Poll/Opinion - Presidents Signed Baseball
 

I have an opinion question for the board... I have the opportunity to meet Jimmy Carter in a few days. I have a baseball that I had Gerald Ford sign years ago (sweet spot signature), and I've been debating whether I ask President Carter to sign that baseball as well, or have him sign a blank baseball.

What are your thoughts?

I would have Mr. Carter sign a ball on his own. It would have appeal to two types of collectors; Presidents and Nobel Prize recipients. It would be great if you could get it signed 'Jimmy Carter' rather than the traditional 'J. Carter' but that is his preference. I got one 'Jimmy' from him years ago on a photo I took of him at the dedication of the JFK Presidential Library which sits on the campus of my alma mater.

I agree, separate is the way to go. Nothing really ties them together other than serving consecutively. If it was LBJ and Kennedy, or Ford and Nixon that would be something.

I agree with the other posters; if I were in your shoes I would get a separate ball.

Alternatively, you could get another baseball signed by Ford and have Carter sign that one and a blank one :D.

I would try to get a period ball for him to sign.

Thanks guys - really appreciate the advice. Unfortunately its likely too late to get a period ball, but I'll end up going with a blank ball.

I would add that he is absolutely one of the nicest human beings I have had the pleasure of meeting. The first time I met him was in the late 1980's when he still had a 4 member or so Secret Service detail. It was a lecture, with no planned signing so I had an envelope with photos for him. A Mass State trooper friend whose brother was Secret Service told me the trick to giving him something to sign was to talk to one of the agents, show them the package and hand it to them in front of Mr. Carter. It worked wonders. A few days later I received my envelope back in the mail with 5 signed photos, all taken by me. They were postmarked Boston so I had no reason to worry about autopen.

Seems to me in the scenario you described, it would be a lot more effort to autopen the photos than to have him just sign them.

Yes, very true. He was on a small lecture tour and going back to Georgia just to have them autopenned would not have been worth the trouble. As he proved, it was very easy to sign them in his hotel room and have the hotel drop them in the mail. I am sure it helped that I enclosed a handwritten letter stating that I was at the library dedication working for my college radio station and took the photos myself.

Here's my Carter ball. Loves to sign anything he can about his love for Palestine.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8196/...eff0cc6b_z.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8055/...a79ef92a_z.jpg

It would be tough to get Ford to sign another baseball at this point, on account of the fact that he passed away in... oh, you mean get one that he signed BEFORE he... uh... well, you know, mmm, before he became, ahhh, no longer with... no longer with us.

Never mind.

:o

I’m sure Coaches Corner could get one in a heartbeat, with a signature so crisp, it would look like it was signed yesterday. Which it probably was. :D