Sports Illustrated?

[Topps206]

Originally Posted by Huck

As a rule, I don't get covers signed that I can't complete. It would just bother me. I have the 7/5/2010 cover signed by Johnson and Jiminez. Should have could have, wish I would have taken the mail order option at one of Halladay's last shows, but I figure he would be around again and again. Nope. Now, I have a magazine that is 2/3 signed forever. I am at 233** signed covers (baseball only) and it is getting harder to add covers to the collection. If I can manage to get there, I might stop at 250. In years past SI would have 10-12 baseball covers a year, thus far in 2023, just two covers. Plus the players on the covers now usually cost well over $100 a signature. No way, I add Big Papi to the cover collection at $200+ a throw. The days of seeing players like a Andy Etchebarren, Frank Lary or Johnny Callison grace the cover of SI are long gone.

** not completely true, of the 233, one cover is signed by Brandi Chastain and another by Jennie Finch. Hey, I am human. Both are cool covers and Jennie is holding a bat.

I feel like I look at it differently. Sure, I would like to complete a cover, but any cover with a signature counts for me as being signed.

I really want that Billy Ripken cover. Where did you get yours?

I do have a rule, however, if a player is on a solo cover or is on a cover with others, I’ll get the solo cover first, that takes top priority. This goes for all sports, such as me getting McLain’s solo covers first, getting Dave Parker’s, Graig Nettles’ and George Foster’s solo covers first, too.

So, when I graphed a signing in Evansville in January, I passed on McLain for his fourth cover, Darrell Evans for his shared cover with Greg Gagne, Foster’s shared cover with Rod Carew and also Nettles’ shared cover with Goose Gossage in favor of Nettles’ solo cover, his 1987 Topps and Foster’s solo cover.

I got Ron Blomberg on his cover from 1973. I can’t complete it because Bobby Murcer is deceased, but I count it.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by Topps206

I feel like I look at it differently. Sure, I would like to complete a cover, but any cover with a signature counts for me as being signed.

I really want that Billy Ripken cover. Where did you get yours?

I do have a rule, however, if a player is on a solo cover or is on a cover with others, I’ll get the solo cover first, that takes top priority. This goes for all sports, such as me getting McLain’s solo covers first, getting Dave Parker’s, Graig Nettles’ and George Foster’s solo covers first, too.

So, when I graphed a signing in Evansville in January, I passed on McLain for his fourth cover, Darrell Evans for his shared cover with Greg Gagne, Foster’s shared cover with Rod Carew and also Nettles’ shared cover with Goose Gossage in favor of Nettles’ solo cover, his 1987 Topps and Foster’s solo cover.

I got Ron Blomberg on his cover from 1973. I can’t complete it because Bobby Murcer is deceased, but I count it.

I like the Murcer and Bloomberg cover. Murcer died before I would have attempted completing that cover. I would have wanted to get Murcer first. I will try to complete multiple-player covers if I can get the harder players first (ex. 1968 - Bench the rookies cover). Did TTM on three of the five signatures. Tracked down Cisco Carlos (owns tile/furniture place out west). Don Pepper is a regional manager for Bob Evans restaurants. Tracked him from NC/SC to some place up north. Alan Foster just sent to his home address. A collecting friend got Torrez for me and I got Bench. Tough cover to get all 5, but it can be done! Nettles solo cover is okay, but the cover with Goose is pretty slick (have both).

I would have to check my database on the exact date but MAB Celebrity out of NJ used to promote a ton of shows. MAB used to do theme shows which were great. If memory serves, Billy was a guest at one of the MAB shows in Maryland. If Billy appears in the area and I attend the show, I would be happy to get the cover signed for you.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by Topps206

I really want that Billy Ripken cover. Where did you get yours?

March 8, 2008 in Baltimore, Maryland at the MAB - Ironclad Authentics Signature Showcase show. I got signatures from Billy Ripken, Tony Perez, Harmon Killebrew, Reggie Jackson and Ernie Banks at the show. Billy the only signature on a cover, the rest of the signatures were on Perez-Steele postcards.

[Topps206]

Behold my newest addition, and I absolutely love it.

Rick Mount runs a shooting camp a couple days each June and July in his hometown of Lebanon. So, I'd reached out via email and text and we worked something out. Today was the first day of the camp, and he told me to come by around 3 p.m. (I actually got there earlier, this place is north of Indy). I had to then turn right back around and get to work in the evening.

He also signed a Purdue jersey for someone, but the SI cover stole the show afterward. People were asking me where I got it. It was on eBay and I got it last Christmas in hopes of doing exactly what I did today. Someone asked if they could take a picture of my magazine after he had signed it, and there must've been three or four people in all who took a picture of the signed cover.

Rick was the very first high school athlete to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Huck, I kindly would love to take you up on such an offer. Thank You. I'd have to buy the Ripken cover online, but I want to thank you for such an offer.

[Topps206]

I went to the Music City Collectibles Show today, added Chris Sabo and Jevon Kearse. I’ll be back tomorrow for Atlanta Braves Sunday.

[Topps206]

I get there today, and I'm not happy with how it's ran, but I have fun walking around. Darrell Evans shows up an hour late, if not more. I've got a low ticket for him, but my gosh, he's talking his life away with everybody he's signing for. And, something I've never seen before, some people walk up to him from behind his table. He completely stops his signing session, and he stands up and talks to them for five or 10 minutes, taking a picture with them, while all of us are just standing there in line waiting for him, and I'm not the only one who was frustrated. But, he was nice enough when it was my turn.

From there, it's all smooth sailing, as Ryan Klesko is literally the next table over and he's outgoing, but moved a lot faster.

So, that's another four SIs added to the collection this weekend, to go along with two from yesterday.

Sabo and Klesko are my favorite adds from this weekend.

[Bigdaddy]

Added 3 covers at the CSA show this past weekend. Got Pete to finish the cover with Banks and then added two Billy Ripken covers.

Pete was looking very frail.

McLain was supposed to be there all three days but he was a no-show the entire weekend.

[Topps206]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

Added 3 covers at the CSA show this past weekend. Got Pete to finish the cover with Banks and then added two Billy Ripken covers.

Pete was looking very frail.

McLain was supposed to be there all three days but he was a no-show the entire weekend.

I wonder why McLain no-showed?

Those look great. Pete is 82 years old, was just in Nashville, now CSA and is going to to be at a couple of shows in November.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

Added 3 covers at the CSA show this past weekend. Got Pete to finish the cover with Banks and then added two Billy Ripken covers.

Pete was looking very frail.

McLain was supposed to be there all three days but he was a no-show the entire weekend.

I have always liked the rose/banks cover. When Banks was a guest, there were always other items with a higher priority. Missed opportunity.