I'll try to update this every weekday I can, so if I miss a day don't come after me.
I'll give a little story behind the autograph too, even if it's dumb, at least you'll get a little insight into my experiences.

Let's start it out right - my favorite in-person autograph: WILL CLARK!



If you don't know the story - Will Clark's my favorite player. Back when he was on the Orioles (I think it was 1998) they came to Philly for an interleague game. Will was standing in right field during BP, I went over to the corner and called to him, he turned and waved. Thinking that was already beyond cool, once BP was over Will came over to me! He asked my name, shook my hand, signed this card and told me to enjoy the game, then went straight to the dugout, didn't sign for anyone else. I don't even remember what I said, I think I blubbered like a schoolgirl . He didn't start the game, but came in late and hit a home run!!
Out of all the memories I have of Veteran's Stadium, this one will always be at the top.

Oh, and all the subsequent pics won't be this big, Will just deserves it.

Cool story!

I wish I could have been there when my brother met Nolan Ryan when Ryan was on the Astros. He got to go into the locker room and got a baseball signed by Ryan and almost the whole team! My brother has since given the ball to me, which is cool

So it was a "thrill"..

Wow, how'd he manage that?

Verily!

My dad did it some how. I wasn't even born yet (it was in '81,) haha, but I wish I could've been there. I'll ask my dad about it later today.

Very cool stories guys!!! I hope to be able to meet some of my favourites one day!!!

Cool. So why'd your brother give you the ball?

cool story dd316

Awesome story and auto. I look forward to seeing what else is in your collection.

Mike

He gave it to me when I was eight years old. I don't know the reason but it was probably because he was graduating from high school and going into the Navy. On top of that, I was three seasons into little league and was on the Astros that year.

Later he gave me another Ryan auto ball, but it was a game-played ball. He got that by hanging over the railing, haha.

My dad gave me a Willie Mays signed game-played ball, too. I gotta get them out and take pictures of them once my girlfriend gets back in town with the camera.

Thanks. I'm going to include a bit of everything, from superstars to whoperstars. A lot of times it's the story behind it that makes it. It's also a good way to open up some new discussions. Plus I've got a LOT of stuff to show, so this will go on for a while.

Girlfiend - out of town - with camera - hmmmm.....

Just kidding! Can't wait to see pics of those, sounds great!

My pic for tomorrow will hopefully be a ball (or two), depends on what transpires at the game I'm going to tonight...

Haha, yeah, she's out of town until August 5. Her folks are divorced and she hangs out with her mom and little sister in North Carolina.

I've also got to fish them out. They're in my memorabilia box in my closet full of stuff. I have them, though

My cousin, who lives near Cincy, was able to get into the Reds dugout in 2000. She got the ball signed by the entire team (even the manager, McKeon, who would later win with Florida), and had Griffey sign on the sweet spot! She sent it to me after she got it.


Oh, and nice Clark! He has a very 'tall' signature, lol. I saw the end of the 'W' near the top of the page, and was wondering...

It's definitely one of the biggest Clark signatures I've ever seen. Probably because he had free reign over the card, he wasn't restricted to a "band-aid."

cool

Awesome story coming from a blubbering schoolgirl!!!

Hey, have you ever met Mark Brunell? If so you'll know what I mean.

OK, here's a really cool one.





Now the story:
I went to a Wilmington Blue Rocks (Red Sox High-A) game vs the Potomac Nationals (Nationals High-A) in Wilmington back on May 4. I get free tix in work so it didn't cost me anything, I fiigured I'd go for the giveaway (insulated cooler bag), get some autographs then head home. I left after the National Anthem. I parked behind the outfield wall, so as I'm heading to my car the game starts. 2nd batter of the game is Marcos Yepez, he smacks his third HR of the season right by where I was. I heard it hit the billboard and it dropped idown into the parking lot (there's a gap to allow this). So I run over and HOLY SMOKES, I've got my first Home Run ball ever! So I'm going to leave again and next batter is Marvin Lowrance... BOOM! Back to back HR's and I got both balls! But the awesome thing about Lowrance was that it was his first HR this season! Last night the Nationals were back in town and I was deteremined to get both balls signed. I told them both the story, and Lowrance was nice enough to add the inscription you see above. Yepez also signed his ball but he's Hispanic and I don't think he understood what I was saying, so he didn't add anything to his but at least I got him to sign it (maybe I'll post that pic another time).
Here's a link to the HR game recap: http://www.bluerocks.com/2006scores/wil5040.html

And now to add onto this story, last night I went to leave after the first inning (it was HOT!!) and sure enough... BOOM! I got yet ANOTHER HR ball from the same team, different player (Tony Blanco). I'll have to go for him next time they're in town again.

cool

you got a nice ball - that'll be cool if he became the next Pujols!!!!!!!

He's got a looooong way to go! I can always hope.

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/mil..._pbp&pid=461840

And now, the man of the hour, Brett Myers:




Got this auto of the wonderful role model back at Veteran's Stadium in Philly. For anyone that doesn't know, the Vet was great for autographs! The players had to walk a little way from their parking lot to the stadium, and you could just hang out in between and hope the players would stop to sign, they had to walk right by you. I managed to get jsut about everyone on the Phillies here (Pat Burrell still eludes me). Brett was always a toughy. One day he actually signed three autographs (you could tell he REALLY wanted to ) and I got his last one. He never put down his cell phone and never put any effort into his signature. As you can see all he did was put a big "B" and "M", not even facing the same direction. He really is a BM. Have fun in jail Brett!!

wow thats awesome...

and what luck..!!

cool stuff

This is great I wanna get a IP auto someday.

Cool Story behind the Myers.

Mike

Do you not live near any stadiums?

Not really, lol, I'll try to get to a couple Auburn Doubledays games this summer, very very very slim chance of seeing Rochester Red Wings.

I've got two IP autographs, on a scoring card from a Brewer's game in '95 - Matt Mieske and Pat Listach. No 'big' althete, though.

I consider myself lucky that I am in NYC, with so many sports teams. My best IP was last year at Jets camp. 25 autos on my white pannell ball and Cutris Martin on a mini. I almost got Pennington last year. I promise I will this year and get D'Brickashaw and Clemens as well.

Mike

I read the article about you in the...December (I think) Beckett. Cool.

Today's autograph is of a man who everybody that collected baseball cards in the 1980's knows - Diamond Kings artist Dick Perez:




Dick did a series of paintings of the Phillies for their new ballpark. It just so happened that he was appearing at a game I was already going to to sign prints. I brought a few cards hoping he would sign them (didn't know if it was a "buy a print" only deal, or if he had any qualms about signing Donruss cards since he didn't work for them any more). I asked the lady working the table if he'd sign some stuff for me without buying something, she said to ask him. He said "Absolutely, what do you have?" So I got him to sign the above card and the two Will Clark Diamond Kings cards he did (1988 and 1992). He was a super-nice guy and is a legend in baseball card history.

WOW that is awsome!!

cool stuff

use to love the DK stuff and the puzzles also

I don't know much about NASCAR, but I know this guy's good! Tony Stewart:




Back in 2001 at my old job my boss was a NASCAR freak, he actually got me into it a little bit (sadly, the only race I've ever watched all the way through was the one where Dale Sr. died ). My boss heard that a local Home Depot was sponsoring a Tony Stewart appearance. A bunch of area Home Depot's basically had a drawing to see which store would have him. Tony was pretty new at the time and I don't know how well it was publicized, but there were only maybe 200 people that showed up. I had brought a card with me but they had these nice 8x10's there as well for free. They said he was only signing one autograph per person and no pics with him. He signed the 8x10 and I tossed my card on the table so he ended up signing that too. I got a lot of pics of him but unfortunately wasn't allowed to get one with him. They were also selling Stewart T-shirts for $3, I bought a few.

Awesome story's so far. I hope to get to meet Matt Kenseth IP one day and a few of my other all time favorite players.

cool story

My only memorable IP auto of note is the Logo himself, Mr. Jerry West.

It must have been back when I was around 10 or 11, and I went out to dinner with my parents and sister. I noticed this one guy walk in and sit down at a table and I kept thinking to myself, that guy sure looks like Jerry West.

Now I wasn't really sure, and my parents being immigrants to this country sure didn't. So I decided I would pretend to go to the bathroom and walk by his table to make sure. I walked by his table and sure enough it was Jerry West! I was pumped, but at the same time intimidated out of my mind. So I ended up walking past his table like 10 times, going back and forth to the bathroom "discreetly." At one point, I think I even considered going to the car and getting my basketball from it for him to sign, but I didn't do that. Instead, I finally got up the guts to talk to him and ask for his auto. He signed on the paper table mat of the restaurant. I still have that auto, framed, with a butter stain from the bread he was eating that night. haha.

I guess that makes it a "dinner used" auto.

^ That's a great story, notinbtnet! Personal treasures like that are always the best.

A friend of my dad's saw Will Clark in a bar once and got him to sign a napkin for me, no butter marks or beer foam though.

Those are both awesome story's.

I won't be able to update tomorrow so you get a bonus one today.

In honor of Steve's great ITG pull today, I present the greatest Flyers goalie ever, Bernie Parent:




Bernie can be found making appearances all over PA and NJ. He made an appearance at a Commerce Bank Grand Opening, so I went over and got him to personalize the above card. He's a really cool guy and loves to talk to Flyers fans.

Side note: My mom has actually worked with him outside of hockey. Apparently the company he works (Star something-or-other) for gets their printing done at the print shop my mom recepts at, and he was their liaison so he had to deal with my mom a lot.

Nice, especially the Perez autograph.

Very cool stories. This is becoming one of my favorite threads to visit.

FF, I am flattered you remembered. If I ever get done with my room, I am going to copy it and frame it and hang it next to my pieces.

Mike

Awesome story.

Cool stories. Nice Parent auto, I have some 8x1-s autographed by him.

Thank you! It really feels great to hear that.

I do have another Parent auto (on an early 70's card) but it's not personalized.

Today's autograph, that HUGE superstar, Mickey Morandini:




My grandmother loved the Phillies, her and my grandfather used to go down to Spring Training every year. I really never knew why, but one of her favorite Phillies of all time was Mickey Morandini. I think she just liked the way his name sounded. Mickey was making an appearance at a local mall around the time my grandmother was in the hospital. I got the above card signed for me, and got him to sign an 8x10 for my grandmom. I asked him to put "To Stella, Get Well Soon". He said "Sure. How do you spell Stella?"

I gave the eulogy at my grandmom's funeral, and I just HAD to mention her love of the Phillies, especially Mickey Morandini. This card always makes me think of her.