My Autograph Collection

I was never a big autograph collector. Growing up, the only autograph I ever got was from Craig Counsel while he was a utility infielder on the Dodgers. I had him sign the game program my dad bought me to keep score on, and the only reason I even thought to ask for his autograph was that all the other kids my age were gathered around the dugout and yelling for him to come over during batting practice. So, I joined the crowd. I kept score during the game and probably threw the program out on my way out of the stadium. Who knows what ever came of that one and only autograph I ever asked for.

But when I was with the Red Sox early in my career, I saw players getting game equipment and jerseys signed by opposing players… and that was something I thought was very cool! I asked around how they did it. The move was to have the clubhouse manager order a player’s jersey through their official uniform contacts ahead of time. Then, when you played against that player, send it over to their locker room with a note asking if they would sign it for you. When I was with the Red Sox, I was lucky enough to get a signed jersey from Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.

Then I started changing teams every season and I got the bright idea to try and get a jersey signed by my favorite living alumni from each team. While I was with the Baltimore Orioles, I got a throwback Cal Ripken Jr jersey hoping he’d come around one day. And about a month later I ran across him in the team food room. He was super nice and signed my jersey for me. (Also his handshake could dent a steel rod). Next, I played for the Atlanta Braves and I ordered a throwback Hank Aaron jersey. The one he was wearing when he broke the home run record. And during the last two weeks of the season, I got to the stadium early one day to work out, and guess who was in the weight room doing lat pull-downs? 81-year-old Hank Aaron that’s who. I ran back to the locker room to get my jersey, and he signed it. I was so happy!

The next year I played for the Oakland A’s. Whose jersey do you think I bought? Ricky Henderson, that’s who. And good thing I ordered it right when I got to spring training. Because about 3 days after the jersey arrived, I saw him in the breakfast room at the AZ facility and sat down with him. I actually asked him if he could teach me how to steal a base before I asked for his autograph, but that’s a whole story of its own.

After Ricky, my autograph game became weak. I’m not sure why. I probably just got lazy. I would have loved to get a Johnny Bench while I was in Cincinnati. And I could have tried for a Jim Thome while I was in Cleveland last year. But it just didn’t happen.

I won a Magic Johnson autographed jersey at Manny Machado’s charity event, but that was the last one I’ve gotten so far. But I do have a cool list of one-namers: Derek, Mariano, Cal, Hank, Ricky and Magic.

One day I’ll actually get them framed and hang them up on the wall!