids, that I can understand. Don't quite understand the adults as much. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to demean the practice or the people, i just don't personally see the attraction.
Come on man, that's a little strong. I never had an interest either, but the kids get to meet the players, gives the players another connection with the fans...and people like mementos.
Come on man, that's a little strong. I never had an interest either, but the kids get to meet the players, gives the players another connection with the fans...and people like mementos.
Who cares, you know? It's harmless.
Did you get "demeaning" out of "I don't want to demean"? If so, that's quite a contortion.
Come on man, that's a little strong. I never had an interest either, but the kids get to meet the players, gives the players another connection with the fans...and people like mementos.
Who cares, you know? It's harmless.
Did you get "demeaning" out of "I don't want to demean"? If so, that's quite a contortion.
One was from Gordie Howe, when I was 8 or 9 and we played the Whalers Alumni in a fund raiser. Afterward everyone on our team lined up shook hands and he signed a picture of himself for each kid. I lost that probably on the ride home.
I met David Cone at a bar in New Haven he was hammered, me and my buddies were hammered, he signed a dollar bill for me for some reason. I used it for pizza later that night.
But I get why people like them, and I agree grown-ups/big kids should not pursue them, but I know why they do.
Got LT to sign my hat in Foxborough after the Giants whooped the Pats back in the 90's. Howard Cross too.
LT was in the parking lot talking with Irving Fryar about where the party was at after the game. A bunch of us saw LT and ran over for autographs. I took off my 56 jersey and gave it to LT to sign - he grabbed it - big smile on his face - and tried to sign it with the ball point pen I gave him. He couldn't sign it so he gave it back to me and said "sorry kid, I can't get this pen to work" at which point he I gave him my Giants hat and he signed that. "All the way to Tampe LT" I said and he said "Yeah kid, you got that right!"
So, I don't know what the point was - then or now - but there you have it.
I also got a picture of Walter Mondale when I was in elementary school. My whole class had to write to the WH or something. No idea what the point of that was either.
please, get off your high horse and stop insulting people for doing things that you dont like or understand for whatever reason
next, it has nothing to do with our culture- it has been around as long as people have been around.
in ancient Rome, people collected sweat from their favorite Gladiators and bottled it in glass vials, and they were very valuable
next,, why is a picture any different then an autograph? do you think this means they are your friends or in any way would know you if they ran you over with their truck? great you have a picture with them because you were next to them for 20 seconds...
its just another form of saying I met this person and it connects you to something you have interest in
"Have" a glove that "was" signed by Brooks, Boog, Palmer, McNally, and many others from, the locker room door as they came out... What did I do? 6,7,8 years old, Played with it... No more ink... My first glove... UGH! What did I do???
Later in life dad tells me how me and my brother played with 3!, Mickey Mantle signed balls... Ruined!
Also a 1970 Colts football signed by many if not all players, taken out on the street and kicked the shit out of it.. That I remember!
I remember giving my dad crap, after, he told me about the Mickey balls, "what the heck were you thinking??? "
Now years later I get it... It's just stuff.. Dad, tried to hide them and keep them safe...
Little did he know how bad ass me and my bro could be...
As I got older and hopefully smarter, I started collecting, I have a treasure trove of Giants "stuff" ... None of it will mean as much to me as that O's Glove sitting in my garage..... But it sure helps the sting! Autographs are personal, unless it's Babe Ruth! )
Especially in Albany. ....my bar is stocked with signed helmets, hats, and jerseys...hell all our jerseys have autographs....Every item has a great story. ...now....i helped the kids get the autographs for the most part.....small adventures with planned strategies.
part though. Without it being certified, autographs aren't worth much at all. Although quite a few certification companies are a complete joke too.
The quality of autographs from players at training camp and things like that are very low too, they sign very quickly. A lot of them arent allowed to sign their full signature because of contracts with steiner and the other companies
I have a few autographs from pro wrestlers - Snuka, George steele, Dusty Rhodes. Getting them signed was hysterical, have photos with my kids.
I have some from when I was a kid that meant a lot at the time , pre sports memorabilia explosion.
Care about autographs or photos. Just too weird, and I don't care enough about anyone I don't personally know (famous people that is).
I have met a lot of former players and I get more enjoyment talking to them then having them sign something. Steve Carlton ranks up there as a very interesting person to have a conversation with.
next year, I think I am going to meet and chat with LT. Excited about that.
a large sports card collection that I have kept from my childhood. I would think it was pretty cool if some of the cards were signed. I hope to pass the collection on to my kids some day.
20+ years ago, it has become too expensive for me now. Was more than the autograph, but meeting the person for those few seconds at card shows. Mostly people from sports/memories I knew as a youth. Joe DiMaggio, Muhammad Ali, Mickey Mantle, Tom Seaver, Hank Aaron, LT, etc. Fond memories.
I have a Brandon Jacobs signed pylon given from the juggernaut himself
a professional player and try to get an autograph as an adult but I did as a kid and I have all sorts of really cool memorabilia in my office. Patrick Ewing basketball, Lawrence Taylor Football, Football autographed by the whole 86 Giants team. Bunch of old Mets autographs. A Messier Puck. Wayne Gretzky autographed plaque. Its cool to me, and will continue to be cool to me until I die. Sue me.
Someone's signature on a piece of paper to me seems stupid. However signing a piece of relevant memorabilia or something else significant, maybe. If the player was legendary. I would totally dig a Brandon Jacobs' signed pylon. Or a football signed by Plaxico if he scored a TD with it. Eli signing the cowboys brand new stadium is the best autograph story I have heard.
You get autographs in order to get them permanently inked on your torso. Which makes sense of course as 80% of those clowns will be on another team in 2-4 years.
Seriously, tho...I caddied for Whitey Ford at Shinnecock in 1989, and being a baseball aficionado, there was no way we were going to complete 18 holes without me asking for an all-time great's autograph (even as a Mets fan).
The practice of kids getting a ball players autograph has been around a lot longer than this current celebrity obsessed culture.
That culture has been in place for a long, long time. The only thing that has really changed is the nature of the celebrities themselves and the amount of exposure.
thread that got me thinking "yeah why did I ever ask players for authographs?". When I was younger/a kid it was cool to show my friends "look I met Jeter!" but now I would have no interest in asking someone for an autograph, I would like a picture with someone I found to be cool though.
as an adult, I could care less. In fact, on Framed prints/photographs etc, I would rather it not have the autograph. The point of framing Tyree's Catch or Everson Walls's hands up in the air is to see the moment. The autograph is a distraction.
Then again a Babe Ruth or Lou Gehrig signed ball would be pretty nice to have - of course they would be worth a lot of money.
Steve, I think its a whole different thing with kids, that I can understand. Don't quite understand the adults as much. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to demean the practice or the people, i just don't personally see the attraction.
Who cares, you know? It's harmless.
Who cares, you know? It's harmless.
Did you get "demeaning" out of "I don't want to demean"? If so, that's quite a contortion.
over 18 it's an old hobby or just as likely some commercial interest.
Quote:
Come on man, that's a little strong. I never had an interest either, but the kids get to meet the players, gives the players another connection with the fans...and people like mementos.
Who cares, you know? It's harmless.
Did you get "demeaning" out of "I don't want to demean"? If so, that's quite a contortion.
Sorry, I see Headhunter said "demeaning"
I got two in my life.
One was from Gordie Howe, when I was 8 or 9 and we played the Whalers Alumni in a fund raiser. Afterward everyone on our team lined up shook hands and he signed a picture of himself for each kid. I lost that probably on the ride home.
I met David Cone at a bar in New Haven he was hammered, me and my buddies were hammered, he signed a dollar bill for me for some reason. I used it for pizza later that night.
But I get why people like them, and I agree grown-ups/big kids should not pursue them, but I know why they do.
LT was in the parking lot talking with Irving Fryar about where the party was at after the game. A bunch of us saw LT and ran over for autographs. I took off my 56 jersey and gave it to LT to sign - he grabbed it - big smile on his face - and tried to sign it with the ball point pen I gave him. He couldn't sign it so he gave it back to me and said "sorry kid, I can't get this pen to work" at which point he I gave him my Giants hat and he signed that. "All the way to Tampe LT" I said and he said "Yeah kid, you got that right!"
So, I don't know what the point was - then or now - but there you have it.
I also got a picture of Walter Mondale when I was in elementary school. My whole class had to write to the WH or something. No idea what the point of that was either.
next, it has nothing to do with our culture- it has been around as long as people have been around.
in ancient Rome, people collected sweat from their favorite Gladiators and bottled it in glass vials, and they were very valuable
next,, why is a picture any different then an autograph? do you think this means they are your friends or in any way would know you if they ran you over with their truck? great you have a picture with them because you were next to them for 20 seconds...
its just another form of saying I met this person and it connects you to something you have interest in
"Have" a glove that "was" signed by Brooks, Boog, Palmer, McNally, and many others from, the locker room door as they came out... What did I do? 6,7,8 years old, Played with it... No more ink... My first glove... UGH! What did I do???
Later in life dad tells me how me and my brother played with 3!, Mickey Mantle signed balls... Ruined!
Also a 1970 Colts football signed by many if not all players, taken out on the street and kicked the shit out of it.. That I remember!
I remember giving my dad crap, after, he told me about the Mickey balls, "what the heck were you thinking??? "
Now years later I get it... It's just stuff.. Dad, tried to hide them and keep them safe...
Little did he know how bad ass me and my bro could be...
As I got older and hopefully smarter, I started collecting, I have a treasure trove of Giants "stuff" ... None of it will mean as much to me as that O's Glove sitting in my garage..... But it sure helps the sting! Autographs are personal, unless it's Babe Ruth! )
The quality of autographs from players at training camp and things like that are very low too, they sign very quickly. A lot of them arent allowed to sign their full signature because of contracts with steiner and the other companies
I have some from when I was a kid that meant a lot at the time , pre sports memorabilia explosion.
I have met a lot of former players and I get more enjoyment talking to them then having them sign something. Steve Carlton ranks up there as a very interesting person to have a conversation with.
next year, I think I am going to meet and chat with LT. Excited about that.
That's the point of an autograph.
Seriously, tho...I caddied for Whitey Ford at Shinnecock in 1989, and being a baseball aficionado, there was no way we were going to complete 18 holes without me asking for an all-time great's autograph (even as a Mets fan).
That culture has been in place for a long, long time. The only thing that has really changed is the nature of the celebrities themselves and the amount of exposure.