Silent Charity Auction for Autographed Pearl Jam items

Hey all,

I don't have any grand stories unfortunately.

I've been collecting autographs since I was a teenager. All of my stories revolve around meeting my baseball heroes. So in the interest of this theme I'll tell you three stories.

#1 Meeting Ted Williams in 1991.

Ted and Joe D. were in town for an old timers game to honor the 1941 season when Ted hit .406 and Joe D had his 56 game hitting streak.

It was a great day, and I got a ton of sweet autos. Lou Brock, Enos Slaughter, Bobby Doerr, Gaylord Perry, Joe Morgan, and a ton more.

Didn't see Ted or Joe as they are were very elusive. Around the 4th inning I found my twin brother. He had been waiting by the elevator next the the ramp behind the grandstands. He got a few Hall of Famers as they were leaving the park to go home early.

A couple minutes after I met him, Ted Williams comes walking up. He looked at me, my twin, and my little brother and started chuckling. He said "I'm only signing until the elevator opens". He reached down and tussled my hair and took my item. Then he signed for my twin. Then the elevator doors opened and he said "sorry kid" to my little brother. My little brother was 10 years old. (My twin and I were 16).

So Justin and I screamed "Go Ben" and watched Ted laughing as the elevator doors closed. Ben ran down the ramp and when Ted emerged he was still laughing. He said "You got heart kid" and signed his ball.

#2 Sneaking into the Cooperstown Hall of Fame Dinner

My brother Justin and friend Scott and I had made 2 trips to Cooperstown for the Hall of Fame induction weekend. We stayed in tents one year, and in our car the other. These trips happened in high school. 1991 and 1992.

In college I was pretty much done getting autographs. Considered it a kids endeavor. But my buddy Scott and I made one last hurrah during our freshman year in college.

This time we had a plan. We both wore suits and planned to go and blend in at the Otesaga Hotel where all of the ball players hang out. We were committed to not getting kicked out, so we were not going to get autographs unless one of the big guys came by. Ted Williams, Joe D, (I don't think either of those guys went that year?), Al Lopez (tough autograph to get at the time), and probably Aaron, or Mays (both guys who never went to the event). Anyway it was great.

We just hung out shooting the breeze with Brooks Robinson, and talking baseball with a bunch of the guys. When all of the Hall of Famers jumped in limos and buses to go the annual private Hall of Fame party we decided it was time to leave. A light rain had started to fall. Here is the exchange that took place when we exited the front doors.

Doorman "You boys want to get in the limo for the party".
Me "No we're going to walk"
Security guys "It's raining you really should take a car"
Scott and I looked at each other. "ok"

And like that we were whisked away to the most exclusive Baseball party of the year. Scott had bought a throw away camera and we got our pictures with 15 Hall of famers durning the night, but decided not to get any autographs. We didn't want to bother these guys at a place where they should be free to just relax.

The best part of the night aside from the open bar and being underage and getting served, was seeing Stan Musial entertain the crowd on harmonica. This was the year Richie Ashburn and Mike Schmidt got elected. Schmidt gave a funny speech.

The food was great.

#3 Real quick one. Rollerblading at Fenway park and getting Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, Ellis Burks, Mike Greenwell, Dwight Evans, and all the sox players at the red light as we would blade down the street knowing they would be stuck in traffic. They all rolled down the window and signed almost every time.

I probably have 25 sigs of all of those guys that I've given away, and traded over the years.

I'm sure many of the Pearl Jam autograph stories are interesting too. I just don't have any personal ones.

Happy bidding all!

Nate

Monday Bump.

theserialthrilla wrote:

what happened to the brad album

It's back. Sorry about that. Had no bids, and was wavering on keeping it. But if there is interest, I will keep it up.


Nate

LukinFan wrote:

8-)

Thanks Roger!

Hey All,

This auction will end at 10pm EST. So that is two hours from now.

a couple of these items don't have any bids, so here is your chance got get a very low/reasonably priced signature.


Nate

20 minutes to go.

The baseball and both Ten CD's are without bids.

I've lowered the starting bid price on a couple of those.


Nate