tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post2712227233193130663..comments2023-06-17T08:53:42.643-04:00Comments on ShysterBall: AutographsCraig Calcaterrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190345915954808542noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-57774807949270635072008-07-22T09:30:00.000-04:002008-07-22T09:30:00.000-04:00I know exactly how you feel about that Brett ball....I know exactly how you feel about that Brett ball. My dad's boss had given him a ball to give to me back in the late 70s. It's autographed by Jim Rice. Honestly, I'm not even sure Rice signed it. It's just a ball with a scribble and I don't think much of it. I also have another Rice autograph but I feel much differently about it because I actually met him and got to shake his hand and tell him how great I thought he was and all that other stuff kids say - it's not on a ball (it's on a cheap b&w picture of him) but it's MUCH better than the ball that someone else got for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-55014398296178351302008-07-08T15:49:00.000-04:002008-07-08T15:49:00.000-04:00One other thing...My wedding last year was on Octo...One other thing...<BR/><BR/>My wedding last year was on October 20th which just happened to coincide with Game 6 of the ALCS. As the baseball fan I am, I was acutely aware of the possibility that:<BR/><BR/>A) The Indians might reach the ALCS<BR/>B) Game 6 could be a home game for the Tribe<BR/>C) I might lose the attention of half my guests for the evening<BR/><BR/>As it turned out, the Indians did reach the ALCS, many of my guests were down at Jake's watching the game during the reception, and my wedding will be remembered by many as the backdrop to another Cleveland collapse. <BR/><BR/>What if Game Six had been in Cleveland? Think I could've gotten Big Papi, Manny, or Paps a dance with the bride after the game?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-25224395388403538502008-07-08T15:21:00.000-04:002008-07-08T15:21:00.000-04:00ShysterBall: bringing friends together (and enabli...ShysterBall: bringing friends together (and enabling harassment) since spring 2007!Craig Calcaterrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00190345915954808542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-74101087826911194312008-07-08T15:18:00.000-04:002008-07-08T15:18:00.000-04:00Craig,At your mention of Giambi signing boobs, I i...Craig,<BR/><BR/>At your mention of Giambi signing boobs, I immediately did the same GIS that you did and HOLY CRAP! The girl that Giambi is "autographing" in the deadspin piece plays on my softball team in NYC! How's that for a coincidence! I can't wait till we all go out after our next game so I can bring it up. Thanks for the ammo!!Ralphhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04205818596782392988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-67171514775133693132008-07-08T14:30:00.000-04:002008-07-08T14:30:00.000-04:00My father recently turned over to me a collection ...My father recently turned over to me a collection of about 300 autographs gathered by himself and his brother during the 1950s in Los Angeles -- movie stars, beauty queens, hit parade kings, bandleaders, a few baseball players. They are just on cards and have been gathering dust for years. I'm cataloging them and at some point, I guess, I'll think about selling them. But I wrestle with that issue of "what do they mean" quite a bit. To me, they are a piece of my father and an uncle I never knew, as well as being what I know are 100% real autographs of everyone from Leo Durocher to Laraine Day. <BR/><BR/>Anyone interested in the "psychology" of collecting might want to check out a new book by a professor of mine: http://www.amazon.com/Collections-Nothing-William-Davies-King/dp/0226437000. <BR/><BR/>The one thing I think about those overaged "collectors" who are clearly just getting the autograph to sell: that autograph deceptively gained might eventually wind up being a very meaningful gift for a "real" fan. I have a DiMaggio baseball that was a gift from a former boss, and a Killebrew bat that was a gift from my mom: I'm not particular fans of either player, but the fact that they were given to me by people who knew of my love for the game also means something to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-83387818112909568462008-07-08T12:51:00.000-04:002008-07-08T12:51:00.000-04:00Ding ding ding ding!You are correct! The answer is...Ding ding ding ding!<BR/><BR/>You are correct! The answer is the Key Center Marriott. Weird, isn't it?<BR/><BR/>My favorite Key Center sighting was Adam Dunn quickly running through the lobby to his room after a game one evening, then quickly running out five minutes later, having changed clothes, grabbed a backpack and, by the smell of things, slathered himself in bad cologne. I'm guessing he either had a hot date or was late for night school.<BR/><BR/>And no, I didn't ask him for his autograph. I was to busy trying to finish my drink at Jake's.Craig Calcaterrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00190345915954808542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-54450593033537091362008-07-08T12:46:00.000-04:002008-07-08T12:46:00.000-04:00Funny story about that hotel...I had been dating a...Funny story about that hotel...<BR/><BR/>I had been dating a Cleveland girl for three years before we began planning our wedding (in Cleveland of course). We decided on the Key Center Marriott and took a trip there last summer so that I could see the hotel, the room, etc. As we walked in, my wife and I noticed the three-foot velvet rope and wondered why about 20 people were waiting behind it. The answer was revealed as my wife and I ran into (not literally) Chipper Jones in the hotel lobby. We said hello to Chipper and continued on our business but the funniest thing about our time there was listening to those autograph-hounds discussing, on our way out, whether or not I (and my Lance Berkman-like body) was an Atlanta Brave or not!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-10288936000537456272008-07-08T12:30:00.000-04:002008-07-08T12:30:00.000-04:00Bondo - LOL!A few years back, there was a "Rembran...Bondo - LOL!<BR/><BR/>A few years back, there was a "Rembrandt" painting valued at millions of dollars, until it was proven to not have been painted by Rembrandt, at which point it became nearly valueless. Some wag artist commented by fashioning a neon light of Rembrandt's signature.<BR/><BR/>I think of this stuff while watching Antiques Roadshow, how much value there is in just knowing that someone touched something. That's the only way I can see buying an autograph from a dealer...("OMG, Gibby touched this piece of paper! *THIS* piece of paper!!")Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-40924959667745224112008-07-08T12:21:00.000-04:002008-07-08T12:21:00.000-04:00It also kind of looks like "beer butt."Maybe I sho...It also kind of looks like "beer butt."<BR/><BR/>Maybe I should ask Gaylord Perry.Craig Calcaterrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00190345915954808542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-24743983409395140732008-07-08T12:20:00.001-04:002008-07-08T12:20:00.001-04:00I'm from West Virginia, Sara, so rather than the S...I'm from West Virginia, Sara, so rather than the Ship of Theseus, we use the example of the Chevy Nova that, over the years, was gradually completely replaced with bondo. Same thing, really.<BR/><BR/>And I suppose I get the notion of tangible reminders like autographs and ticket stubs. I'm more of a purger than a collector, but I still have many of those things myself. Autographs strike me as a step beyond, though, in that it truly requires a reaching out to the celebrity in a way that the ticket stub or playbill doesn't.<BR/><BR/>I'm totally prepared to admit that this is my particular problem, though. I'm someone who has a hard time reaching out to people like that be it due to shyness, or a fear of seeming rude, or a projection of my own rather overdeveloped need for personal space or whatever.Craig Calcaterrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00190345915954808542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-17045778837420450562008-07-08T12:20:00.000-04:002008-07-08T12:20:00.000-04:00And if the George Brett autograph actually looks l...And if the George Brett autograph actually looks like it was written by a guy named "Fegr Butt," is it still as valuable? I'm just sayin'...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-3915723861866318112008-07-08T12:06:00.000-04:002008-07-08T12:06:00.000-04:00What an interesting story. I love it when basebal...What an interesting story. I love it when baseball and philosophy merge. <BR/><BR/>Why do we keep *anything*? I think we keep ticket stubs, programs, baby booties, pictures, etc. for the same reasons. One, despite these big brains of ours, we don't remember things all that well, and two, even if we did remember them, we can't really share our memories with others (or show them off) without some concrete souvenir to look at. I know people will believe me when I say that I saw Pink Floyd in 1994 or that my son was a baby once, but the *stuff* is what other people can connect to, not my hazy, emotion-laden recollections. <BR/><BR/>Have you ever heard of the logic problem called the "Ship of Theseus"? I think it's related to this notion of the value of particular things.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-52144527134872273712008-07-08T11:51:00.000-04:002008-07-08T11:51:00.000-04:00Not as far as you know, CC.Though (true story, I s...Not as far as you know, CC.<BR/><BR/>Though (true story, I swear), I once landed front row seats by 3rd base at Yankee Stadium with my Dad. I got two baseballs prior to the game, just in case. Eric Chavez was taking fielding practice so when he was between throws, I stood up, held the two baseballs aloft in one hand and yelled <I>"Hey Eric, sign my balls!" </I> He looked over, started laughing and then resumed FP.<BR/><BR/>I did later get Crosby and Kotsay to sign one. The ball is on the DL, too.Jason @ IIATMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11675184282951841175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-88671931815304271722008-07-08T11:42:00.000-04:002008-07-08T11:42:00.000-04:00APBA Guy-Craig, I think you're right on target wit...APBA Guy-<BR/><BR/>Craig, I think you're right on target with the sentiment on autographs. I once sat in a restaurant in DC next to Veronica Hamill, the beautiful brunette star from "Hill Street Blues". She was in town town for a Reagan era anti-drug thing. The White House guy she was with was hitting on her, of course, and she kept putting him off by asking to see pictures of his kids. Since it was also a prom night in DC, a lot of teenaged girls came over to ask for autographs, but at least waited for her to finish dinner first. I didn't bother to ask for her autograph, since I don't collect them, I didn't watch much "Hill Street Blues", and it was more entertaining to watch the White House guy strike out. But the restaurant did give me and my date free dessert for being so polite and not disturbing her. Pig as I am I was much happier with the dessert.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-17941675441689782522008-07-08T11:26:00.000-04:002008-07-08T11:26:00.000-04:00He didn't sign your boobs, did he Jason? Because ...He didn't sign your boobs, did he Jason? Because when looking for the pic of the Brett ball above, I did a GIS search for "signing autographs" and found no less than five pics of Giambi signing people's boobs.Craig Calcaterrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00190345915954808542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-1111378220601088242008-07-08T11:24:00.000-04:002008-07-08T11:24:00.000-04:00I think they are just little ways to get closer to...I think they are just little ways to get closer to the stars that we immortalize. I don't buy them either, though I did make a contribution to charity for a Ripken ball. I've had others given to me at one point or another. It's a tangible version of my memories of a certain player. I never met Guidry, Dent, Brett, Junior, Mantle, Ford, etc., but I do have their signatures on baseballs and I do love having them. Each holds a certain memory of that player. <BR/><BR/>Remind me to tell you about my Giambi autograph story one day....Jason @ IIATMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11675184282951841175noreply@blogger.com