Why autographs became a ceremonial part of Colorado Rockies spring training

[doniceage]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — It was chilly and approaching 1 a.m. last September when Jon Gray, still wet and shivering from a champagne shower hours before, stopped to sign autographs outside the back-alley gate behind Coors Field.

A crowd had gathered after the Rockies clinched a wild-card playoff berth. Some of them Gray knew as the community of signature-seeking fans who follow the Rockies from spring training to the postseason, from Arizona to Colorado and across the major leagues. Some he didn't know. All of them huddled to get Gray's name.

http://www.timescall.com/colorado-ro...rockies-spring

[bakemeister52]

Great article. When I took my sons to a Mariners game and they went after autographs, people wouldn't let the boys in and Jay Buhner saw the boys and said let the boys thru and autographed a program and a ball.

When I was doing shows in the 80's, I took my middle son and Harmon Killebrew was signing and my son got cards and a ball signed and yes that autograph is amazing but there was a time when Mr Killebrew came over and talked with Mike about school, playing school sports and they talked almost 30 minutes. Mike still has the ball and I get him still Harmon Killebrew cards. Players can be good to the kids, Mike was a teenager and he still talks about Mr Killebrew and said he misses him and that he was a man with a big heart and loved pleasing kids.

[camsue]

Great Article for sure

[arfmax]

Great article. When I took my sons to a Mariners game and they went after autographs, people wouldn't let the boys in and Jay Buhner saw the boys and said let the boys thru and autographed a program and a ball.

When I was doing shows in the 80's, I took my middle son and Harmon Killebrew was signing and my son got cards and a ball signed and yes that autograph is amazing but there was a time when Mr Killebrew came over and talked with Mike about school, playing school sports and they talked almost 30 minutes. Mike still has the ball and I get him still Harmon Killebrew cards. Players can be good to the kids, Mike was a teenager and he still talks about Mr Killebrew and said he misses him and that he was a man with a big heart and loved pleasing kids.

I agree, the players that take the time to talk with you and your kids are the ones that I never forget, and I instantly elevate them in my mind.