David or Richard. Who do you side with?

[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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