What baseball autographs could be considered uncommon

[packs]

It has nothing to do with owing people anything. That's a bad argument. The argument is if you have time, why can't you sign an autograph? No one's saying anyone has to go out of their way out of obligation. But it seems rude, obnoxious, and even insulting that a guy who has time for an autograph would say no just because "that's what he does." Or, "he's signed enough." Give me a break. That is some self-righteous garbage.

[mark evans]

I don't believe anyone has a duty to sign autographs.

[mark evans]

Originally Posted by mark evans

I don't believe anyone has a duty to sign autographs.

It follows, by my way of thinking, that one who declines to sign does not owe anyone an explanation. Of course, no one has a right to be rude, either.

[MooseDog]

I spent a lot of years chasing autographs in person, I was respectful and polite at all times, if someone said no, I left it at that.

Into the mid-1980s and beyond more people started going to spring training, more people stalked the hotels and airports and a small number became VERY aggressive (often kids who "worked" for adult "dealers"). I saw some really bad form, such as knocking on hotel room doors, interrupting meals, and even yelling at players for not signing. It's that minority that killed it for everyone else.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by moosedog

i spent a lot of years chasing autographs in person, i was respectful and polite at all times, if someone said no, i left it at that.

Into the mid-1980s and beyond more people started going to spring training, more people stalked the hotels and airports and a small number became very aggressive (often kids who "worked" for adult "dealers"). I saw some really bad form, such as knocking on hotel room doors, interrupting meals, and even yelling at players for not signing. It's that minority that killed it for everyone else.

+100

[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by packs

It has nothing to do with owing people anything. That's a bad argument. The argument is if you have time, why can't you sign an autograph? No one's saying anyone has to go out of their way out of obligation. But it seems rude, obnoxious, and even insulting that a guy who has time for an autograph would say no just because "that's what he does." Or, "he's signed enough." Give me a break. That is some self-righteous garbage.

I think you are seriously trivializing what a chore autograph signing can be for high-profile figures and celebrities, especially world-renowned individuals like Armstrong whose popularity extends across several areas of collecting and fandom. We're not talking about someone who played a couple of games in the majors and is just glad that someone remembers him. Armstrong is literally in the history books that every gradeschool kid grows up studying from.

It would never be "an" autograph request.