And tying together the Picasso and Einstein comments, we have Rickey Henderson who didn't deposit Rickey's million-dollar bonus check from the A's because Rickey thought it looked better on Rickey's wall as art.

want through an autograph phase in my younger years, though mostly via mail. (SASE 4ever!)

Same here. From desultory research awhile back, I think the most valuable ones I own are Roger Maris' (I've got two; found the second one on the floor in front of a bookcase a couple of weeks ago, where I guess the cat had knocked it off of something) & Elston Howard's (not sure, but probably I've got three). I guess those guys weren't frequent signers.

The article is a lie, or it least poorly researched, clearly almost every single person in line is there to sell the autograph. Even the kids, which are a favorite prop of the professional autograph hound.

If Jeter agreed to sign for everyone, tomorrow there would be twice as many of these scumbags trying to get a free $300, and the next day would double again.

I was using the 40 quoted in TFA. Not that 70's some kind of an imposition anyway; it's 20 minutes.

I think if he signed everyone's item, the next day there would be twice as many people in line. I agree it doesn't seem like a lot of time but there will always be someone else asking for an autograph.

EDIT: Coke to KT

Count me as somebody who doesn't really get the autograph thing either.

That said ... a few years back I was given a George Brett autographed ball as a gift. His image graced the posters on my bedroom walls. I wouldn't have done anything to get that autograph myself, but now that I'm in possession of it, I fancy having it.

And if you were to ask me why I fancy having it, I really couldn't tell you. Maybe mostly because it is a gift? I have to admit that it pretty much just wastes space.

I'd rather have a half-way decent meal than any art Picasso ever produced.

I'd take Guernica (for example) over a steak dinner. Gotta be a painting though,

I assume you've seen the real thing

(you're going to need a bigger boat)

If Jeter agreed to sign for everyone, tomorrow there would be twice as many of these scumbags trying to get a free $300, and the next day would double again.

Well, perhaps in the short term. But if he really agreed to sign for everyone, surely it wouldn't take long before the price fell dramatically and people became less interested in spending hours in line for a free (say) $20.

someone is always going to be the guy that got told "no" and that person is going to be pissed.

#### you Bobby Hull!!

Waiting in line for the bleachers at Wrigley once and the woman who was the "no" for Andre Dawson came back to the line ranting about how he was obviously on drugs.

"#### you Bobby Hull!!"

I once attended a charity fundraiser at a skating rink for a little boy with cancer who loved hockey. Hull and Gordie Howe showed up - this is 20+ years ago, they were retired already though. You could have gotten his autograph that night, no problem.

#balancingthescales

Bobby Hull is signing from 11-3 tomorrow in Downers Grove. Will set you back $29 though.

I was at a baseball clinic in the winter when I was around 13 and the headline player (The only player) was Buddy Harrelson. He came in when one of the Coaches was teaching something and just kinda snuck in and sat next to me. During the next break we started talking about something as I obviously knew who he was. He asked if I wanted his autograph and I, not ever having given that any thought, just looked at him quizzically and said "why"? He laughed so hard everybody started looking and then I was laughing too. The coaches saw him and called him to the stage to start his schtick. Never did figure out the whole autograph thing.

If I was never allowed to sell or monetize it in any way, I'd rather have a half-way decent meal than any art Picasso ever produced.

Jesus, snapper, this is so sad. The wrongness of this is so, so, wrong.

Picasso did that last one at 15 years old. He was bored with you and what you like by 16.

Picasso did that last one at 15 years old. He was bored with you and what you like by 16.

Plus he never got called an #######. Not in New York.

It's good to be the king.

Bud Harrelson, to this day, is one of the best signers out there. Good story.

#59 and #60 ... well, sure, but I don't care now.

I remember meeting Gale Sayers, he was very friendly and got his autograph no problem. Then again it was not a public setting and I was family of one of those honored

I'm sitting at my desk and looking at the only autograph I've ever asked for in my entire life. Little Caesar's, Westland, Michigan, 1977. I was twelve.

I was about to say that I have never sought nor received any autograph, but then I remembered I have a Mike Schmidt autographed baseball which I got for winning a trivia contest. This page says it's worth from $90-140. Hmmm....

I've never asked for an autograph, and would feel like a complete tool if I did, but I did once ask a player to write a letter of encouragement to a handicapped nephew of mine. (Didn't ask him to his face, by chance I was staying at same hotel as team, I wrote the request & asked concierge to deliver it).

And he did it! It was really great. I actually ran into the player face to face in the lobby two days later & personally thanked him. He couldn't have been any nicer.

After RTFA it's pretty obvious why he did it, well, in addition to being a nice person. I wasn't hounding him while he was trying to go about his business, and my request had nothing to do with the monetary value of his signature. Simple, eh?

And autographs are like birthday parties. They're for kids. Kids getting autographs is campy fun. An adult hounding for autographs is pathetic.

Jesus, snapper, this is so sad. The wrongness of this is so, so, wrong.

Picasso did that last one at 15 years old. He was bored with you and what you like by 16.

How can my preference be wrong? I hate Picasso's art. I don't like either of those two either (link broken on the 3rd). The second is mediocre at best.

When it gets to his cubist, and abstract stuff, I'd rather have a $20 "starving artist" canvas on my wall.

I don't hate all modern art. I think Dali is quite good. Matisse and Chagall have some interesting work. I like Klimt. Even Schiele (who's work is generally hideous) has a couple of pieces I like.

I just think Picasso's work is almost uniformly unaesthetic, ugly, and not pleasing to look at. Even Jackson Pollock's nonsense isn't as unpleasant to look at.

I have several autographed books, either from book signings, or bought after book signings. The two I got in person are Bob Denver and Bruce Campbell, both totally awesome to meet in person.