WANTED: Willie Mays to sign my 1960 NL Ball

[JMEnglish27]

One of my early memories as a fan...Willie did a signing at the single-A Fresno Giants game when I was 10. This was almost 30 years ago, so I don't wanna hear about the man's eyesight. He just flat doesnt care.

I was so excited...I'd seen the films and heard the stories of this gregarious player who everyone loved...one of the greatest of all time.

Got to the front of the line, and he snatched my ball, scribbled on it, and rolled it back across the table at me, without looking up once or saying a word.

Still have the ball...though I'm not sure why.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by bigj7489

I was so excited...I'd seen the films and heard the stories of this gregarious player who everyone loved...one of the greatest of all time.

Got to the front of the line, and he snatched my ball, scribbled on it, and rolled it back across the table at me, without looking up once or saying a word.

That was exactly my experience when going to meet the great Willie Mays, except for added one detail: he never even looked up or otherwise acknowledged my existence when I said hello and tried to chat with him. By contrast, Musial, Aaron, Jim Brown, Muhammad Ali, all gentlemen. Mays, just a dick with ears.

The ball itself was already signed by Mantle and Snider, so I sold it off. Also sold all of my Mays cards and didn't buy another for 10+ years.

[39special]

I would not try and get him to sign it.The ball looks good the way it is.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by 39special

I would not try and get him to sign it.The ball looks good the way it is.

I totally agree!

If you send it why not wrap something around the ball (brown paper bag?) and cut out a "window" where you want him to try to scribble his signature. At least then if it sucks (which it likely will) it won't ruin the existing autos.

[Sophiedog]

Mays likes to sign upside down from the other signatures too. He's pretty much got all the ways down to ruin your ball.

[mdallen22]

I was told by the promoter this was a card only event and Willie is not doing any other signings in the near future. Since Willie is not doing any signings the promoter put out the offer of $1,000 for the signature and that didn't even guarantee it.

"I'd be open to taking the ball with me to be signed, however, I can't make a promise that it will get autographed as I've been informed that Willie will only sign cards. If interested, I would take the ball and offer Willie $1,000 to sign it. I know the price is steep but at this point Willie is no longer doing any signings, thus the high price."

So my question is - IF you were guaranteed a nice Willie signature just how you wanted it (lets just assume for purposes of this question) what would be your price to pay?

What would be your price to pay if you knew for a fact this was your last chance of getting his signature (I know that seems extreme but im curious what the answers would be). I'm afraid most of the board has spoken and said forget the signature the ball looks fine as it. Does your opinion change if risk of ruining it was taken off the table?