Who's the earliest HOF you met in person?

[mrmopar]

Found this old thread via a search and thought I would revive it.

The first and earliest HOFer I met was Bob Feller, who was signing at Pacific Trading Cards in Edmonds. I think it was 1984 or so.

I "met" a few others at Mariner games in the 80s as well when I was chasing autographs, although all were still active except Yogi Berra, who was a Yankee coach or manager at the time. he was walking to the team bus after the game. Guys like Dave Winfield, Jim Palmer, Gaylord Perry, Tony Perez, Carl Yastrzemski and Eddie Murray all signed something for me at M's games. That was more seeing him close and in person vs. actually meeting him. I also got a bunch of signatures (maybe 1-2 HOFers, but I'd need to see the program to remember) at one of the Equitable Old Timers Game in Seattle.

I then met a few more at the Seattle Fan Fest in 2001, including Bob Gibson, Jim Rice, Orlando Cepeda & Enos Slaughter.

Lastly, I was able to meet a couple at Everett Aqua Sox games when they were signature guests before the games. Rollie Fingers, Gaylord Perry and Fergie Jenkins (I guess they like 60s-80s pitchers!). It was fun too be able too get a number of items signed by each, an opportunity you don't typically get in card show settings, as they were there for 2 hours each and there were really only so many fans interested in standing in line more than once.

[vthobby]

In the lobby of the Otesaga Hotel. Me and a friend had basically snuck into the lobby, we got Ferrell to sign 2 Perez Steeles and we were then escorted out by security. It was well worth it. We each got around 25 hall of fame autographs on that trip. 1985 or 1986 or near there during the induction weekend.

Peace, Mike

PS I also got Gehringer on a baseball on that same trip and that was TOUGH! I basically bugged him so much on the golf course by recounting all of his accomplishments to him that his wife basically said "Charlie, sign for the boy so he will just go away!" He did, and I did! What a sweet sig he had!

[MacDice]

Originally Posted by mrmopar

Found this old thread via a search and thought I would revive it.

The first and earliest HOFer I met was Bob Feller, who was signing at Pacific Trading Cards in Edmonds. I think it was 1984 or so.

That is funny I was the first person in line for that signing. I remember Bob was late as he got lost finding the place. I got a Donruss Baseball Hereos card signed and a postcard signed

[mrmopar]

Look familiar? I got those same things signed as well, the 83 heroes card and the PC they sent to advertise the signing along with the 8x10 B&W paper photo with the career highlights on back he had there and a ball.

Originally Posted by MacDice

That is funny I was the first person in line for that signing. I remember Bob was late as he got lost finding the place. I got a Donruss Baseball Hereos card signed and a postcard signed

[MacDice]

Sure does. Great post. I now live 5 minutes away from where PTC used to have their store. Brings back good memories every time drive by

[Mark]

Wonderful names. Edd Roush and Carl Hubbell! I saw Stengel at an old timer's game, but my oldest conversation buddy is Pie Traynor. Spoke with him 2 or 3 times since he was often at the ballpark in the late 60's and early 70's. Most memorable one is Roberto Clemente, who spent some time talking with me when I was 10.

[Tabe]

First one I ever met was Lou Brock at a Sears store in Pontiac, MI around 1977 when he was hawking the Brockabrella. Got his autograph.

First guy elected to the Hall I ever met was Ernie Banks. Met him at a card show in Pontiac around 1984, maybe 1985. Got his autograph on an SSPC Hall of Fame card.

First one I ever met who was in the Hall when I met them was Al Kaline. Met him when he was signing autographs at a bank in 1980.

The only other HOFer I've ever met was Wayne Gretzky, much later.

[lumberjack]

In the mid to late 1970s I thought I was going to be the next Larry Ritter and there were a few dead ball era guys in Michigan and Ohio who gave me some interview time.

Waite Hoyt was very gracious. He would have been 80 years old. I guess he figured anyone who would spend ten hours on the road (round trip) was serious about meeting him. Waite Hoyt wasn't shy about sharing his opinions regarding baseball, by the way.

Ray Fisher isn't in the Hall, but he was the oldest man I met, having been born in 1887. The guy played for Frank Chance and Hal Chase. Think about that.

The one I kick myself about was Frank Bowerman's son. Bowerman was one of the last of the old Orioles and had been dead for 25 or 30 years, but his son was very much alive and for some reason, I had this opportunity to talk to him and I simply dropped the ball. UGH.
lumberjack

[Case12]

Earliest inductee: Bob Feller at a show

Next earliest inductee: Stan Musial in the men's bathroom standing next to him at a urinal. True story...

[drmondobueno]

Stark field, El Centro. I was going on nine. The Dodgers and Angels would come through town once a year on the way to the Dodgers spring training site in Palm Springs. The guys would hold a clinic for us kids, literally a couple of hours, then back in the bus they would go. No pen, no cards, just me, my beater glove and Red Ball Jets. My Dad said I met Koufax but all I remember was Drysdale was so TALL, me being around 3 1/2 feet or so at the time. And these guys threw hard, I mean my jaw hung the whole time Drysdale was throwing. His herky motion scared the crap out of me, thinking about hitting. I think I learned about mortality that day. Man, that was a blast.

[TheBig6]

When I was about 10 yrs old , we went over to Glenn Myatt's House a couple times. He was a friend of my Step Fathers. I remember looking at his scrapbook and the 1926 Cleveland Indians Team Panorama picture on the wall. Also Pictures of him and Speaker doing some Deer Hunting. I remember he didn't speak to highly of Cobb but was very fond of Ruth. He played from 1920-1936, He died in 1969