Category: Sports Illustrated

Today was a day I have been anticipating for a while.  Sports News Shows was bringing in one of my most favorite retired players of all time Cal Ripken Jr.  Along with Cal they had a couple others who I was interested in getting.  Frank Robinson and Pete Rose.  Pete was here a couple years ago but I have added a couple more Sports Illustrated magazines to my collection since then and thought I would like to get them signed.

I headed up the venue where the show was knowing I was going to meet Don H who had four more of the Twins Peters Meats full cards I needed and get the autographs.  I got to the show and headed to Don to give him the money for the cards before I could spend the money that was earmarked for him on something else I “needed”.  As always, we were happy to see each other and I got the cards.  I then headed over to purchase my autograph tickets.  Last night I tried to remove an address label from a Sports Illustrated magazine that had both Frank and Brooks Robinson on it and ruined it.  I was bummed because that was one I wanted to get signed by Frank today.  As luck would have it, I found the same issue signed by BOTH Robinson’s for $75 so I bought it.  Since Frank’s autograph was going to cost $79 anyway, I was happy to get it!

While waiting for my numbers to be called, I decided to walk around.  While walking around I noticed a Herman Hill signed card and started talking to the guy about it.  Turns out he is on SCN and collects autographed cards.  While chatting with him, Joel Bradley showed up.  We all talked for a little bit and then I walked over to get in line for Frank Robinson when my number was called.  I was really debating what pen and location to use on the magazine and Joel recommended silver in a particular location so I decided to go for it.  Frank was as nice as could be.  I met him once before in Cooperstown, NY during Hall of Fame weekend in 2001 and he was nice then but this time he stuck his hand out to shake mine twice!  I asked to sign a fairly large autograph in a particular location and after he was done, he asked “How does that look?”  That was pretty cool.

Joel had to leave and he had some items for me in his car so I headed out with him and got it as he left.  I went back in and got in line for Cal right away.  Let me say that Cal Ripken Jr is all class.  He was talking with everyone and shaking hands and all that stuff.  When I got up to him I set my Sportsman of the Year Canada issue down and he looked at it and said “Wow!”.  He then asked me where I would like it signed.  I told him he signed a lot more than I have seen so I would use his judgement and he said it looks best in a spot and proceeded to sign it there.  He then stopped and spent about twenty seconds blowing on it so the silver paint pen would dry nice.  I have NEVER seen a player sign an autograph and care enough to do that.  I told him I was at the game when he got his 3,000th career hit.  He smiled and said the Metrodome had been very good to him.  I then asked him who pushed him out of the dugout when he broke the consecutive games streak for the lap around the warning track and he said it was Rafael Palmiero and Bobby Bonilla.  He thanked me and I went over to Pete Rose’s line.

Pete is pretty cool at events like this.  He is a heck of a businessman and always draws a crowd.  I was going to get three Sports Illustrated issues signed but once I saw that Frank and Brooks Robinson SI and bought it, I thought I would just get one Rose ticket.  I decided on the Sports Illustrated issue that has him on it with “SUSPENDED!”.  Pete was suspended 30 games back in 1988 for shoving an umpire.  I requested he inscribe it with “Pallone had it coming!” and Pete said “Naaaaaah” and I asked how about “He poked me” and he said “He did!” and wrote that after confirming how to spell poked.  He then pointed under his left eye and said “He poked me right here.”  He remembered that event from twenty-five years ago!

I then headed home with a smile on my face!