CARDS PLAYERS WON'T SIGN
A few months ago I had some
interesting e-mail correspondence with a Mr. Kates, regarding
cards that players won't sign. He sent me a list of some that he's
run across, and I've added some of my own. With the growing
number of autograph insert cards, players get paid for signing
their signature early in their career, as early as Team USA
inserts (which I'm as guilty of buying as everyone else) and thus
they've become more finicky about what they sign. This Spring
Training I had to struggle to get a 50% return on my mail-outs,
but more on that anon.
Here's a run-down on some of the
signing quirks that Mr. Kates and I could remember:
To begin with, more and more players
are becoming leery of signing blank index cards. There's
evidently a fear among some, no doubt perpetrated by their agents,
that the signature can be taken from the blank index card and
reproduced elsewhere. I even have seen players refuse to sign
them in the Midwest League, and that's Low A ball. Retired
players Al Downing and Tony Oliva won't sign index cards, but up
to recently Fred Lynn always sent one back instead of signing the
baseball card/s one would send him. Gary Carter won't sign any
National brand of cards 1984 or after. Kieth Comstock won't sign
his Topps error card (I've encountered this myself). Glenn Davis
and Bill Doran didn't sign Topps cards when they were
playing. (Don't know if they do now either). I caught Davis in
person a few years ago, and he had no trouble signing Upper Deck
cards. Doran has never been a success for me via mail. Steve
Garvey won't sign his 1982 Fleer. Tommy Gregg won't sign Braves
cards, but will sign others. Probably has to do with how he
regards his treatment by the team. Mr, Kates reports that Ryan
Hawblitzel didn't sign Rockies cards after they released him. Ron
Kittle won't sign his 1984 Topps except for charity. Bob Knepper
didn't sign Topps as a player. Al Lieter won't sign his Topps
1988 error card. A growing number of players sign only at shows.
I can immediately think of Rusty Staub and Jim Rice in this
regard. Brian Drahman once refused to sign a card I handed him.
It was a 90 or 91 Bowman I believe, because he said it made him
look ugly. Brandon Wood and Walter Madrigal, from my own
experience in the Midwest League, would not sign any Just Minors
cards. Pete Vukovich will not sign Blue Jays cards; those are
the only cards David Wells WILL sign. Gary Pettis won't sign his
85 Topps (I've experienced this refusal personally). I guess as a
joke he had someone else, a batboy or a young relative pose for
the card if I've got the story right. Anyway, it's not him. Ricky
Wright won't sign his 1987 Topps (which may explain why I've never
gotten him back). It's an interesting topic, and gives some
fascinating insights into player attitudes. No doubt you readers
can add examples to this, and some of them cited may no longer
hold true. Just be grateful to the players who do sign and are
personable when they do so.
SPRING TRAINING
There's been a lot of grousing by autographers who've sent out
requests during Spring Training about their lack of success This
year. Mark even ran a poll about it on his "Signing Bonus"
website. I'll share my thoughts on this years results. I sent out
73 requests this year. I've gotten 37 back so far. One response
over 50%. I sent requests to several Braves and Red Sox players,
but other than Jair Jurrgens, who signed 1 of 2, the Braves shut
me out totally. Same with the Red Sox except for Lee Gronkiewicz
and Justin Masterson who just sent me back signed my 2 homemade
cards this past week. My second attempt to corral Devern Hansack
was again a failure, as were equally unsuccessful attempts to get
tim Lincicum, Jeff Salazar. Juan Gonzalez ( I know, but I had to
try), Alejandro De Aza and Troy Glaus. There was a good influx of
Asian players this season, and they were accommodating. I got all
my requests back (mostly homemade cards) with the exception of
Fukudome, Che-hsuan Lin and Chih-hsien Chang. No luck with young
players such as Beau Mills, Cole Rohrbaugh, Wendell Fairley,
Deolis Guerra, Jordan Zimmerman, Casey Weathers and Johnny Cueto,
among others. Hopefully more ST requests will come in as the
season progresses, but thus far this has been my worst spring
ever.
TEAM USA 2008 and 2004 SP PROSPECTS
The new Team USA card sets are out.
Again, they've put together a beautiful set; 60 cards comprising
both the National and Junior teams. I've ordered 2 boxes. Each
box has 7 autogrphed cards and 2 memorabilia cards in each box.
I've also been busy trying to pick up autograph/jersey cards on
EBay. Readers of mine know that I'm a sucker for those kind of
cards. I've been unsuccessful as far as picking off Eric Hosmer
and Tim Melville yet, player I hope I'll see in Burlington. For
those of you who want just the set, you can probably find it for
$15-$20 on EBay or on the Beckett marketplace.
My other obsession has been
the 2004 SP Prospect set. It's as daunting as Ahab's pursuit of
the White Whale. Wonderful autograph inserts, and now, 4 years
later, players like Dustin Pedrosia, Hunter Pence, Homer Bailey,
Phillip Hughes and Yovanni Gallardo have become quite pricey. I
keep plugging away though. All I need for the Tier 3 players are
Gallagher, Blasi, Phillips, Hall, Zobrist, Jecman, Carp and Statia.
I'm missing 12 from Tier 2, 31 from Tier 1. I keep my eyes open
though, and try to pick them off at a bargain price.
Anyway, I've rambled on
long enough. Time to call it a letter. Take care, and try to
have fun with the hobby. Don't let it obsess you or become
"work.'
