http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-diamondbacks-autographs&prov=ap&type=lgns Diamondbacks to sign autographs before all home games February 19, 2003 MESA, Ariz. (AP) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks will have a mandatory 10-minute autograph session before every night home game. Owner Jerry Colangelo said all team members except that night's starting pitcher will be required to sign for the fans. After batting practice ends, approximately 1 hour, 40 minutes before gametime, players and coaches will be available to sign. The Bank One Ballpark scoreboard will count down the 10 minutes, and the visiting team will then be allowed to start batting practice. Colangelo said Tuesday the autograph sessions are designed to help the team better connect with fans at time when the economy is soft and 10 percent of last year's season-ticket holders declined to renew. ``You better reach out, you better extend yourself, because it's the right thing to do. At this time and place, it's a requirement,'' he said. There was some grumbling about disrupted pregame routines, but players generally endorsed the idea. ``I don't mind,'' closer Matt Mantei said. ``I sign anyway.''
Excellent idea. I wish the Rockets would do that or something, instead of showing us the same old commercials over and over again that try to show "they're part of us".
I know when I went to games at 3 rivers stadium growing up players would always sign. I loved going to Dodger/Padre games to see when Steve Garvey came to town, It was always great to stand there and have the players sign and chat a little bit. I haven't been to games early enough recently (as I get older going to watch BP has taken a back seat to grabbign dinner and drinks at a pre-game) to know if this is unusual or not nowadays. I expect there are SOBs who won't sign (Probably Barry Bonds) but for those of you who go to games now do most players still sign or is sthis move something really bold for the team to do?
I'm for it, but you have to remember that the guys signature has value and that value could be impacted by supply and demand. So I think there may be some legal questions that may crop up in this situation should a player challenge it. There's always some moron who will try to challenge the rules.
Actually some players still do sign. It is there descretion as to when and how long they will stay out. Many of the younger guys, and players that do not play much will sign most nites.
My first Astros game I got like 10 autographs including Darryl Kile's on a hat. Most guys will sign before and after the game. Some of them only sign when there's not a big crowd. I don't blame them. If they had the time they would sign for everyone. It would suck to be the person who didn't get an autograph.
Now I don't care for autographs, but I did get a personalized one from Francis on the Discover Bus in Austin.
Hell ya, that pictures framed and hanging on my wall at home. He also took a picture with me and we had a quick conversation about Chris Webber coming to Houston.
One of my favorite things as a kid was to go to the dome and try to get Jose Cruz's autograph by shouting autographo! autographo! We were just dumb kids...
I guess customer service gets better when a club is about to go bankrupt and desperately needs increased revenues...
Apparently we will be seeing a ton of Diamondbacks autos on Ebay. I would never sell my autographs that I've gotten over the years. And if I were a famous person, I would sign tons of autographs, but only personalized, so they don't ALL end up on Ebay.
What will be hilarious is if all the players are complaining of finger joint stiffness by the end of the season.
Anyone who buys an autograph on Ebay either has a lot of money or is naive to think he isn't being screwed. Without proof, it's just a signature.
Just wanted to add this little article in but I didn't want to start a new thread to do it. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-diamondbacks-patterson&prov=ap&type=lgns
Either? Thats not true. You can be both, just like PhiSlammaJamma. The guy is a maniac when it comes to collectibles.
