Autographs and Signature collecting

David LaPell

David LaPell

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Who would you get it from? I have always wanted a signed copy of No Second Place Winner, which is not rare. I of course came onto the scene after Bill was popular. Another is Skeeter Skelton, I was only 12 when Skeeter passed away and wasn't into hunting or guns at all then, but I would like a signed photo of his someday, Bart is another, I have liked chatting with Bart occasionally on facebook and found him to be a gentleman.

Others I have gotten over the years is Danny Koker, I got his last year in Lake George, as a car guy he is one of the nicer fellas in the business. My wife and I were impressed when a young boy who was in a wheel chair and hooked up to a ventilator came in and Danny immediately brought him to the front. My wife thanked him for that when it was our turn and you could see Danny starting to tear up. A lot on TV is fake, but that got my attention.

George Barris, again as a car guy one has to respect George skills with custom cars, to many he is the father of the movement. I picked up a signed car of his a while back but I would like to get something in person.

Dandy Dick Landy, I picked up a nice photo from a Dodge dealership of one of Dick's early Coronets that he signed not long before his death.

I have a few things signed by Sheriff Joe Arpiao including a letter he sent me when he first started his tent city for inmates.

I would like to find a John Wayne signed photo, a real picture with a real signature, which I expect would be a few bucks.

I find myself drawn to some of the old lawmen, and Frank Hamer and D.A. Jelly Bryce are up there for things I would like to find with their signatures on it, Buford Pusser is up there too.

I usually try to collect signatures (I've had a few here and there from different people) over the years of people I like and respect) and I am amazed at how unique a collection can get. Does anyone here ever collect these things?
 
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A Story

Twenty something years ago, I was an locksmith apprentice. A guy called from the local vehicle licensing office and said his keys were locked in his car.

I arrived. Met the customer. Never even acknowledged his friend. Customer says that he must go back inside to get back in line and that his buddy will pay me when I his car open.

Opened the car and the friend said that he would like another set of keys made. No problem. I climbed in my van, duplicated the keys and handed them to him. It was then that I looked him in the eye.

Holy #$^%$# I said. You're Ernest Borgnine!!!:eek: Remember that big gap toothed grin? It was him alright.

He wasn't nearly as tall as I thought. Heck of a nice guy though. He autographed a business card for me. I got it somewhere.:rolleyes:

The next day I ran into Sam Elliott but I didn't say much cause he was with his family.:o
 
I got Janet Lynn's when I was 16 as she was at the bank my parents used. I have a few that I have bought over the years,Pee Wee Reese,Ron Santo,Clayton Moore,Randolph Mantooth. My favorite is one that I got at a bowling tournament,Dick Weber he very down to earth nothing fake about him at all. I got to bowl a game with him and is was great.
 
The only two autographs I can think of in my possession are balls signed by George Brett and Brooks Robinson. I always thought I would be the third in that group, but it was not to be!
 
I have a registered numbered on the back official white house photo of Richard Nixon. Its autographed by Nixon to a secret serviceman. Its about a 6" by 8" black and white. My aunt owned a cafe and a old ma and pa filling station about a mile from his San Clemente compound. When he resigned two secret servicemen "claimed" they retired at the same time and rented the filling station from her and opened a flower shop. Corney, huh? Some time later than left it a mess and I helped her clean it up and found the picture on the floor.
Wonder what that would bring?
 
I have one. It was from Andre Waters, Philadelphia Eagles player at the time. Got it back in 94 or so when he was at a local mall signing. If I'm not mistaken he committed suicide a few years back
 
Back in 1964 or 1965 I was a guard for Universal Studios. I was working "The rare breed" that stared Jimmy Stewart, Maureen O`hara and Brian Kieth. I met Stewart and O`hara right away but not Keith. I asked a electrician or driver if Keith was going to be there. The guy said, Keith? I just seen you BS`ing with him for the last 10 minuets! I had thought him just a extra and hadnt reconized him as he had a bright red beard and mustache. I seen him a little later and we had a laugh over it. Then for real, I had recently split up with a widow back in West Virgina that by chance had a three year old son named Brian Keith (Keith) was his middle name. I mentioned it to keith. I wasnt even thinking about a autograph. The next morning he called me over and got a nice studio photograph of him with the same dog that played "Old Yeller" in another movie. The dog and keiths heads were together. Keith had autographed it to "Brian Keith from Brian Keith" on the back and told me to send it to him. I did along with some .44 blanks I had picked up by a horse watering trough nearby. I sent it addressed to his grandmother with no return address as I didnt want to be hunted down by his mother. She already had followed me from W.V. to Wisconsin. That was a wilder time of my life.
 
While I do respect Signature Collectors as Hobbyists, it's not my bag. I once ran into Robert Dinero at Peter Lugar's Restaurant in Brooklyn. He was dining there with his wife and a few others and there was a crowd of suspender wearing Stock Brokers crowding around his table asking for his autograph. They kept bumping into me as I was trying to eat - over & over and Mr Dinero saw that the guys at my table were getting a bit upset. After the crowd dispersed and he finished his dinner, he came over to our table and asked us if any of us would like his autograph. Being that I had a few drinks in me........... I answered oh yes mr. Dinero - - - just sign our dinner check! He replied by saying " hey, that's funny" - shook our hands and said good night. I thought he handled my smart-*** answer with a good sense of humor and at least had the humility to come over and apologize for the disturbance. No he did not sign our dinner check....... :(
 
As a kid I had a book about the Me109 autographed by Erich Hartmann, lost over the years. I've collected cancelled stamped envelopes and have some from Douglas Bader, Adolph Galland, Robin Olds, and Edwin Musick (captain and pilot of the China Clipper). Those are the ones that come to mind.

I've had some sports autographs; Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Stan Musial, Keith Hernandez, Chris Pronger, Brett Hull, all of which I've given to my son. If I ever got one to keep it would be Kurt Warner.
 
I'm not really into getting autographs, but in the mid 1980's I was working for a furniture store doing deliveries in Loudoun County Va. One day we were in the Ashburn area so I drove over to Redskin Park when practice was letting out and got a few from the players.
I just saw an episode of Pawn Stars where a guy brought in a box full of post cards. His uncle worked in the movies in the 50's and would get stars to sign a card and then he sent it to his mother back east. Brando, Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Babe Ruth, Jimmy Stewart, etc. He got thousands of dollars for them.
 
I have a couple by accident as I do not bother collecting things like that.

As you mention No second Place Winner I have that it was autographed to me way back when I got it from MR. Jordan.(I still have it)

Dick Landy I met him on more than one occasion as I worked on a pit crew for a friend that had a shop in Latham NY and as he had a NHRA National record winner in the 60s-early 70s. I went to most of the big national events. I met Dick at the drags and as I had a fairly hot Mopar (67 RT) i asked him for some advice and I still have a couple things he gave me that have his signature on them. I also spent some time talking with Ronnie Sox of Sox and Martin fame at many events again because I was a Mopar guy but working in a Pontiac pit crew!:D

I have met many celebrities over the years, (mostly in airports) but other than saying hi or talking for a few minutes I move on.
 
Working ticket counter for an airline, you get a lot of opportunities for autographs and I got quite a few. You also learn pretty quick by how they act whether to ask them or not. I've got Vince Dooly, Joe Willy Namath (nice guy), Phil Niekro (super nice guy), Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams and a lot of others. My favorite non athlete autograph though is three lines on a piece of paper. It reads:
To Calvin,
Live long and prosper,
Gene Roddenberry
I just gave my grandsons a baseball that Bob Feller signed for me some years ago when he was in Thomaston, GA to throw out the first pitch on the reconditioned ball park for the local high school.

Oh BTW, I have a book on firearms signed by some guy who writes for the Dillon Blue Press. :D

CW
 
I have collected a few of my favorites................

clayton moore
dick butkus
johnny unitas
charles bronson
muhammad ali
 
This will sound trivial, but 3 years ago, I ordered "The Shooter's Guide to Airweight J-Frames" by Stephen A. Camp. What else would a J-hound like me order?

Anyhow, his book arrived shortly thereafter, autographed by Mr. Camp. He thanked me, and wrote "Sure hope the book meets expectations." I've always believed a short message like this trumps a simple signature.

Sadly, Mr. Camp passed away about 3 months later. For some reason, I treasure this autographed book. And his memory.

Kaaskop49
J-hound extraordinaire
 
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