Sports Illustrated?

[Topps206]

For some reason, it seems there aren't too many summer signings, certainly not within three hours of me. So, my girlfriend and I went to the GTSM Show Friday in Covington, Ky. and saw Terry Hanratty. Hanratty signed both of his covers - Nov. 7, 1966 and Sept. 11, 1967.

My girlfriend thought he should sign in gold, but the table didn't have gold. So, I asked people working the show by his table if I should go blue or silver and people went with blue. I was slightly bummed at first about the streaks in the 1966 cover, but it's grown on me. I'm happy with both.

I cannot emphasize enough how bummed I am that I didn't start collecting SIs full time until 2019. I'm now at 10 in person signed covers from the 1960s - most of the covers in my collection are from the 1970s and 1980s. Many pre-1970s cover subjects are no longer with us, so I'm seriously eyeing some additonal 1960s covers in the coming months.

[Topps206]

Rarely do I shell out for a single autograph, let alone two of them, but bit the bullet for both Patrick Ewing and Reggie Jackson, my first time attending a National since 2005. I didn't like the service or the way it was ran back then. Today wasn't exactly quick, but it didn't drag on the way it felt like 2005 did.

All these years of collecting autographs, more than 20 years, never got Reggie on anything. It's my first autograph of his. I've heard stuff about Reggie being a jerk, that he isn't always congenial, but if he is a jerk, I saw no signs of it today. He was smiling, seemed to be friendly with me and others.

Reggie has a lot of good covers, and there are ones I like even better than the one I ultimately got signed. I bit the bullet for Reggie because at 79, he's not getting much younger and a lot of SI cover subjects before 1970 have left us. Most of my SI collection features covers from the '70s and '80s, and with this being his only '60s cover, I went with it. If this cover didn't exist, I'd have had an even tougher decision than before. It's awesome to have this one, and I could just easily be happy with a few others. I'd say pre-1970 covers are especially important at the moment for me. I do remember feeling somewhat regretful not long ago not getting Pete Rose's 1968 cover done, though I really like his one from 1974 that I went with.

Patrick Ewing wasn't a jerk, but his handlers said no pictures with him. I figured he's such a rare, tough signature, hardly ever does public signings, I had to get it done, this one being my favorite of his.

And I also added John Cangelosi to this cover from 1994, which I previously got signed last year by Charlie O'Brien. Cangelosi was very nice, too.

[Huck]

Nice covers.

[Topps206]

What a day yesterday was - getting to add four new covers in Juan Marichal, Steve Owens, Walt "Clyde" Frazier and Mel Renfro to the collection at the Music City Collectibles Show. Many of them had some championship jewelry to show off there. I'm guessing the Giants gave Marichal some rings during their 2010s dynasty years.

Bigdaddy sent in his own Marichal SI to me to get signed for him. In case anyone is interested or curious, mine is the one with the horizontal label, while he sent in the one with the vertical label.

Huck was interested in Jim Edmonds but didn't send in his cover. So, I offered him the unsigned Edmonds cover I owned if he sent payment covering both the cost of the autograph and the cost of the SI when I got it from eBay a couple of years ago. He agreed and I will ship this to him once I receive payment.

My favorite is the Marichal. There aren't too many left from his era, and those who are, how many are able to travel and sign? This one means even more than many that I am thrilled with in my collection.

I'm happy with the Clyde Frazier one, though it isn't in the greatest condition, but it was nice to get him.

Of course, I would love to get every signed cover I can, but I think my top priority with this collection right now is those 1960s covers, since almost everybody from the 1950s is gone and them appearing somewhere would be even another story. Many people from the 1960s have left us, and I started this collection too late, which I regret, but all the more reason to appreciate and be thankful for the ones I do have.

[Bigdaddy]

Just wanted to offer a shout out of thanks to Corey (ToppsT206) for the help with getting my Marichal cover signed.

[Bigdaddy]

Sorry, duplicate post.

[Bigdaddy]

Met up with Calvin Hill and Carl Eller at the (last?) CSA show in Chantilly this weekend. Good meeting both gentlemen.

[Topps206]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

Met up with Calvin Hill and Carl Eller at the (last?) CSA show in Chantilly this weekend. Good meeting both gentlemen.

Awesome, awesome covers. Those were two of the ones I would’ve wanted most if I want.

Eller especially would be of high priority due to age and cover date.

I need to make a New Year’s Resolution to spend less on this in 2026. I’ll be seeing Wade Boggs in January. Beyond that, I should probably, for the time being, next year, limit my paid covers to either guests 80 and up and/or pre-1970s covers. Those older covers and guests getting up there are my top priority.