Graphing Rant

[loki1230]

There might be nothing more annoying to me than two things in the graphing world:

1) Obnoxiously getting anything more than a half dozen cards signed
2) When an athlete is one-per, you insist on going back not once, but TWICE. I can appreciate wanting to get more than one item of a player, but sometimes you need to respect their wishes because if you don't, it can cost everyone else!

These things are unfair to other guys trying to get some things signed and at the same time, can easily anger the players (especially double dipping, triple dipping, etc.) and is the reason many of the bigger names will not sign.

Sorry just ranting. It frustrates me to no end to see guys on other boards posting about getting 15-18 cards signed by one player, trying to scheme a player into signing multiple items who doesn't want to and risking the opportunities and pleasure of everyone else.

[REDANDGOLDPRIDE]

I don't do any IP, but I agree. People getting an entire binder page of cards signed by no name minor leaguers seems kinda dumb to me too.

[TTMcardMaster]

I don't do any IP, but I agree. People getting an entire binder page of cards signed by no name minor leaguers seems kinda dumb to me too.

To be fair, I mainly get a bunch of MiLB guys on lot of cards (8 or so) for 50/50s with other members...

[Eddie_2]

I know what the OP means but sometimes I would like to believe that people do that because they have good intentions. Maybe they are trying to get some for their friends or PC buddies or maybe they are doing 50/50s with people on sporting fourms. The other side of the coin though is sometimes its dealers looking to make a buck or two off the sig. That's my two cents.

I should also mention that some players are up front about only signing one. Kershaw did this in Philly and I was very happy to get him on a card, however this dude next to me with a bag filled with baseball and 8x10s was not so happy.

[metsmagic18]

It bugs me when people take advantage of players. At a graphing session at the Yankees Hotel a few years ago, I saw a guy attempt to TRIPLE dip Mariano Rivera and when he went back for a 3rd sig, Mo caught him and didn't sign.

The guys who get 18 cards of Random Joe just for himself annoy me. It takes time away from everyone else trying to get 1 item signed.

I guess we just have to deal!

[84c4vette]

i agree on the double/ tripple dipping but i get pages signed all the time and i see no big deal, if a player will sign more than 1 then im gonna get whatever i can get signed done.

[JVazz29]

I went to graph Sandberg one time. As soon as I got a spot right by the dugout, the nice and sunny day turned to rain. It didn't last too long, and when it was looking like it was going to clear up, Ryno came out. He went to one guy who had 2 8x10's, 2 or 3 balls, a jersey, and a bat may have been in there but I can't recall that. Oh, and the guy kept wanting Ryne to pose with the stuff. Sandberg is a class act and very nice guy. He, surprisingly, signed all and took 2 photos. The photos weren't with anyone...just the items.

What happened then? This time spent on this one person took away from the next group of people patiently waiting to have their one item signed because it started to rain again and he retreated to the clubhouse.

I have gotten him on few occasions, only ever taking one item. Okay. The last time I went I had 2 8x10's, but I felt guilty about it and gave one to a young kid and his mother.

[jyosi]

I don't see how people are going to blame someone with 10 items for an athlete not signing for the other people. It isn't the person getting the signatures fault that the athlete spent all of his time signing 10 for one person instead of one for 10 people.

The collector's, dealers, whoever else gets autographs don't control the direction of the hobby. The athletes do. The athlete is the one who chooses how many to sign per person, the athlete decides if he wants to sign TTM, the athlete decides if he wants to sign at a hotel, the athlete decides if he will sign premium items that are more likely to be sold. From my experience if an athlete wants to stop his stuff from being sold he has three pretty fool-proof routes to go. 1. Don't sign anything except side panels and trading cards. 2. Sign a ton for everyone. Even after he passed away, Bob Feller sells for squat because he signed for everyone. Signing for everyone raises supply, lowers demand, lowers prices, lowers dealers chasing you around. 3. Personalize and loop it into the signature. I know anything can be erased these day, but you loop it in enough and you can't erase it without taking the graph away, too.

[jake]

the most ive ever gotten was 6 cards and an 8x10 of noel arguelles i got the 8x10 pregame and got the cards outside

[JVazz29]

The athlete is the one who chooses how many to sign per person

Very good point that counters mine. Given that though, I still think it goes both ways however, it is on the athlete to say "no more."

When I read/collected comics I used to go to comic conventions to graph my favorite writers & artists. If you've ever been to one of these...THEY CAN BE HORRIBLE!!! I mean, I loved going, but I once stood in line for nearly an hour w/ 1 item to get one sig because every other person would literally drop a stack of about 50 books for the person to sign. AND THEY WOULD SIGN EVERY SINGLE ONE!

Quick Story: At one booth 2 guys (they are brothers) were signing. They each had their own lines. I didn't see this appearance on the schedule, so I was pumped b/c the line wasn't that long. I got into the line and one person got behind me. When I got up to the artist, it took a little longer than expected b/c a few of the people in front of me had stacks of like, 20 books, I gave the artist my THREE (3) books to sign. He did so, and they are still some of my favorites.

Then. I got bold. It was kind of out of character for me. I figured I was just about last in line, so I asked if he could do a real quick sketch for me. "Convention sketches" as they are called are very quick, minimal work, drawings. His mouth dropped and he yelled at me.

Yes. YELLED at me. He is in shock. Now, asking for a quick convention sketch isn't exactly a foreign concept. A lot of artists do it or take donations for charity to do them. He said that I had a lot of nerve to ask that and he was there on his "own time" and shouldn't even have still been signing stuff until later in the day. Then said that I was inconsiderate to the other people in line. I apologized. I didn't realize that a few other people had gotten into the line. A simple "Sorry, I can't at this time," would have been fine. BUT HE YELLED at me.

Meanwhile, his brother smiled and chatted with every person that came his way. He even had a fan hang out with him to talk art while he signed.

I walked away a little ticked off. I didn't care about the sketch, it was the attitude. Meanwhile, as I put away my graphs, I watched a person walk up to this artist and drop a massive stack of books to be graphed. He signed EVERY SINGLE ONE!!! Ugh!

The best was later at that con I got to meet a legendary artist known for his extensive work on Spider Man and this artist's son, also known for his work on Spidey. The line was taking long...again. People had a ton of stuff to sign. Finally, when it was coming time for them to go, this artist's wife walks up and says to her family "we gotta go, we have reservations." Then she looked at the line and shouted, "THAT'S IT! FOLKS WE GOTTA WRAP THIS UP! ONE ITEM FOR EACH!! NO MORE!"

I thought it was awesome. The line flew by then.

I know I said I had a 'quick story" sorry...I tend to be long winded. I figured, while we were ranting I would rant about this. I guess it rubbed me the wrong way since it happened about 6 years ago...