One of things that excite certain fans at the stadium are in-person autograph before the game. The excitement of a player taking their time to sign item for a fan. I still remember my first one. Ellis Burks signed my card at Rangers/Rockies interleague game in 1997. He kept signing away that security have to fetch him because the game was starting. I will always remember that moment. Through the decades I manage a good hefty autograph collection mostly on cards. One day I decide to catalog all the autograph cards I got into a database. While doing so I look back at few and have chuckle some of the penmanship scribbles. This bring me to my small collection of IP autos hall of shame. What makes it in? It range from sloppy or lazy scribbles to that is my name at the time to being on wrongside of the law. All the autographs were obtained at minor league games I attended.
My first card on the list is:
"Jairo Garcia" was a hot prospect for A's in early to mid-2000s throwing up to 100 MPH. What is wrong with this auto? A year later turns out his name wasn't Jairo Garcia. It was Santiago Casilla and was three years older than listed. Put that under "not my real name" signature.
Known for infamous Topps' Puffer/Bong card to collectors Brandon Puffer was trying make his way back to the majors. He was playing for Texas Rangers organization when I got this signed. What makes this in my Hall of Shame? He got arrested in 2008 and spent five years in prison for burglary with intent of sexual assault of a minor. Good news prison changed him after his life altering mistake. Bad news he's on this
list.
Jorge Padilla travel the long roads of the minors before getting his break in 2009 with Nationals for 29 games of his MLB career. What makes this Hall of Shame? The amount on loop-de-loop on this card when he signed it. I can make out the J but its a circular loops all the way. Searched and looking at his previous signatures he changed it up to a quick scribble.I don't think signing is his thing. There's one on
Ebay where he put down "PAD" on a sticker auto.
This was first one I totally had a laugh when I got this signed by Neftali Feliz when he was with Frisco Roughriders. You can make out the N then its cram it all in a small space. I believe he changed his signature to be more spread out later down the years. If you got him signed in-person give yourself a pat on the back. He's one of players that's hard to get signed.
This my IP version of Vernand Morency famous "checkmark" or players who just put their initials on card product auto card. I got this scribble at Round Rock when he was with Nashville Sounds. Why its in my IP Hall of Shame? He just signed it S.C. I get a laugh out of it. Looking at some of images of his autograph cards it seems he doesn't like doing it. The initials signature is better than not getting anything signed.
Those were the few in my IP auto Hall of Shame. I don't sell, I just collect. If I got multiples I would give them away to a random kid/family at the ballpark. I get interactive feel with in-person autographs to chatting a few lines with the player/coach/manager help adding more memories of being in the ballpark. Sadly the thrill in-person autographs likely going to the way of the dodo. With covid-19 changing everything who knows if any player, manager, or coach will be signing autographs to a fans if they let them in the ballpark. Evan I gone through TTM and private signings route at this time it doesn't feel the same.
