David or Richard. Who do you side with?

[RichardSimon]

A follow up to Mike's post about Brooks Robinson at a show-
In the earlier years of the hobby when I was doing card shows regularly, Brooks Robinson was a guest at a show I was doing.
My son was a kid at this time and he worked my tables with me.
This was the days when promoters gave table holders free autographs. Don't we miss that?
My son got on line for Robinson. I left my table for a moment because I liked to take photos of my son with the players. As my son got to the table Brooks noticed me lining up below the stage with my camera. He stopped and posed with my son, then said to me take another. I said that was fine I got a good shot. He stopped the autograph line,came out from behind his table and put his arm around my son to pose for another photo.
A class act all the way and my favorite card show moment.

[ibuysportsephemera]

I purchased 2 large prints titled Rookie of the Year (I am sure many of you have seen these). One was for me and the other for my twin brother as a gift. They were mostly autographed previously, but needed Cepeda and Mays to be completed. I knew when I purchased them that they both would be at a show signing together in a month or so. My brother isn't into collecting but was excited to meet Mays and get our prints signed. Even though we were only 9 we both remember him coming to the Mets in 1973 as a big deal.

Long story short, Mays had no personality and didn't look up the whole time we were on line. When we got to him, I showed Mays where I wanted him to sign (across his uniform where it could be easily read). As I said my brother is not a collector, so when Mays asked him where he wanted the signature, he said anywhere. Wouldn't you know it, Mays signed next to his image in a dark area so that you can barely see the autograph. My brother was so upset and felt that Mays did it on purpose, but what could he do?

That was the last time I ever had a nice thought about Mays.

[RichardSimon]

I am sure he did do it on purpose and I have heard horror stories about other things he did on purpose in signing sessions .

[Hot Springs Bathers]

In Little Rock in the late 80's I saw Mays bounce baseballs he had just signed to the owners who were seperated from him by about 8 feet with handlers in between.

Sadly many card show promoters reveled in this behavior feeling they were "on the inside" with Mays or whoever.

To balance Mays at that show was Musial, dressed in sports coat and tie and shaking hands or posing with everyone! Brooks, Stan the Man, Banks, Spahn, Feller, Brock and many more really good guys took the edge off dealing with Mays during that period.

Just as an aside have you ever had a former football player be rude? I have heard some stories both ways on Y.A. Tittle but no one else? Several friends have told me that every former hockey player they have met at shows is just like Brooks Robinson. We don't get many foremr hockey players down south!

[Vintagedegu]

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[byrone]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

A follow up to Mike's post about Brooks Robinson at a show-
In the earlier years of the hobby when I was doing card shows regularly, Brooks Robinson was a guest at a show I was doing.
My son was a kid at this time and he worked my tables with me.
This was the days when promoters gave table holders free autographs. Don't we miss that?
My son got on line for Robinson. I left my table for a moment because I liked to take photos of my son with the players. As my son got to the table Brooks noticed me lining up below the stage with my camera. He stopped and posed with my son, then said to me take another. I said that was fine I got a good shot. He stopped the autograph line,came out from behind his table and put his arm around my son to pose for another photo.
A class act all the way and my favorite card show moment.

I remember reading in SCD many years ago a story about Brooks Robinson that meant much to me. A father and son were in line at a card show to get Robinson's signature when the son became ill. The father took the boy outside. As soon as he was made aware of the situation, Robinson left the autograph table and went outside to check on the ill child, comfort him, and ensure that he would be OK. Who else would do such a kind thing?

[thenavarro]

Many people voted, but not too many came into the thread and tipped their hand. I don't mind tipping mine.

I voted for Richard. I've been a customer of his for years and have always been satisfied by his service and his willingness to assist when I needed authenticity opinions on items I wasn't sure about, or other help. I've also found his authenticity opinions to be upheld by others that I value.

I value knowledge and integrity, and in my dealings with Richard, he's shown both. To the best of my belief, I don't have any dealings with Atkatz to judge those traits by. All I know of David is a limited exposure to reading some of his posts on this site when I check in every now and then. I also prefer Richard's posting style more and his online response to other posts, than I do David's.


My two pesos,

Mike Navarro

[thenavarro]

PS- For my friends that read my post above, I didn't post my reply to disparage David, as I don't know him and he very well could have the qualities I like, just don't have the experience with him to know. My intent is to show support for Richard.

Mike Navarro

[jimthorpe]

I vote for Kim Kardashian because she doesn't have enough drama in her life. These guys have plenty!