O/T Who has signed the most autographs

Bored5000 · #1 02-11-2023, 06:00 PM

I know this is a baseball discussion, but two others that have to be near the top are Arnold Palmer and Richard Petty. Both signed (or in Petty's case, are still signing) for over 60 years and were known for never refusing an autograph request.

I read Chris Rodell's excellent book on Palmer a few years ago and Rodell wrote that Palmer would spend six figures each year of his own money mailing back autograph requests to people that did not include a SASE with their request. At the end of his life, he would sit in his office and sign requests until his hand was so swollen, he could not even close his hand.

Petty still visits his museum one day each week just to fulfill mail-in autograph requests. The staff at the museum lay out each item on a series of tables and he moves along, signing each item. Occasionally, Petty will pause and make a personal notation on the item if it is unique or something he has not seen before.

perezfan · #2 02-11-2023, 06:53 PM

Pretty sure Rose is the correct answer, with Feller close behind. Rose probably overtook Feller sometime in the last 5 years.

I would also put Mantle, Berra and Ripken a notch below. Gibson, Ryan, Snider, Musial and Ozzie Smith are up there too. That's my top 10.

Tabe · #3 02-11-2023, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bored5000

I read Chris Rodell's excellent book on Palmer a few years ago and Rodell wrote that Palmer would spend six figures each year of his own money mailing back autograph requests to people that did not include a SASE with their request.

So the claim is that Palmer spent over $100k a year to mail autographs to people? That seems.........extremely implausible. 45 cents for a stamp and 15 cents for an envelope = 60 cents per. So 160,000+ autographs to people who didn't send an SASE? I don't buy it.

egri · #4 02-12-2023, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tabe

So the claim is that Palmer spent over $100k a year to mail autographs to people? That seems.........extremely implausible. 45 cents for a stamp and 15 cents for an envelope = 60 cents per. So 160,000+ autographs to people who didn't send an SASE? I don't buy it.

It seems a bit suspect to me as well, even if a lot of people sending 8x10s, programs, visors, etc did not include return postage. In between postage/packing materials/paying someone to package all that stuff up and take it to the post office, if it came out to $10 per request, that's 10,000 autographs a year, or almost 200 requests a week just of large items without return postage. I'd certainly be interested in what Chris Rodell's source was for that six-figures line.

refz · #5 02-12-2023, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by egri

It seems a bit suspect to me as well, even if a lot of people sending 8x10s, programs, visors, etc did not include return postage. In between postage/packing materials/paying someone to package all that stuff up and take it to the post office, if it came out to $10 per request, that's 10,000 autographs a year, or almost 200 requests a week just of large items without return postage. I'd certainly be interested in what Chris Rodell's source was for that six-figures line.

I don�t see too many people sending in anything larger than an index card to Feller via mail. Why? Just hold on to the oversized items till they appear somewhat local. I don�t think big companies like Steiner are sending hats or 8x10s to feller either they have bigger fish to fry

egri · #6 02-12-2023, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by refz

I don�t see too many people sending in anything larger than an index card to Feller via mail. Why? Just hold on to the oversized items till they appear somewhat local. I don�t think big companies like Steiner are sending hats or 8x10s to feller either they have bigger fish to fry

That was about Arnold Palmer, not Feller.

Cliff Bowman · #7 02-12-2023, 10:40 PM

I didn't know Babe Ruth signed right handed, I guess he is the opposite of Brooks Robinson who I believe signs left handed.

JollyElm · #8 02-13-2023, 01:21 AM

Lefties were 'sinister,' the hand of the devil, so the nuns forced southpaw kids to write with their right hands. They tried that on my left-handed sister in Queens, but she got lucky when my parents switched her to public school where she could write normally and not tempt eternal damnation by signing someone's yearbook with her left hand.

BillyCoxDodgers3B · #9 02-11-2023, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bored5000

I read Chris Rodell's excellent book on Palmer a few years ago and Rodell wrote that Palmer would spend six figures each year of his own money mailing back autograph requests to people that did not include a SASE with their request. At the end of his life, he would sit in his office and sign requests until his hand was so swollen, he could not even close his hand.

I like Arnold Palmer just as much as anyone, but I think these claims supposedly made by the author are contentious at best. Yes, Palmer was a great signer, but spending at least $100,000 per year on return postage for all the people who didn't include an SASE? Give me a break. Most people are aware and courteous enough to cover that cost themselves. Yes, there would be some, and while I don't doubt that Palmer was gracious enough to foot the bill, the costs simply wouldn't have escalated into hundreds of thousands annually!

Don't forget that whenever his hand hurt from signing so much, Arnie could rely on his trusty Autopen.

I haven't read the book from which you've sourced your stories, but I'm guessing it must be filled with even more hot air.

View Poll Results: Who has signed the most autographs
Bob Feller	68	45.33%
Stan Musial	6	4.00%
Pete Rose	66	44.00%
Other	10	6.67%
Voters: 150. You may not vote on this poll

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
FS: Multi Signed Book with 29 Yankees Autographs - NLA	quinnsryche	Autographs & Game Used B/S/T	1	05-02-2018 02:24 PM
FS. Signed 3x5s and Cut autographs HOF	Joem36	Autographs & Game Used B/S/T	1	01-30-2018 12:19 PM
Determining autographs on signed bats	t206wagner	Autograph Forum- Primarily Sports	2	09-23-2017 08:31 PM
Determining autographs on signed bats	t206wagner	Net54baseball Sports (Primarily) Vintage Memorabilia Forum incl. Game Used	2	09-23-2017 03:51 PM
Hall of Fame autographs on signed index cards	RichardSimon	Baseball Memorabilia B/S/T	0	01-15-2012 02:09 PM