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 lonmg
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.'
