So, I’m just surfing the web, and I land over at this blog:

Actually, I am a pretty fairly somewhat regular visitor there.  Last night, he had an insightful and interesting (others thought pompous and condescending) post about autographs, and some tips on how to go about getting them.  Most of it seems like common sense to me and is about just being polite, courteous, and respectful.  Anyway, it got me to thinking about autographs.

I have never been big on getting autographs.  I don’t see all the hoopla over having somebody’s signature in a book.  Plus, I think it is more of a thing for kids.  I am not a kid (although my wife sometimes will disagree with that) and when I was a kid, I wasn’t around the ballpark enough to even try to get an autograph.  As I kid, I preferred baseball cards.  I still do, to an extent.

The first autograph I ever remember obtaining was in the late 70s (1978 I think) and was brought home to me by my mother.  It was an autograph of Mike Torrez, who had been taken to the ER of Newton-Wellesley Hospital where my mother was a nurse.  I think it was signed on some piece of ripped scrap paper and probably ended up getting lost 2 days later.

Since then, I’ve probably gotten maybe 5 autographs since.  Ironically, all of them as an adult.  The first one was in 1999.  The All-Star game was in Boston that year, and Fred Lynn was doing a signing at a Bob’s Store.  After work that day, I went to the store, waited in line a few minutes and met Fred Lynn.  Although the sign said he would only sign one item, he actually ended up signing a ball and a photo (possibly 2 photo’s, my memory is foggy).  He was very kind and friendly and it was a great experience actually meeting a childhood idol.  Oh, if he never got traded to the Angels, but I digress……

Two of the other autographs I was able to obtain were because of being a vendor (vendahhh) at Fenway Park.  We are usually in the park before the gates open up to the fans (heaven) and thus are able to see a lot of stuff before then.  Such as the players walking from the clubhouse through the concourse to the field (and vice versa) instead of through the tunnel in the dugout.  One of these occasions I bumped into Manny Ramirez, who I asked if he would mind signing a ball.  He obliged and was friendly, but wasn’t talkative at all as he was on his way back to the clubhouse before the game.  Anybody want that ball now?  Haha

The other autograph was of Greg Maddux.  It was after he pitched a bullpen session.  I was watching while waiting to get my assignment for the day.  After he finished, I politely asked him to sign a ball, and graciously obliged.  This was probably about five or ten minutes before the gates opened.  He was then on his way back to the visitor’s clubhouse, as his work was done for the day.

I asked Pedro, but he declined.  I was bummed, but really it wasn’t a big deal.  He was in the middle to talking to some hispanice workers who worked at the park.  A few days later, he signed for a whole throng of people along canvas alley while the visitor’s were going through their batting practice.

The last autograph I remember obtaining, was of Cal Ripken, Jr.  It was his last game at Fenway Park.  Thousands of fans waited between the dugouts to try and get an autograph.  I was attending this game with my wife and sister-in-law, and I asked if they wanted to hang around and try and get his autograph, as it is CAL RIPKEN, and it his LAST game at Fenway before he retires.  They were game.  My wife has always been a fan of Cal Ripken (I think it was the #8 he wore) and has liked the Orioles for some reason.  Don’t worry, she is a Red Sox fan first.  So, we waited in the throngs of people and got his autograph twice.  My sister-in-law actually got both of them.  It must be easier for a cute, young girl to push her way to the front than some older guy.  Haha.  She got my ticket stub signed and a ball signed.  However, I then ruined the ticket stub when I tried to laminate it.  Doh!

I have a couple other autographs, but they were Christmas gifts purchased from a memorabilia shop.  One is Frank Robinson, but I’m not sure who the other is.  I don’t want them.  The only way I would collect autographs is if I was the one who got the item signed for me.  I think it is pointless to buy an autograph. 

There’s probably a couple of players I’d like to get an autograph from.  Frank Thomas and Ken Griffey come to the top of my head.  Then I could put them with my other autographs which is….Hmmmm, I have no idea where they are. 

Anybody out there collect autograph?  I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts and about your collection, so feel free to share.

Now, we started with one out spoken Red Sox (former) pitcher and we’re off to another:

Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon has spoken out about Manny Ramirez and the leading up to his trade out of Boston. Apparently, this is from an interview that will appear in the April issue of Esquire magazine.

I’m sure a lot of people are going to be critical of Jonathan Papelbon.  Just like lots of people are critical of Curt Schilling.  Why can’t these athletes just shut up and play?  That is the tired old argument the critics use.  Personally, I love it.  I love hearing what an athlete truly thinks of a situation or a game or another player.  I’m tired of the old, “It is what it is” mantra.

I’m sure people will be critical of Pap calling Manny a cancer, but this what the fans and hosts and commentators were saying during the whole Manny trade drama last season.  Why can’t a player who actually had to live through it and deal with it say it?   

I think the bigger problem with the stories of players like Pap talking, is more in the headline than the actually statement the player has made.  For example, last spring there was a headline that stated Papelbon thought he was a better closer or thought he was along the lines of Mariano Rivera?  When he was really talking about how he wanted to set the salary  standard for future closers that come along.  I think Joe Nathan was actually purturbed at Papelbon for this, as well. 

Actually, there was a second Rivera / Pap headline controversy when Papelbon stated he wanted to be the guy to close out the All-Star game.  The All-Star game happened to be at Yankee Stadium.  He did state that he understood that Rivera should and deserves to close out that game, but the headlines slanted the story otherwise. 

I love when athletes speak and actually say something.  Sometimes they put their foots in their mouths (which is good for us bloggers), but most times they have something interesting to say.

Go S
ox!