Autograph Chasers

[MegoSteve]

I was waiting to drive Larry Hagman (Dallas, I Dream of Jeannie, etc.) around one day on the set of Orleans when someone came up with a piece of paper. I could see that several other actor's names were on the sheet. Larry took the sheet, turned it sideways and filled the rest of the page with one big signature. I just loved that. Then the guy looked at him, pointed to the line right below the last actor's signature and said "no right there." I vowed right there not to ask for autographs unless the person has made it clear they were signing (conventions, etc.)

That's really cool. I always heard he was eccentric... for some reason, I vaguely remember that he was one of those guys that didn't really sign often.

[GAFan]

I was waiting to drive Larry Hagman (Dallas, I Dream of Jeannie, etc.) around one day on the set of Orleans when someone came up with a piece of paper. I could see that several other actor's names were on the sheet. Larry took the sheet, turned it sideways and filled the rest of the page with one big signature. I just loved that. Then the guy looked at him, pointed to the line right below the last actor's signature and said "no right there." I vowed right there not to ask for autographs unless the person has made it clear they were signing (conventions, etc.)

[toys2cool]

He did a mall appearance here locally about a year ago and sold his signature for $70 each for a flat item or ball, higher for a bat. Ouch.

wow! I'm sorry but his auto ain't worth $70, there's only a few athletes I think could command that much and he ain't one of them..here's my list
Marino
Jordan
LeBron James
Tiger Woods
Ali
Willie Mays
Elway
Montana
Jim Brown
Maybe Phelps because he's become the greatest Olympian of all time
Gretzky

[MegoSteve]

That was an interesting article for sure and I do get some of what he's trying to say, but I have no doubt the guy makes a very comfortable living selling his signature. That was not a possible income stream for ex-athletes back when he was a kid and to complain about people bothering him for his sig while at the same time saying that he likes that it has value just seems a little off. If he wanted people to stop bothering him. he'd just sign whenever people asked or make a web site where someone could order his signature direct and cheap and flood the market.

Of course, most little kids probably don't know and couldn't care less about Mike Schmidt because he stopped playing over 20 years ago.

He did a mall appearance here locally about a year ago and sold his signature for $70 each for a flat item or ball, higher for a bat. Ouch.

[huedell]

I don't know exactly what to say...except Schmidt wrote a dang engrossing
article there!

[toys2cool]

I've met some people who are jerks about it.

It's sad to say but my sports idol Dan Marino is known to be a jerk about signing even if it's for kids

But I understand if they don't want to sign stuff for chasers

When i went to Chicago this past X-Mas we went to see Marty Booker(My wife's brother in law) right before the Bears game and we were at the Hotel where the players stay and when he came out there were a bunch of people asking for his autograph including one guy with 15!!! pics and he signed them all, I told the guy...dude 15 pics? and Marty said it was cool and said he could never tell someone no...if it could make him a few bucks then good for him

[Marvelmania]

I collected autographs in the early 90s but never to resale. Every one I ever got I still have today. I always made it a point to ask the person to please personalize it.

[trekman101]

collecting autographs for your self is a nice hobby....collecting them for trading with others is OK too....but collecting for resale isn't good for the hobby,It makes the signer fell they are being used.

[starsky]

i met willie mays at my job about 5 years ago and he signed my business card for me. someone had a baseball glove in their car and ran to get it but he refused to sign it. he did come back with some baseballs for everyone the following week.

[david_b]

I'm not big into this hobby.., but of all the star's I've gotten autographs from, only Barry Morse (Space 1999's Victor Bergman) actually personalized it to me, smart in light of all the eBay autographed stuff being sold. He was probably just being sweet.

He was a super guy to talk to.. RIP.

david_b

[starsky]

he pretty much nailed the topic down. it's unfortunate but that's the society we live in.

[theantiquetiger]

Some celebs/sports stars are comfortable signing for kids but not so much for adults since they feel adults are more likely collectors.

I don't think it is the collectors he is talking about, it is the chasers, people who get them to re-sell.

A kid who gets an autograph is a collector.

[VintageMike]

Unfortunately, as Mike Schmidt stated in his article I think it's because the signer never knows. There's also like you mention the age thing. Some celebs/sports stars are comfortable signing for kids but not so much for adults since they feel adults are more likely collectors. I do think some people/organizations have let collector ruin things.
In smaller settings at least I'd like to see more attitudes like that of TNA Wrestling. After most of their non-televised events finish they send the wrestlers back out of the dressing room to sign for the fans. For free!

[theantiquetiger]

Here is an interesting read by Mike Schmidt:

Autographs

Ever since I gave up toy collecting to focus on my LSU sports, I have become some what of a chaser just for my collection, but have always felt funny doing it.

The other night I was at a LSU sports function, and ask Les Miles to sign a poster that I have been getting signed by members of the '07 NC team. He kind of gave me a look before he signed it. I waited until he finished eating, he was just standing there, just finished talking to some one. I waited politely, made sure I didn't interrupt him. I guess he thought I was a professional autograph chaser because of my age, etc.

I have a couple of members of my LSU Collectors forum, who are professional chasers. I have no problem with them, and even have bought some from them, I just hope they do not ruin it for other collectors, kids, etc.