Who's the earliest HOF you met in person?

[Tom Hufford]

I attended the 1971 Hall of Fame induction in Cooperstown, my first trip there (I was 21). After the HOF activities were over, I met with 15 other guys in the HOF Library for the Founding meeting of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) (and if you're not a member yet, you should join!).

I spent quite a bit of time sitting in the lobby of the Otesaga Hotel, where the players stayed, and I met dozens of oldtimers. I was in awe.

I met four Hall of Famers born before 1890 - Rube Marquard, Harry Hooper, Zach Wheat and Stan Coveleski. Marquard was the oldest at 84 , born 10-9-1886.

But the oldest former player I met was Larry Gardner. He was there to see his old Red Sox teammate Harry Hooper inducted. Gardner was born 5-13-86, about five months before Marquard, and made his ML debut in June 1908, three months before Rube.

I sat for a while in the hotel lobby talking to Marquard, when he said "Are you going to be here for awhile?" When I assured him that I would be he said "I'm going to run up to my room and get something, wait for me til I get back." In a few minutes he did return, carrying a large old scrapbook of his career. We sat for several hours while he went through the scrapbook, telling me stories about the games and the many guys he played with.

Can you imagine something like that happening today? I've always appreciated the time that he gave me, and I corresponded with him up until his death. I wish that I had gotten a photo of us together. I did get a photo of me with Harry Hooper and Ernie Shore that year, however, that I later sent and got signed by both.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by Tom Hufford

I attended the 1971 Hall of Fame induction in Cooperstown, my first trip there (I was 21). After the HOF activities were over, I met with 15 other guys in the HOF Library for the Founding meeting of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) (and if you're not a member yet, you should join!).

I spent quite a bit of time sitting in the lobby of the Otesaga Hotel, where the players stayed, and I met dozens of oldtimers. I was in awe.

I met four Hall of Famers born before 1890 - Rube Marquard, Harry Hooper, Zach Wheat and Stan Coveleski. Marquard was the oldest at 84 , born 10-9-1886.

But the oldest former player I met was Larry Gardner. He was there to see his old Red Sox teammate Harry Hooper inducted. Gardner was born 5-13-86, about five months before Marquard, and made his ML debut in June 1908, three months before Rube.

I sat for a while in the hotel lobby talking to Marquard, when he said "Are you going to be here for awhile?" When I assured him that I would be he said "I'm going to run up to my room and get something, wait for me til I get back." In a few minutes he did return, carrying a large old scrapbook of his career. We sat for several hours while he went through the scrapbook, telling me stories about the games and the many guys he played with.

Can you imagine something like that happening today? I've always appreciated the time that he gave me, and I corresponded with him up until his death. I wish that I had gotten a photo of us together. I did get a photo of me with Harry Hooper and Ernie Shore that year, however, that I later sent and got signed by both.

Wow.

[cardsfan73]

Don Drysdale outside of Busch Stadium II after a Cardinals v. Dodgers game sometime in 1988 (I think)

While everyone else mobbed the likes of Kirk Gibson, Orel Hershiser & Steve Sax, Drysdale walked right by and I guess nobody else recognized him. Alas I had no Drysdale cards with me but he was more than happy to sign my ticket stub from the game. I was 15 and it was the first time I had met a Hall Of Fame player & I was a little nervous but he was very gracious & kind.

Scott

[chris6net]

Craig Biggio. We played little league together. I was probably about 8 years old. In HS he was the best Football player in Suffolk County. A great athlete.

[almostdone]

I met Ralph Kiner in an elevator in New York after a Mets game. Then he happened to be sitting at a table next to us in the restaurant we ate at. I was there with a friend and his parents. My friends dad encouraged me to go over and ask for an autograph. The only thing I had on me was the program from the game. Mr. Kiner was polite and gracious in signing even though I interrupted his meal. It was around 1990 or so.
I got the ball in the photo signed TTM by him about two months before he passed away.
Drew

[1963Topps Set]

Warren Spahn, Brooks Robinson, Bob Gibson, Harmon Killebrew, Eddie Mathews, Yogi Berra, Duke Snider, Phil Rizzuto, Gaylord Perry, Bob Feller, Ernie Banks, Whitey Ford, Sparky Lyle...

[sycks22]

Growing up around the Twins when I was a kid it was great getting to know the players including Puckett through my neighbor Wayne "Twig" Terwilliger (1st base coach) I've been to his house a couple times when I was around 10 and my mom actually babysat their daughter for a couple years and we were on a first name basis with Kirby. He was the nicest guy in person and saddens me to hear about all of the stuff behind closed doors after he retired. Seeing all of his gold gloves and silver slugger bats was like a kid in a candy store. Also met: Thomas, Griffey, Canseco among others after the game. Met Feller at Twins fest in 2008 as I was randomly walking around and caught eyes with Feller and said to myself "Is that Bob Feller?" and looked up and it sure was, he was signing for $20.

[stat192]

Mine was meeting both Joe Dimaggio and Hank Aaron at a card show in 1985. They were both signing for $5 each, and I still have the balls I had signed by each hanging on my wall in my office.

The thing I remember most was when we were inline for Dimaggio they made sure you had no Marilyn Monroe items, and they told you not to ask him any questions about her.

[qed2190]

Had lunch with Carl Hubble and Peewee Reese in 1980.

[Kidnapped18]

Willie McCovey in the mid 80s
He and my Dad were playing golf in Birmingham and my Dad allowed me to tag along!

[charlietheexterminator]

Mickey Mantle in 1967/68, one of those years. He was signing baseballs outside the old Yankee Stadium, it was ball day.