Athletes who won’t signs specific card

[packs]

I'm really not a fan of these guys who choose not to sign a particular card because of some built in belief that in the future their family will be able to cash in. You're denying real-time collectors the satisfaction of completing their sets for no logical reason. If you're a fringe guy like Steve Rodriguez, who is really going to be chasing your 1995 UD card?

The 1987 Topps set is iconic so I guess there is some built-in desirability from Ricky Wright's perspective, but not really. Even with a huge iconic set like the 87 Topps set there are still only going to be a handful of people who care to have every card signed. Stop the nonsense already.

[Topps206]

Originally Posted by packs

I'm really not a fan of these guys who choose not to sign a particular card because of some built in belief that in the future their family will be able to cash in. You're denying real-time collectors the satisfaction of completing their sets for no logical reason. If you're a fringe guy like Steve Rodriguez, who is really going to be chasing your 1995 UD card?

The 1987 Topps set is iconic so I guess there is some built-in desirability from Ricky Wright's perspective, but not really. Even with a huge iconic set like the 87 Topps set there are still only going to be a handful of people who care to have every card signed. Stop the nonsense already.

Honestly, in my opinion, that’s one way for someone like Ricky Wright to be more well known. A player lost to MLB history is more well known to some, in my opinion, for notoriously not signing his 1987 Topps than he would be if he just signed like many other former players do. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but some people are still talking about him for more than 30 years later. That’s one way to stand out.

[packs]

Originally Posted by Topps206

Honestly, in my opinion, that’s one way for someone like Ricky Wright to be more well known. A player lost to MLB history is more well known to some, in my opinion, for notoriously not signing his 1987 Topps than he would be if he just signed like many other former players do. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but some people are still talking about him for more than 40 years later. That’s one way to stand out.

True there is the infamy vs anonymity angle. I think a fair caveat for any of these guys would be if a collector can show them that they have every other card signed in the set but theirs, it should prove they aren't in it for the money and they should be rewarded with a signed card.

[Republicaninmass]

I believe Goose goslin wont sign his HOF plaque on the front. He thought it was a hideous rendition, or so the rumor goes

[pclpads]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

I believe Goose goslin wont sign his HOF plaque on the front. He thought it was a hideous rendition, or so the rumor goes

Goose Goslin has been dead for 50 years. Did you mean Goose Gossage?
Too many Gooses on the looses to keep track of them all.

[TakingStock]

What is Garvey's rationale for not signing the 1982 Fleer card? He has been a gracious TTM signer for me and many others, albeit for a fee, but still a nice signature nonetheless.

Also, what's the story on Fritz Fisher/John Hiller on the 1966 Topps RC? Love hearing these stories!

[egri]

Supposedly Garvey signed one for a charity event and that was it.

[dgo71]

Originally Posted by packs

If you're a fringe guy like Steve Rodriguez, who is really going to be chasing your 1995 UD card?

The way he explained it was he wanted to do something special for his mom and it wasn't intended to be a slight towards set collectors. I doubt it had anything to do with a perceived big payday down the road.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by packs

I'm really not a fan of these guys who choose not to sign a particular card because of some built in belief that in the future their family will be able to cash in. You're denying real-time collectors the satisfaction of completing their sets for no logical reason. If you're a fringe guy like Steve Rodriguez, who is really going to be chasing your 1995 UD card?

The 1987 Topps set is iconic so I guess there is some built-in desirability from Ricky Wright's perspective, but not really. Even with a huge iconic set like the 87 Topps set there are still only going to be a handful of people who care to have every card signed. Stop the nonsense already.

Why is 1987 Topps iconic? Just the number of big name stars included? I don't really like the wood border.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Bpm0014]

1986 fleer Jordan


Not sure if he will.only.sign UD cards, but he wont sign the 86 fleer


Not true. I had access to him for a couple years and he signed one for me.

[sbfinley]

Like the OP stated, there are a handful of players who wouldn't/won't sign SSPC cards because they weren't compensated. I don't have a full list, but it's definitely a handful.

Originally Posted by Bpm0014

1986 fleer Jordan


Not sure if he will.only.sign UD cards, but he wont sign the 86 fleer


Not true. I had access to him for a couple years and he signed one for me.

I think this belief stems from the rule that prevented attendees of his basketball fantasy camps from bringing Fleer cards as their item to get signed. Realistically for the longest time that was the best way to get a specific item signed. He doesn't do paid signings, he's not approachable in public, and anything he does sign under contract is UD related. I'd bet 90% of the non-rookie Fleer, Hopps, Topps etc signed cards I've seen date to his time with the Barons as that was the one time he was great with larger groups. Most of the signed RC's I see are more modern signatures probably garnered at golf tournaments, the MGM, or the Arena where small groups get access to him.


Here's some tough signed cards not mentioned yet to get from living signers. Sadly most aren't mine. I just track them as I see them.











Someone stated Steve Garvey won't sign his 1982 Fleer card. I've seen one I felt was authentic then a couple years ago someone picked up a raw example on eBay and was able to get it in a PSA/DNA holder. I didn't fell comfortable with the card though. At one time I was working on that set signed and knew I probably get the Garvey so I got creative. I eventually broke up that near set, but I kept my Frakengarvey.

+=

Then of course, there is the living legend himself....

[mrreality68]

Interesting thread and some interesting reasons why many players will not sign specific cards but will sign others

Great THread

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

Originally Posted by sbfinley

Like the OP stated, there are a handful of players who wouldn't/won't sign SSPC cards because they weren't compensated. I don't have a full list, but it's definitely a handful.



I think this belief stems from the rule that prevented attendees of his basketball fantasy camps from bringing Fleer cards as their item to get signed. Realistically for the longest time that was the best way to get a specific item signed. He doesn't do paid signings, he's not approachable in public, and anything he does sign under contract is UD related. I'd bet 90% of the non-rookie Fleer, Hopps, Topps etc signed cards I've seen date to his time with the Barons as that was the one time he was great with larger groups. Most of the signed RC's I see are more modern signatures probably garnered at golf tournaments, the MGM, or the Arena where small groups get access to him.


Here's some tough signed cards not mentioned yet to get from living signers. Sadly most aren't mine. I just track them as I see them.











Someone stated Steve Garvey won't sign his 1982 Fleer card. I've seen one I felt was authentic then a couple years ago someone picked up a raw example on eBay and was able to get it in a PSA/DNA holder. I didn't fell comfortable with the card though. At one time I was working on that set signed and knew I probably get the Garvey so I got creative. I eventually broke up that near set, but I kept my Frakengarvey.

+=

Then of course, there is the living legend himself....

I was able to get Leonard Garcia to sign the 1969 Rodriquez. I think they had an agreement though that they wouldn't sign it if the other already had.

[packs]

Originally Posted by todeen

Why is 1987 Topps iconic? Just the number of big name stars included? I don't really like the wood border.

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I honestly don't know because I think the design is crappy too. But of all of the complete signed sets I've heard people go after it's one of the most popular.

[sreader3]

I think there is one Ron Kittle won’t sign. Can’t remember which one. Overall good guy and signer.

[dgo71]

Originally Posted by sreader3

I think there is one Ron Kittle won’t sign. Can’t remember which one. Overall good guy and signer.

1984 Topps, but he does sign the card with a charitable donation. I think it's $25.

[mrmopar]

Garvey was just added to past pros and the 82 Fleer is singled out. Being a long time Garvey collector, I am glad that this was the card he chose for this reason, because I am not a fan of it. I have a couple copies that I think could be legit and the one that sold on for big bucks and was certified was fake in my opinion. if the owner or person who got it signed knows differently, would love to hear that story.

I also heard about the Kittle 84 T directly from Ron through facebook. He does sign it for a $25 donation to Indiana Sports Charity. I needed one because it would have been a Topps ALL Rookie (Trophy) card, hard they done the trophies in 84.

I also was told by Dave Stewart that he wouldn't sign Rangers or Phillies cards. This was at a signing at a minor league ballpark before the game. He was actually very nice and apologetic about it. I figured it was because he didn't care for how he was treated by the team, but I didn't ask him exactly why he wouldn't. He willingly signed anything and everything else I had. However, I have seen signed cards from those teams for sale online, so maybe it was more recent thing?

Singing habits is a very interesting subject to me. Why some guys won't sign at all, why they exclude certain items, etc. The funniest part is, whether they intended for demand to grow or not, by refusing to sign something, they automatically create additional demand for it.

Last thought. I think I captured a photo of it, but can't find it now. Maybe I dreamt it up, but I doubt it. I am pretty sure that I saw an image of a card Gary Carter signed that would for sure be a 1/1, except that anyone could add an inscription later. When he must have known that the cancer would get him, he apparently signed a card for a friend that had his lifespan noted under the signature, showing the year of his death, like 1958-2001 (i don't know the actual years, but in this type of format)! How is that for dealing with what life dealt you in stride?

[SteveS]

Gary Pettis won't sign the '85 Topps that actually depicts his younger brother. But I guess the brother will sign it, and someone is offering it on eBay.

[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by mrmopar

Last thought. I think I captured a photo of it, but can't find it now. Maybe I dreamt it up, but I doubt it. I am pretty sure that I saw an image of a card Gary Carter signed that would for sure be a 1/1, except that anyone could add an inscription later. When he must have known that the cancer would get him, he apparently signed a card for a friend that had his lifespan noted under the signature, showing the year of his death, like 1958-2001 (i don't know the actual years, but in this type of format)! How is that for dealing with what life dealt you in stride?

That's VERY unusual. I can't believe he did that. I think if I saw it I would immediately think it was fake, because I would think "How could he put a date of death?"

[sbfinley]

Originally Posted by mrmopar

Garvey was just added to past pros and the 82 Fleer is singled out. Being a long time Garvey collector, I am glad that this was the card he chose for this reason, because I am not a fan of it. I have a couple copies that I think could be legit and the one that sold on for big bucks and was certified was fake in my opinion. if the owner or person who got it signed knows differently, would love to hear that story.

If my memory is correct, it was sold raw on eBay for ~$50 and ended up in a PSA/DNA holder a month later.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by mrmopar

Singing habits is a very interesting subject to me. Why some guys won't sign at all, why they exclude certain items, etc. The funniest part is, whether they intended for demand to grow or not, by refusing to sign something, they automatically create additional demand for it.

Yes, signing habits are interesting. A little off topic, but at a Tuff-Stuff show back in the 90's, Yogi Berra would not sign single signed bats. The collector had one of those huge 5-6 foot long display bats and Yogi would not sign it. So, the collector had Stan Musial sign it first and then Yogi signed it. Kind of odd.

I observed Orel Hershiser not signing a specific ticket. I believe it was the scoreless inning streak ticket. The collector begged and begged him to sign it, but Orel's handler/agent was adamant about Orel not signing the item. Eventually, I think Orel relented and signed the ticket. In Orel's case, I believe he is not signing that specific item and stockpiling the item for his heirs.

Purportedly, David Wells refuses to sign his Sports Illustrated cover, although I have seen signed copies.

And then there is the charmer Barry Bonds, again a Tuff-Stuff show and in the advertisement for the show, NO SWEET SPOT. Bonds would not sign on the sweet spot of the ball, only the side panel. Barry has to be different. I took a pass.

[whitehse]

Originally Posted by sreader3

I think there is one Ron Kittle won’t sign. Can’t remember which one. Overall good guy and signer.

It was his 1984 Topps card. I had him as an autograph guest at a show I was promoting in the 90's and had to put in all the advertising that he was NOT signing the '84 Topps card.

[sreader3]

Thanks for the reminder about Kittle and 84 Topps.

I like the fact that there are certain issues guys won’t sign or will only sign for a premium. Adds complexity to the hobby and the thrill of the hunt.

I tend to agree that auto’ed 87 Topps are overrated (although I admit to collecting them). I prefer autos on 86 Topps and 87 Fleer which I’m sure puts me in the minority.

[bb66]

Dick Ellsworth will not sign his 1966 Topps card. The picture is of Ken Hubbs. He was killed in a plane crash in 1964. I have heard of the card being signed on the back but have never seen one.

[MooseDog]

Originally Posted by packs

I honestly don't know because I think the design is crappy too. But of all of the complete signed sets I've heard people go after it's one of the most popular.

I don't chase the set myself but I think one of the appeal points is that the set is heavy with portraits and close up shots. Whatever you think of the design they do look very nice with signatures on them. Plus it is dirt cheap to find unsigned cards, even stars.

[egri]

The photography is great and signatures generally show up well. That being said, the wood borders have always looked very dated to me. I didn't like them on the 1987 Topps, or in 1962, or when Bowman used them in 1955.