Talk about YOUR meetings with an MLB'er

[MVSNYC]

2 years ago my wife & i went to Hawaii for our honeymoon. when we landed in Honolulu airport, i was reading the flat screen monitor to see which baggage claim was ours...standing right next to me, and easily a full 12" taller, was none other than Ken Griffey Jr. he was much bigger than i ever thought, and had that unmistakeable smile. i couldn't help but introduce myself and tell him i was a big fan. he thanked me and wished me well. very brief interaction, but still very cool.

[btcarfagno]

Boston area high school show around 1995 or so. Drove up in what was essentially a blizzard. Unpacked our stuff in the hotel room when we finally arrived and headed downstairs to drink away the memories of driving for 6 hours straight in a blinding snowstorm.

We took our drinks out to the lobby and who do we see but Frank Mahovolich. He had sat down in a chair in tbe lobby and was soon holding court with about 15 or so of us gathered around. Then who shows up but Jean Beliveau. The best way I can describe Beliveau is dapper. Strikingly well kempt. Just seemed like he was incredibly classy. He and Mahovolich talked to each other for a couple of minutes then Beliveau shook hands with everyone and left. Mahovolich kept going until his drink was empty and then he also shook hands with everyone before retiring for the evening.

Both were extremely nice and gentlemanly and gave my wife and I a memory for a lifetime.

Tom C

[Duluth Eskimo]

You mention MLB specifically so I will play. I had the rare opportunity to spend many hours with many HOFers back in the 80's and early 90's when signings were still reasonably priced and many of the guys were still alive.

Someone mentioned Brooks Robinson. I have to admit that Brooks was a tie with Buck O'Neil for the two nicest baseball guys I ever met. Buck was truly a sincere gentleman and just like you may have seen in the Ken Burns series. Unbelievable stories that I just ate up.

Worst MLBer was without a doubt Willie Mays. A complete jerk. Joe DiMaggio was also completely disgusted with having to sit and sign for people. I am a big Yankees fan and it really disappointed me with DiMagggio.

If you step outside of baseball, Muhammed Ali was a gentleman as was Gordie Howe, although Gordie would know exactly how many items were signed and if you owed him an extra dollar.

Other really good stories came from Warren Spahn and many of those stars of the 50's. Great times that I will always remember. The best part about it is that at the time, just about every player would sign anything, with any inscription, without thinking twice. Sometimes they would sign an extra just because they felt like it.

I have not paid for an autograph in many, many years. Hard to pay $50 or more for something I got so many times for $5.