Autographs

[JanShan12]

I want to share with all of you how my week in St. Louis is going. Obviously watching the Braves lose the past 3 games to the Cardinals has not been fun. However, I've had a great time before the games.

Monday, I got Bobby Cox to autograph the 8x10 photo of him I had on a sign I made for him, saying "Bobby, thanks for 25 years of memories" and the bottom read "154 and counting...". I also got Jesse Chavez to sign a mini helmet I got for my birthday.

Today (Wednesday), I went to the ballpark early to stand in line for an hour before the gates opened and it was well worth it! First, I got Billy Wagner to sign a baseball, Kris Medlen to add a signature to my mini helmet, and the best of them all... Jason Heyward to sign the ball David Ross tossed to me last season. I'm still in shock! :thumbsup:


Anyone else have any autograph stories of Braves players?

[Andy G.]

That's awesome Jan. Well done! Last year I got Mike Gonzalez and Eric O'Flaherty to sign balls for me. My brother caught a Matt Diaz homerun in battin practice, with his hat, and Gonzo was nice enough to sign it for us.

The ball O'Flaherty signed was thrown to us by Jurrjens. It was funny, because the previous game that I went to O'Flaherty was jogging out of the bullpen during batting practice and I yelled really loud, "O'Flaherty!!!" and he stopped and turned so quickly that it was obvious how shocked he was to hear a fan yelling his name out and not someone elses. This was early in the year so he was definitely not very well known. Then at the next game, the one where he signed the ball for me, I asked him how Seattle could have let him get away like they did, and he just shrugged his shoulders with a half of a smile on his face. When I asked him if he'd sign my ball, he was really cool about it. He waited until after batting practice. I told him to keep up the good work. He thanked me for the compliments I gave him. He didn't seem like the most humble guy in the world, but he was far from arrogant.

So yeah, I'll probably remember both of those days for a very long time. I can't even imagine how cool it must have been to get Bobby Cox to sign that picture. That's just beyond words. Nice job!

[alaskabravesfan]

I grew up in Southern California although I was always a Braves fan. (Some of you may remember the good old days when TBS made the Braves: "America's Team.") The Braves were in Los Angeles to play (get clobbered by) the Dodgers and after the game, my father took me down close to the visitors dugout so that hopefully I could see some players. I was about 8 years old and had on my Braves cap and was waving my Braves pennant. Dale Murphy walked out of the dugout and I yelled to him.

In spite of the fact that he had gone 0 for 4 that night and the team lost badly, he graciously came over (in street clothes) and signed autographs for me and several others. I hung around and after he had signed for everyone, he walked back over, and said, "You're still here?"

He then proceeded to ask my name, and ask me what position I played in little league, and shook hands with me and my father. My dad thanked him for being such a good guy, and Dale said something about baseball just being a game and that it's important to have your priorities straight. The conversation lasted about a minute, but I'll remember it forever.

Dale Murphy was and remains a class act.

[Hobbes]

Cool story.

You too, Jan.

[JanShan12]

What a story, Alaska! Moments like those are what make the autographs special, not the money their worth. I'll never understand why people sell and buy them.

[Wahoo]

Man, I hope I have good luck at this on Thursday because I have a feeling the Gnats are going to take the series from us.

What's the best way to go about approaching the players for an autograph?

[JanShan12]

Sorry this reply is coming so late, Wahoo. I spent the last week moving into our new house and am just now having time to sit down and catch up on the internet.

Anyway, the best way (for me) to approach players has been before games and as close to their dugout as possible. The gates in St. Louis open exactly 2 hours before game time, so I usually get in line for the gates 45 minutes prior to that. It involves some patience, which is why I try to bring a friend or family member with me, but is worth it to be the first one down the stairs and at the corner of the field and the Braves dugout. This is where I've gotten autographs from Andruw Jones, Jeff Francoeur, Blaine Boyer, Brian Snitker, Mike Gonzalez, Billy Wagner, Marcus Giles, Kris Medlen, Jesse Chavez, Kevin Barry... and my two favorites Bobby Cox and Jason Heyward. The players just seem comfortable so close to their dugout and are always more than happy to come over to sign. Hope that helps.