Willie Mays at Philly

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Posted By: Robert Reiss

Is $269.00 alot for Willie's sig? I know he's one of the all-time greats, but $269??

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Posted By: Geno

A year ago, that would have bought you about 12 shares of GM. Today it will buy you about 130 shares, so maybe the autograph isn't such a bad deal after all...

Take Care,
Geno

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Posted By: Robert Reiss

Wow! How insightful. Now, where do I get the money????
Lost alot in the market!!!

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Posted By: DJ

I gotta rant here and I'm glad this thread opened up. As a person who has NOT had the pleasure of meeting the surly, rude Mays on three occasions, I really need him on one item. When I saw $269, I could not believe it, especially since McCovey and Robinson will be at the same show and will be charging around $80. You have to look at it one of two ways. First, if you want a signature of him, you can buy them for far less. You can buy a signed 8x10 (authenticated) for around $50-75. Second, do you want to meet the s***head? Do you want your hero to not even look up or acknowledge you?

The last time I met him was Anaheim, CA show in 1994. $20 per signature. I asked him to sign a dozen Mickey/Willie/Duke balls in blue pen in a specific area of the ball. He grabbed a black pen and signed it under Snider (NOOOO!) and then he signed the last six, UPSIDE DOWN on the sweet spot above Mantle. Are you kidding me? He then grabbed my silver sharpie and began signing "The Catch" when the silver marker EXPLODED all over his hands. He didn't look up at me, didn't react, but kept trying to sign the photo with the busted pen. He finally grabbed a blue sharpie and signed over the mess he created.

I have heard from several since, he hasn't changed, but his price mostly certainly has...as, he WILL NOT sign it "Say Hey Kid", but will for extra funds sign it "Say Hey". He ain't getting my $269 and I think I will simply enjoy my free Marty Bystrom and move on.

DJ

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Posted By: JimCrandell

I too have seen Mays in action at a show.



Don't expect him to loook up or even acknowledge your presence.



This a huge price for a Mays autograph and you will come away liking him less.

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Posted By: Patrick McHugh

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Mays at a sighning at Ballys casino in Las Vegas in the sportsbook about 15 years ago. He was fantastic. I walked right up to the table when it first started and i do not think anyone else really even knew what was going on. He had photos on the table no charge but would not autograph any other item. Anyway I talked with him for about 5 min. Just me and him. Willie was just really nice and it was great to listen to him talk baseball. I have heard many bad things but also have heard that once in awhile he lightens up and is really a pleasure to meet. I guess i caught him on one of those days. Maybe in Philly he may be in that carefree mode.

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Posted By: Fred C

At $269 a pop I would think he could look up and smile. Heck, if I were charging $269 for a signature I'd be looking up at the person smiling and wonder why the heck would you pay $269 for my signature.

He'd bring in over a quarter million dollars with less than 1,000 signatures. Of course the promoter gets the big cut but I'm sure Willie said, "Say hey, I want a HUGE slice of that action, partner".

I got my Willie signatures in the 70s and they were free back then.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

When Mays charges $269 for a surly autograph, he loses the right to grumble about the public mistreating him.

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Posted By: TONY

I'll give a homeless person $269 before I gave him a penny
for his autograph
One of the games all-time greats
BUT as human since he retired
Let's just say.......Loser
or maybe he's PO'D at the world for some reason
really Sad

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Posted By: GHG!

Saw Mays sitting with a lady traveling companion at the baggage claim area at Houston Intercontinental Airport about a year ago and decided to try for an autograph. All I had was a wrinkled piece of paper and a ratty golf pencil. When I handed him the paper (the travel itinerary of the person I was meeting), Mr. Mays asked what he was about to sign and then refused to do so. Instead, he ask his companion to give him a sharpie and a baseball card (a 2005 Donruss 'Greats') from her purse. He autographed the card, gave it to me, and thanked me for remembering him as a player. He was, in fact, quite gracious...at least that day.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

double post

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Posted By: davidcycleback

If you get a handshake, friendly word and photo of the occasion, I can understand an extra charge. I'm sure for many fans, an in person signing is worth more than just the signature you get. If I had to chose, I'd rather have my photograph with James Stewart than his autograph.

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Posted By: Anonymous

The show promoter at a 2000 show had worked closely with an authenticating firm and items that could be authenticated (for a fee) were marked as signers finished signing. Mays was not down with that and he exploded and told everyone to get the hell away from him.

On another story, I was introduced to Hank Aaron at a show by the promoter. He did 100 pieces for me ($18 a pop...1993) and he put out a limp hand shake and ignored me. BUT a few minutes later, he was in ANOTHER room signing bats only for $100. He couldn't have been nicer. Goes with what above says. $18, you get wet salmon...$100, jovial and chatty.

DJ

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Posted By: Dave Hornish

Nice to see Mays has decided to share his sour personality with the rest of the world again. Who cares......

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

We aren't 'on' all of the time, I can understand how the guys can be caught at an unfortunate moment. But it is showmanship... they should fulfill their role.

Thank you guys for the positive Mays posts. My limited knowledge, and second hand information, had him as bitter all the time. I think that part of what he's still annoyed with is what MLB did to him when he got the Bally's contract. The positive anecdotes show that there's a bit of kindness in there...

I'm sure someone here will tell me otherwise, but from what I've seen myself and from what I've heard, Mr. Musial is always nice.

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Posted By: Chris Counts

The Mays story reminds me of the good old days of autograph collecting. When I was about 11 (in 1972), I went to a spring training game in Palm Springs, California. At one point, I looked up and Mays was standing just a few feet from me, Suddenly panicking, I realized I didn't have anything for him to sign. So I picked a crumpled up piece of a peanut bag off the ground and handed it to him to sign, which he did, very graciously. I still have it somewhere ...

When I was about 12, I was walking through the parking lot before an old-timer's game at Anaheim Stadium and I looked up and there was Joe DiMaggio. I had brought a stack of 3x5s to get signed by the old timers, and I handed him the whole stack so he's have something stable to write on. The parking lot was empty ... it was just me and Joe. And he started signing ... and he kept on signing. By the time he had signed about a dozen 3x5s, I started feeling guilty about my ever-increasing collection of Yankee Clipper signatures, and I simply thanked him and held my hand out. He smiled, placed the stack back in my hands, and walked toward the ballpark ...

When I was about 14, I saw Dock Ellis in a hotel lobby in Anaheim. As myself and another autograph collector walked up to him, a security guard intercepted us very aggressively and began to escort us out of the hotel. Dock grabbed the guard (he towered over him), backed him up against a wall and said, "These guys are my friends ... leave them alone." The same day, I saw Billy Martin in the lobby with a cast on his left wrist, apparently the result of punching somebody or some thing. I felt guilty asking him for his autograph under the circumstances, but he walked right up to me and asked if I wanted his signature on a ball I held in my hand. He somehow managed to pin the thing under his chin and sign it, all with a great big smile ...

When I was about 15, I met Duke Snider at a card show in Fallbrook, California. He was very friendly, so I asked him if he would sign an 8x10 photo with the following inscription, "To Chris, the greatest pitcher I ever faced, long live Ebbets Field, your friend, Duke Snider." He laughed, and he signed the photo with the exact inscription ...

Ah, the good old days ...

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Posted By: Steve Dawson

Chris,

Was that Fallbrook show with Duke Snider back in 1979-80ish at I think the Fallbrook Boys' Club?

If so, I was at that same show and got Duke's autograph on a baseball. First autograph I ever got at a show


Steve

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

Actually, Mays gets every penny of each $269 fee. Both he and his agent know exactly what "being in the Willie Mays business" is all about, and aren't afraid to tell you! Ol' Willie and his family won't be hurting for years to come.

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Posted By: Chris Diaz

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

Great reminisces, Chris!! Thanks1!

I have a space in my 3x5 box for a DiMaggio card... so if the guilt continues to weigh you down, I'd be agreeable to lightening your burden of pain for having so many 3x5s signed by him. I'm not after complete absolution, I don't want 'em all. I think you need a little pain as a reminder. But you've probably been punished enough by having so many so long... so I'll take one. I'll send a SASE if you email an address.


I don't know about that blue Sharpie ink on that bat, notwithstanding the holograph sticker.

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Posted By: Bobby I.

NFI, what a tool. Hmm what would i rather have for 260 bucks, a Mays autograph and some attitude or 2 common t206's in PSA 5 condition. I'll take the T206's.

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Posted By: Rob

$269 is a real disgrace especially when you can get one far cheaper after market. I thought $80 for Bob Gibson was an outrage, I guess that was a bargain. I'll stick to getting autographs of guys like Tim Teufel and Doug Sisk.

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Posted By: RayB

A couple of notes on other posts.

Snider still lives in Fallbrook.

Gibson is signing at a Show in March and the fee is $43.
Must be the economy.

I avidly collect Baseball sets with "through the mail" sig requests and report that many of the retired players from the 50's and 60's still sign for free through the mail; almost a 75% success rate for free sigs.
My daughter does this too and she recently got Robin Yount's sig on a baseball card; free.
Lee Smith was another recent success.

Last note on Snider; he signs anything mailed to his house for $10 an item. A real bargain considering he was heralded in the same town, in the same era at the same position as Mays.

RayB

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Posted By: Rob

Good post Ray, I can also add to what you said.

From about 1997-2000 I must have mailed out about 500 or so cards (not including doubles) to current and retired players and got a tremendous response rate. I was able to get Brooks Robinson, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Mike Mussina, Enos Slaughter, Curt Schilling, Bobby Doerr, Phil Rizutto, Tim Raines, Joe Carter and many, many more stars I can't even think of right now while I am at work.

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Posted By: Steve F

It's a sad thread for the genuine fans from that era and todays' kids.

Not defending Willie and the boys but to add another angle. I own no Mays items, though I'd be happy with a genuine old photo of 'the catch' and take a pass on the forced sig., free or otherwise. I'd guess, get these icons away from the ink mills and the walls come down. Who wouldn't be bitter as well dealing with these these older creeps, hounding for autographs or forcing their kids to do their bidding. We see it at shows and these players know the game of the tinman quite well. It HAS to jade a person.

WARNING, Man-crush spew ahead!; I believe hockey players in general were most accomodating to the fans. There was always a charity event in Boston and you could count on the B's being there. Bobby Orr always made himself available, did it with that great humble smile and for nada. Shy on the ice maybe, but very warm and personable around the fans. He'd coax other players to sign as well. He'd then ask, "Any more? Did everybody get one?". We did. He'd then wave at the awestruck, satisfied mob of rink-rats and walk away always smiling.

Yaz and Bird, not as warm... Certainly not as memorable.

I don't suppose Orr's sig will ever being valuable (cash-wise) in this lifetime. Has to be just too damn many of 'em! Thankfully

Was it really forty freakin years ago!?

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Posted By: J.McMurry

Are you talking about the private signing Gibson is doing in March with Tom Orr?

If so, I was also surprised by the price drop to $43 for cards and $45 for balls, wish others would follow that lead, like Mr. Yastrzemski who wants $135 a pop for either-or of the above.


I have gotten mr. Snider for free TTM as recently as 2005, but I'm sure its hit or miss unless you include the money.

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Posted By: David M

As long as you're talking about high priced autographs, I'm surprised no one has mentioned DiMaggio. I didn't buy one, but I seem to remember $350 per at one show. It was one of the Nationals back in the 80's I think, maybe someone remembers some of the prices. The show I'm remembering had Mantle too I believe. I just couldn't justify the time in line or the price. Would have been great to meet them, but there were just too many tables of cards to try to see!

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Posted By: Michael Steele

Steve,

Sigh....yes, almost 40 years ago. Your right about Bobby. Went to Sacred Heart grade school in Watertown (now closed) and Bobby would show up for our school bazaar every year. What a treat for me at 8-12 years old and what a person. Yaz on the other hand is a little gruff....

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Posted By: shelly jaffe

Go on ebay and buy a say hey authenticated ball from mays for $129 with hof or say hey inscriptiion. You dont have to be insulted by him not looking or talking to you.

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Posted By: shelly jaffe

Go on ebay and buy a say hey authenticated ball from mays for $129 with hof or say hey inscriptiion. You dont have to be insulted by him not looking or talking to you.

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Posted By: Alan

Don't get us started on the SOB !!!

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Posted By: Anthony S.

Played a round of golf one hole behind Willie Mays (why do such graceful athletes often have golf swings that look like they're having a seizure) at Harding Park in SF back in the 90's. I'm indifferent to autographs, but knew my sister would get a kick out of having Willie Mays', so I approached him at the turn (there's always a wait in the 10th tee box). I wasn't expecting a look of joy as I approached, as a private round of golf is sacrosanct, and Willie looked less than thrilled, but he signed without resorting to profanity.

A few years earlier, I was at my eye doctor and as my appointment ended he casually mentioned that if I stuck around for a few moments I could meet Joe DiMaggio. I thought he was kidding or that I'd misheard him, so I left. Took the elevator downstairs, walked outside (experience has taught me that walking outside before taking the elevator downstairs is inadvisable), took a left at the corner and literally walked right into Joe DiMaggio. Didn't ask him for an autograph, but who else can say they essentially re-enacted a play at the plate with Joe DiMaggio when he was in his mid 70's.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

My dad's going to a science meeting whose listed attendees include Bill Gates, Paul Allen, 2 Medicine Nobel Prize winners and an astronaut. I told him more than once he should get the program autographed, but he refuses to do it ... Little did he know that if he he did get the autographs, I was going to type up a LOA and have him sign it.

After he once returned from a business trip, my dad told me he recognized MC Hammer in the airport. He said MC came across as a good guy-- signing autographs, chatting with the fans, posing for snap shots, etc. What struck me was that my dad knew who was MC Hammer.

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Posted By: J.McMurry

I missed Joe D. on the show circuit,but I did manage to snag Mantle at a show in Atlanta around 1990. I stood in line for at least 2 hrs to get a ball signed for $35. All my friends told me I was an idiot for paying that money, now I wished I had gotten 10 balls signed.


Mick didn't say a word to me,but later Whitey and I had a wonderful conversation.

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Posted By: Paul

I got a Mays autographed ball many years ago at a Spring Training game in AZ. I don't remember what it cost, but I do remember that he didn't look up, & that his signature was not legible. I think I used that ball for some batting practice a few years later.

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Posted By: Leslie Westbrook

It's been 6 years since it happened; I visited NYC for the first time in 2003 and was staying at the Roosevelt hotel when I found myself in an elevator with an older man (70's?) and his wife. He was wearing a Yankees World Series ring--which I noticed only seconds before my floor (his was apparently higher), and I got off....still wishing now that I'd stayed on that elevator to find out WHO HE WAS. Oh well....I'll still never forget the recognition of the ring, then the elevator DING and always wondering who....

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Posted By: Anthony S.

Leslie,

Hopefully it wasn't DiMaggio, as he passed in 1999.

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Posted By: Howie C

I'll never forget my autograph experience that I had with Mickey Mantle. About 15 years ago, while I was working in Manhattan, I passed a baseball card store that said Mickey Mantle will be here today signing his book. I decided to go in and find out more details. When I walked in, there was Mickey Mantle sitting behind a table with nobody in the store besides the owner and myself. I bought his book and apprached the legend. I could not believe I was alone with Mickey Mantle. I noticed his ring and asked him whether it was his World Series ring, he barked back at me and said "No, it was his HOF ring". I was taken aback by his attitude. I still bought the autograph but was a little disappointed in the way he acted. Anyway, it makes a good story.

I also met Mays at a show and bought his autograph. I couldn't even make it out after he signed it. He had a sour puss look and never smiled.

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Posted By: Paul

I'm not much of an autograph collector, but my favorite experience was Harmon Killebrew. It was about 1990 at a card show/auction in Phoenix. He was very nice, & what a great looking signature.

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Posted By: Bob

Based on my own personal observations, the most gracious signer of the "greats" is Brooks Robinson. Period. An absolute kind, nice, cordial gentleman. Close seconds include the late Warren Spahn, Lou Brock, Ernie Banks, Andre Dawson, the late Enos Slaughter, the late Buck O'Neill, and the late Kirby Puckett.
Guys I caught on a good day because although they supposedly are gruff, they were good to me, include Don Larson at the National in the bar, Joe DiMaggio who along with my then young daughter appeared together on the front page of the Kansas City Star, Bob Gibson, who joked and was very nice despite his reputation and Ted Williams.
Complete jerks include George Brett and Willie Mays. Brett is the absolute worst. Period.

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Posted By: JohnnyH

I'm don't collect autographs but a few priceless items I have are Kirby Puckett RC and team photo after his rc year, I was one of a couple kids who was able to spend the afternoon with him on a school day while they were out promoting the upcoming season and again after the 91 world series, his autographed changed quite a bit over the course in 7 years but was very neat.
Harmon Killebrew has always taken his autograph very seriously. Each year he lectures the Twins on how important it is to have a legible and neat auto as it represents them, the team and is very special for the fans.

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Posted By: Howie C

My favorite experience was when I got Bob Feller's autograph at a card show. He took the time out to shake everyones hand and took some time out to talk baseball. A real classy guy.

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Posted By: Fred Y

Is there ANYONE who DOESN'T have a Bob Feller autograph!



"How I Avoided a Bob Feller Autograph"--That would make a GREAT story!--Maybe even a Mini-Series!

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Posted By: Joseph

The Philly Show---until its move to the dreadful Reading facility--has been a beacon in the sea of muck that is the sports collectibles business. It has survived wars, economic downturns, card grading, and the onslaught of the Internet, remaining a place where I--in this century--could buy a sack full of t206 & t205 beaters for less than two bucks apiece.



Here's hoping it can continue to survive...even as an $269-a-pop autograph show.

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Posted By: Bill Zimpleman

In the early 1960's my grandfather was in the hospital for an operation. That same day Roberto Clemente ran into the outfield wall at Forbes Field and was hospitalized at the same hospital. While visiting my grandfather I asked if it would be possible to look in on Roberto who was right down the hall. The nurse asked his permission and I spent about five minutes talking to him and his wife and mother-in-law. It wasn't easy to understand him but he mentioned how nervous he was listening to the game on the radio. I left the room then it dawned on me to get his autograph. All I had was a sales slip from the gift shop so he autographed the back of the slip. It was one of the few players autographs I have ever asked for. A number of years ago Joe Palez told me how much of a fan he was of Roberto so I gave him the autograph.

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Posted By: DJ

As far as Bobby Orr goes, he does not do shows and commands "not quite Willie Mays" type numbers as far as what he charges via the mail. P

Prices for Orr start at $100 for items like pucks and goes as high as $225 for premium items through his site. Or you can buy one of this items already signed for several hundred dollars.

Not only that, there is a NASA show going on next month and you should see the prices there! Buzz Aldrin, to sign a ball will cost you $750! His prices for basic items start at around $400 and he was a good signer TTM in the 1980's. Times have changed.

DJ

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Posted By: Anonymous

LIST REPRISED BELOW

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Posted By: CS Bolay

I could go on all day about the autograph show biz...trying desperately to restrain myself. I'll just stick to my 'best/worst experiences' list.

Best- Brooks Robinson back in the 80s...he was nice even when he was getting $3 per.
Tony Gwynn, Hank Stram, Billy Sims, Lou Boudreau, Ron Santo and even Mark McGwire as a rookie, many more. Have a little album of snapshots with a lot of the good guys I've met.

Worst- only two I can think of, really- Luis Aparicio (meh) and Bob Feller's autograph lackey (Feller himself is okay). Not going to get into the Feller story, but we had a nice shouting match and I was sorely tempted to deck the jerk right there. Nobody pockets my cash and treats me like crap.

Rarely attend signings anymore, been mostly priced out of that part of the hobby.

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Posted By: howard

At the first WBC my seat for four games was just in front of the booth where Juan Marichal was doing play by play. Before and after every game as well as between innings there was an endless line of fans at the booth waiting for his autograph. He didn't turn anyone away (except when an new inning was starting) and acted like a gentleman the entire time.

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Posted By: Jim Thierfelder

Best experience - Warren Spahn was doing a promotion for Target in the early 90's and was at a local store. They had promotional photos with the target logo that he was supposed to sign but when I brought my 53 Topps Archive card he insisted on signing that and telling me about the Braves move from Boston. He shook my hand before I joined the group of people standing around the signing table who were listening to him tell baseball stories. Another Spahn story came from a friend who grew up near County stadium in Milwaukee and said it was not unusual for Spahn to stop at the park after day games and play ball with the kids in the local park. One of the all time greats for sure.

Worst experience - For about $30 Sterling Sharpe scribbled something on my football and never even looked at me. This was after listening to him berate a fan for supposedly getting some silver sharpie on his leather jacket.