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sure is a lot of hoopla over a 32 year old never-was been 
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Ryan Howard Rehab IP Auto Acquisitions
- Thread starter Big Mac McGwire
- Start date
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predatorkj
Active member
- Aug 7, 2008
- 11,871
- 2
I don't think a lot of these people on this board understand what IP graphing is all about. It grabs you as bad as busting wax or any other aspect of the hobby. Except you can't do it hiding behind your computer. You have to get out there and get moving.
Pine Tar
Active member
Man the OP sure took it on the chin here.......I would have said something else....but the kid is 16 right and in most states that is illegal........;-)
tikitomoka
New member
- Jul 27, 2009
- 3,082
- 0
Right, nobody else on this site flaunts their collection and new high-priced items. It's different when it comes to cardboard, though, I forgot.
- Thread starter
- #45
Big Mac McGwire
New member
I know you have done your fair share of waiting and waiting to get your
sig's. I know you can relate to waiting 2 hours in 90+ degree heat and having it
pay off by getting a piece that will display nicely on your wall for free.
I was accused of flaunting, but im sorry if i was just a tad bit stoked
that i got a $250+ signed jersey for free. The price- 2 hrs of my life & a few sentences of verbal commuinication.
Thanks Kev, i know you related to my experience.
hoopster3977
New member
So chasing a player down while he's waiting for a ride isn't stalking?
jbone17
Active member
If he is waiting and just standing there, then no. I know BigMac personally and I have IP graphed with him numerous times. He is a really cool person and he doesn't sell ANYTHING, like myself. We do it for the hobby of it and that is all. Don is right. When you go for IP autos, you have to give it your all. I am a 21 year old college student, so I am limited on time and monetary resources, but I think I do a pretty good job based on the circumstances. I also like 50 minutes from both ball parks that I go to, so it is rough. Don puts a lot of time and energy into his collection and I will tell you personally that it is sick from what I have seen. I am not getting into the whole pro; con thing about autograph collecting, but there are players out there that firmly believe that people will always sell their autograph. When you do IP graphing, you have to go all out, but there are also some informal understandings that are upheld as well.
Atleast he's not knocking on players windows while they are stuck in traffic, or sneaking into charity events .
hoopster3977
New member
The OP stated that he had already signed for him. OP wasn't satisfied with the 2 items he signed, had to come back and wait at the player's entrance and plead with Howard to sign.
So what would any sane person think of these actions?
homerun28aa
Active member
- Jun 8, 2011
- 19,072
- 8
Disagree with this. The guy's job is to play baseball and get healthy and I'm sure daily he gets asked to sign autos. Personally I would have signed but I 100% understand Howard.
craftysouthpaw
New member
- Jan 8, 2010
- 668
- 0
Most people on here recognize by now I'm a big IP guy (and keep all of it). But the whole "it only takes 2 minutes of your time" complaint rings hollow for me. Because they probably get asked 25 times a day for "only two minutes" and that quickly adds up. If a guy says "no" - especially someone like Howard that signs a fair amount for a guy of his popularity, I respect that (as long as he isn't rude about it).
In most cases it really bothers me to see people call guys jerks for not signing (and I'm not trying to single out the OP here because he did not do that - just a general comment). That is one of the things that gives IP graphing a black eye in my opinion.
In most cases it really bothers me to see people call guys jerks for not signing (and I'm not trying to single out the OP here because he did not do that - just a general comment). That is one of the things that gives IP graphing a black eye in my opinion.
hail2thevictors
New member
- Jan 20, 2010
- 2,187
- 0
I think it's pretty funny that these people addicted to collecting cardboard of athletes cannot put their mind around trying to get autographs from these same athletes.
tramers
Well-known member
I have gotten numerous autos before and after games at local stadium -most was 63 BEFORE a game on cards / mini helmets / etc. Only a few times have i been told no and i accept that but at least sign for the kids . I've seen coaches only sign for the girls / women and one say " i don't sign anytime" . Some will say after game and will call you over to sign . We had a major leaguer rehab here and signed long after the game . One bought whole teams supper for three nights $1000.00 each time . One other rehabbed here and i don't know of him signing anything . So be happy and enjoy the game with or without IP's.
local locker room
local locker room
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PujolsCollector
Active member
Man I don't know why everyone has their ******* in a bunch let's all chill out for a minute. Ticket sales pay for these peoples salaries and there are not many 5 year olds buying tickets with their own money. I don't think don does this to sell and when I met him down at spring training he comes across as a fan of the game and autograph collector. He was super nice about everything and did not do anything where I was like what a ****** bag. I don't know why everyone is so upset he is the reason Howard stopped without him begging noone else would have gotten an auto.
predatorkj
Active member
- Aug 7, 2008
- 11,871
- 2
Sometimes you want more than one thing signed so instead of being an ass and handing them all to the guy at once, you get one at a time each day. I personally don't/can't do this because of time and having a job to be at and whatnot but I mean, how many of us have multiple items signed by just one player. Especially if you collect a guy or a team, is there a point in time where you say you don't want any more of the guys autos?
One of the biggest , well, let's call it sicknesses, of IP graphing is that you always have something to get signed and you always feel compelled to go if you feel there is a chance. I personally had to slow way down due to the fact that I was going out and looking for things to buy that I felt I might be able to get signed. Because then every time that player is signing, even if it's not at all convenient for you, you feel compelled to go. I went out and bought some J.R. Richard stuff as well as a ton of Deshaies stuff and now every time they show up I have to fight the urge to take off from work and drive halfway across the city to go get them. So trust me, you never run out of stuff to sign.
predatorkj
Active member
- Aug 7, 2008
- 11,871
- 2
Well, the issue is that it's the same way people who don't collect cards look at people who do. Many of us have probably had somebody say "You paid how much for that?", "You're stupid for wasting your money.". I mean, in any hobby, you do whatever it is you have to do to keep up your hobby. Sometimes I think all these guys here who don't graph think it's just as simple as going to the ball park and asking for the guys auto. It doesn't work that way. Yeah you can do it. But try getting some of these guys at the ballpark. Good luck is all I can say.
You don't want to do anything too over the line. But it's not stupid to try either.
And sometimes you show up several days with no other intention but to sell off the graphs. Ask the OP about the Bryce Harper autos we had to hear all about, until he wanted to sell them off of course. And please dont give me the whole "games are not free routine" cause that dont justify begging for free stuff to offset your hobby.
Krom
New member
I thought he didn't sell them...
craftysouthpaw
New member
- Jan 8, 2010
- 668
- 0
Have you been to the National where grown men push, shove, yell, and fight to get free handouts and promotional cards? It is no different. No better, no worse. They are begging for free stuff, many show up every day to get the same promotional (i.e. the Strasburg Heritage card from two years ago), and many sell them asap. And I heard numerous VIP's all whine that the cards weren't free because they paid for their VIP packages to justify begging for free stuff to offset their hobby.
I am not condoning the actions of either group but this cuts both ways.
I've been there and i've seen that but that has alot more to do with the lack of planning those giving away free things at the national.
If anyone thinks that the criticism here is about the typical grapher, I think you should go back and read some of the jewels from the OP.
Also, the idea that because you "pay his salary" is an old and tired excuse. Athletes get paid to perform and in some cases, cater to fans through autographs and the like. You pay the salary of your doctor but you wouldnt ask him to give you a physical if he was at the table next to you at a restaurant. The entitlement factor of some people on here when it comes to autos is over the top.
Also, that coming from a guy who most would say i love entitlements!
