09 ST IP

[19braves77]

What they hate is being told to act like they are batting for a picture and then having to sign 1000 tiny stickers with two guys watching them and telling them to exchange colors every once in a while.

That is always a fun discussion with the players.

Its not rude. Its no more upsetting for some that he signed for a group of 10 people and didn't sign for the other 4 people that were waiting because the fog horn blew which meant switch fields. People got upset but common sense tells you that he cant sign for everyone.

Take the example of Perez, he asked how much does a World Series ball cost then personalized a team ball that had another 10 sigs on it, but the cool thing about that interaction was he did discuss what he did with all his World Series items and how many game used balls he kept... He also said that he will not write anything baseball related until his career his over.

Key to autographing is not to take things to hard for every guy that comes over you get a guy like James Houser who told people he was somebody else. Yes, he was going to sign another man's card that was of another player until I called him out on it.

 

[nyc3]

sigh what happened to collecting autographs? And it being a privilege getting one?

 

[angelsrockies4ever]

I think Becham has to personalize because of his contract with Razor.

 

[FortyFour]

What they hate is being told to act like they are batting for a picture and then having to sign 1000 tiny stickers with two guys watching them and telling them to exchange colors every once in a while.

That is always a fun discussion with the players.

Its not rude. Its no more upsetting for some that he signed for a group of 10 people and didn't sign for the other 4 people that were waiting because the fog horn blew which meant switch fields. People got upset but common sense tells you that he cant sign for everyone.

Take the example of Perez, he asked how much does a World Series ball cost then personalized a team ball that had another 10 sigs on it, but the cool thing about that interaction was he did discuss what he did with all his World Series items and how many game used balls he kept... He also said that he will not write anything baseball related until his career his over.

Key to autographing is not to take things to hard for every guy that comes over you get a guy like James Houser who told people he was somebody else. Yes, he was going to sign another man's card that was of another player until I called him out on it.

they may not enjoy it but they are getting paid for it. They are doing you a favor by signing.

 

[ru4scuba]

What they hate is being told to act like they are batting for a picture and then having to sign 1000 tiny stickers with two guys watching them and telling them to exchange colors every once in a while.

That is always a fun discussion with the players.

Its not rude. Its no more upsetting for some that he signed for a group of 10 people and didn't sign for the other 4 people that were waiting because the fog horn blew which meant switch fields. People got upset but common sense tells you that he cant sign for everyone.

Take the example of Perez, he asked how much does a World Series ball cost then personalized a team ball that had another 10 sigs on it, but the cool thing about that interaction was he did discuss what he did with all his World Series items and how many game used balls he kept... He also said that he will not write anything baseball related until his career his over.

Key to autographing is not to take things to hard for every guy that comes over you get a guy like James Houser who told people he was somebody else. Yes, he was going to sign another man's card that was of another player until I called him out on it.

they may not enjoy it but they are getting paid for it. They are doing you a favor by signing.

Yeah... I'm not sure what his point is. I used to be a grapher, but once I realized what it was like for the players and how they talk about them I pretty much stopped.

 

[Reyes7tulo2]

I think I would rather have the auto personalized then have nothing at all. Wish I could go to a Mets Spring Training one year. Would be happy with one auto there.

 

[19braves77]

I dont recall saying anything about the players not signing. Just listed some of the quirks I encountered today and Tim probably didn't care that I didn't want my ball sidepaneled.

 

[prospector93]

I think Becham has to personalize because of his contract with Razor.

I beleive Brian came on and said that they could sign IP if desired.

 

[Therion]

I dont recall saying anything about the players not signing. Just listed some of the quirks I encountered today and Tim probably didn't care that I didn't want my ball sidepaneled.

It is one of the sad truths about this hobby. People don't understand or care how their actions might affect other collectors. Enough people pull their ball out of a player's hand then that player is going to have a lessened desire to sign for other fans.

A few bad apples spoil it for the rest of us.

 

[angelsrockies4ever]

I think Becham has to personalize because of his contract with Razor.

I beleive Brian came on and said that they could sign IP if desired.

Yes, but I think he has to personalize.

 

[bc81758]

What they hate is being told to act like they are batting for a picture and then having to sign 1000 tiny stickers with two guys watching them and telling them to exchange colors every once in a while.

That is always a fun discussion with the players.

Its not rude. Its no more upsetting for some that he signed for a group of 10 people and didn't sign for the other 4 people that were waiting because the fog horn blew which meant switch fields. People got upset but common sense tells you that he cant sign for everyone.

Take the example of Perez, he asked how much does a World Series ball cost then personalized a team ball that had another 10 sigs on it, but the cool thing about that interaction was he did discuss what he did with all his World Series items and how many game used balls he kept... He also said that he will not write anything baseball related until his career his over.

Key to autographing is not to take things to hard for every guy that comes over you get a guy like James Houser who told people he was somebody else. Yes, he was going to sign another man's card that was of another player until I called him out on it.

they may not enjoy it but they are getting paid for it. They are doing you a favor by signing.

Yeah... I'm not sure what his point is. I used to be a grapher, but once I realized what it was like for the players and how they talk about them I pretty much stopped.

I still graph and I know what Chris is talking about. Plenty of players, especially at the MLB level look down on people collecting autographs which I can understand. Plenty of players think signing autographs is a chore.

 

[UMich92]

And yet plenty of players collect autographs and game-used gear of players they idolized growing up. I think being polite and having a back up plan is the key. For instance, when you notice that Beckham is going to personalize the OMLB ask if he would personalize a Razor base card instead. I think that would be polite, you'd get an auto and you wouldn't have a personalized OMLB.

Alex

 

[subject to change]

I largely avoid graphing at major league games for many of the reasons mentioned. I pretty much stick to the occasional free signing, teamfest type events, and minor league games. My autographs, both Pirate and otherwise, are probably my favorite aspects of my collection. However, I can see how players get irritated or look down upon autograph seekers.

I routinely see a few guys in various baseball hats camped outside of one of the major hotels in downtown Pittsburgh during the season, waiting any player to come out. Out of curiosity, I ate my lunch on a bench nearby one afternoon, just to see how they operated. I was there for the better part of 30-40 mins, and only saw one player come out. The group of 4-5 30-40 year olds swarmed the player before he was even out the doors, waving pages of cards and balls in front of him. I can see how this can get incredibly irritating for a player who may just want to go out and get a cup of coffee.

I sincerely appreciate any player that takes his time to sign for me either in person or through the mail. However, I think some people expect players to be willing to sign 24/7, and any player that doesn't do so is a 'jerk' or 'bad person.'

 

[andyduke86]

My belief is that the players like signing they just dont like that its never really over.

Some may... but most don't.

That is simply untrue. Most players love signing. I'm with Will 100% on this one.

I get the feel that about half the posters in this thread really have no idea what serious IP collecting is all about.

 

[ru4scuba]

My belief is that the players like signing they just dont like that its never really over.

Some may... but most don't.

That is simply untrue. Most players love signing. I'm with Will 100% on this one.

Are you saying this from a grapher's point of view, or someone with a little more intimate knowledge?

 

[Therion]

My belief is that the players like signing they just dont like that its never really over.

Some may... but most don't.

That is simply untrue. Most players love signing. I'm with Will 100% on this one.

I get the feel that about half the posters in this thread really have no idea what serious IP collecting is all about.

As opposed to comedic IP collecting? He was getting an autograph and pulled the ball out of the players hands because it was going to be personalized. I don't care how you spin it, that is a ****** bag move.

 

[subject to change]

My belief is that the players like signing they just dont like that its never really over.

Some may... but most don't.

That is simply untrue. Most players love signing. I'm with Will 100% on this one.

I get the feel that about half the posters in this thread really have no idea what serious IP collecting is all about.

By serious IP collecting, do you mean waiting outside hotels, chasing players in their cars as they leave the ballpark, or giving a player a stack of 20-30 cards to be signed?

If this a serious IP collector, then no, I am not one.

 

[andyduke86]

My belief is that the players like signing they just dont like that its never really over.

Some may... but most don't.

That is simply untrue. Most players love signing. I'm with Will 100% on this one.

Are you saying this from a grapher's point of view, or someone with a little more intimate knowledge?

Both. Maybe at the major league level most guys don't enjoy signing, but incorporating all of baseball, most professional players enjoy signing.

 

[andyduke86]

My belief is that the players like signing they just dont like that its never really over.

Some may... but most don't.

That is simply untrue. Most players love signing. I'm with Will 100% on this one.

I get the feel that about half the posters in this thread really have no idea what serious IP collecting is all about.

By serious IP collecting, do you mean waiting outside hotels, chasing players in their cars as they leave the ballpark, or giving a player a stack of 20-30 cards to be signed?

If this a serious IP collector, then no, I am not one.

LOL

 

[bc81758]

It depends on your point of view. Chris has had the luxury to see this from both perspectives and I have heard what Chris has said from both perspectives (as a grapher and as a general baseball fan).

Does it discourage me from doing this hobby, no. I just go with the flow if you will. As far as Spring Training in 2009 goes, we'll see how that goes from other S/T sites.