Monthly Archives: August 2017

Willson Contreras – World Series Champion

Willson Contreras Chicago Cubs – World Series Champion!

During the autograph collecting in 2017 at Miami Marlins park, one of the most gracious signers is none other than Willson Contreras. Each and everyday he signed cards, photos for just about anyone that wanted it. Some people may be of the opinion that he should have, but nonetheless he is a member of the Chicago Cubs team that busted the World Series jinx! Should or not, he did and was very humble and gracious about it.

The World Series can sometime change people and their perspective as to when they will sign and how many. Also the constant autograph hounding. I would like to give a huge shout out to Kris Bryant. Bryant was loyal and true to the fans not only taking the time to sign autographs, but went down the line and took photographs with special needs children. That boys and girls is what it is all about in the very, very end!!! Cannot say the same for Anthony Rizzo, Jon Lester, and some of the other well named notables. They did not give any of the fans down here in Miami the time of day!!!

David Wright – 2013 All-Star Ball Inscription Autograph

NY Mets Captain shuts it down for the year!!!

Things happen for a reason, and I obtained this David Wright autograph for a reason just the same. I had been unable to land the Captain of the NY Mets for many years now. He is not a tough graph to obtain, it is just difficult to get him. Over the years with the injuries especially. But in reality, David Wright happens to be one of the nicest guys that I have approached for a request.

During the last few weeks before the shut down, he has made him self available for his fans. The Port St. Lucie Mets have had quite the distraction with Tim Tebow, but all and all the team is stacked with very highly skilled high ball Asingle baseball players. Just to name a few here they go…

  • John Mora
  • Justin Dunn
  • Tim Tebow
  • Wuilmur Becerra

Just to name a few. With just a few games winding down, if you have not taken the chance to go and see Tim Tebow, you are missing out on an incredible experience. Only three home games left. Keep on graphing…

Ultra Marks Markers For Autographs – Walmart

Ultra Marks Markers Found At Walmart

There are a host of markers that people use to obtain autographs, and there are sports figures that disobey the golden rule to switch writing tools, thus is you are gonna hand a player a marker, make sure you do your homework. I am going to introduce different videos on this site, so that you can make an educated purchase. Please see this video to see if Ultra Marks works for you. Thanks for reading.

Gale Sayers…Brian’s Song

Gale Sayers and The Gale Sayers Foundation!

It’s been a long time since Gale Sayers has carried the ball for a football team, but he tried with good intentions to give back to the community and help out with his foundation. Unfortunately it did not happen. Although there are talks that they are still working to put something together. Both he and Mike Ditka tried unsuccessfully to revive their respective charities. The infortmation for the Gale Sayers charity/foundation is below:

Gale Sayers Foundation
Foundation in Chicago, Illinois
Address: 980 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: (312) 214-3999



I was able to meet Gale Sayers about 18 years ago at a Miami Project to Cure Paralysis venture, he was quite and very polite. That is what I remember the most. As any autograph collector know, meeting someone and getting their autograph is exciting. But getting a crappy autograph is usually something that you never forget. As that goes, Gale Sayers did not disappoint. In addition as you can see by my 18 year old picture, he gave a nice big autograph. If you have any doubt as to the wonders of the Sharpie on a glossy photo, take a gander at this one. Should silence the critics.

World Series MVP – Jose Rijo

Jose Rijo – World Series MVP

During a recent trip to see the Port St. Lucie Mets play against the Dunedin Blue Jays, the affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, I had the distinct honor of meeting and speaking to Jose Rijo. Mr. Rijo was the MVP of the 1990 World Series in which the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Oakland A’s.

Mr. Jose Rijo travels with the family of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and made the trip to Port St. Lucie this past weekend. So picking up his autograph was so sweet. He was nice enough to place “MVP” “10/20/90” and “World Series” inscriptions on the ball. In all, it was a good weekend for me as I was able to land the following autographs:

  • Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
  • Jose Rijo
  • Tim Tebow
  • Pete Alonso
  • Justin Dunn
  • Corey Hart
  • David Wright

Thanks for reading, and following. Keep graphing and please send me any cool autograph stories you want posted and would like to share…

Finally…ICHIRO! MLB Autograph

Ichiro Signs 8/11/2017 Miami Marlins Park!

If you read my previous post, you will see that obtaining an Ichiro autograph is a huge case of luck and being at the right place, at the right time, no doubt about that. I will explain that. First of all, I was able to get into the park at 4:30 as part of the Fish Family program that is run by the Miami Marlins. This puts you in the ball park about 1 hour before anyone even wants to be there. However, there was a huge traffic jam, and my entry into the park was delayed about 15 minutes. Next, the team decided to cancel batting practice that day, it happens from time to time.

When I say that, I was surprised to see that Ichiro who keeps a well extended work-out schedule came out to warm up even though no one else did on the Miami Marlins team. As he came out and warmed up, many of the 25 people or so who made  their way into the stadium on the left field side began to chant Ichiro, Ichiro, Ichiro…

This happens every time he comes out, with little or no guarantee that he would come over and sign. There is a small pattern however, that you can follow should he attempt to play another year with the Miami Marlins. He favors, the first back after a long road trip as a day to reward the loyal fans, with an autograph.

On this day, he did just that. After warming up for about 15-20 minutes, he came over and obliged the loyal fans that cheer him on and call on him. Luckily, and I mean very, very luckily, I was one of the chosen ones on this day, and this picture above is it. Now when he begins to sign, he grabs a sharpie from someone and usually everyone will get his autograph with the sharpie. A few people told me afterwards, “aw man, he ruined your baseball!” Let me say it like this, I will take his autograph, anyday, anytime, and with any medium, point blank!!! He is basically giving you a $100.00 gift anytime he dons his graph on your item. Now I am not a seller, so I will tell it like this…Ichiro thank you so very much for the time, and the graph!!!

Hunter Pence – Autograph Spotlight

Hunter Pence – Autographed MLB Baseball

Miami Marlins Park, SF Giants Vs. Miami Marlins August 15, 2017. If you collect memorabilia, and autographs or both long enough you will see just about everything, and I have been doing it for about 37 years now. So you can be sure of that!

So while you try to get Bruce Bochy and he brushes you off like yesterday’s lint on a cheap suit. Or perhaps, you try to get Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and he signs for you and takes 5 minutes out of his routine to have a conversation with you about him being the manager of the year and totally feeling embarrassed because he is humble, these are all possibilities. Like I said you do this long enough and you see it all.

There is always something to learn from an autograph hunt, or hound. Sometimes they are positively beautiful, positive and uber cool. Other times not so much. I mean let’s be real, it’s not an obligation of theirs, but when you consider how much money we spend on tickets, over-priced hot dogs, and pizzas to keep these professional athletes employed, I think they can make more of an effort. I know that autographs are like that itch that just won’t go away no matter what cream you put on it, but let us be real, it is a huge part of the game. In addition, it is the number one thing a player can do to truly become an Ambassador of the game, and we will take them all great, super, and average.

Let us take Hunter Pence, the subject of this post. Hunter Pence did something that in all my years of hunting for autographs, I have yet to see any other do. He arrived on the team bus, was called out for a few moments by a few fans, and he dropped his bags to the floor and walked down the ramp to sign. He signed for everyone, and left no one out.

He only walked away, when no one else wanted an autograph. Wow!!! That is the way this is supposed to work. Not all of them, and not each and everyday. However, one of the games in a series, make it count, make it special. On August 15, 2017, I am so pleased that Hunter Pence did just that. Thanks from all of us that received.