Sports Autograph Collecting for Beginners
A Guide to Getting Autographs from your Favorite Athletes
Where to get autographs:
First off, the right method to obtaining autographs from athletes in person would depend on the sport, the team and the athlete. However, there are general places an autograph seeker can go to get autographs. For NBA, NFL and NHL players, usually the best place to go is the team’s practice facility; particularly on the days and times they practice. On those days, athletes are usually more than willing to sign for fans on their drive or walk out of the facility. For MLB players, it’s much more trickier. Since baseball players generally play everyday during the season, their practices, if any, are held a few hours before game time. In that case, the best way to get autographs is to wait at the players’ parking lot at the stadium for them to drive in. You can also try and get them after the game as they drive or walk out. Unlike NBA, NFL and NHL players, one unique thing about MLB players is they are usually willing to sign in the stadium before the start of the game. Of course, all of this depends on the player’s mood that particular day.
What to get signed:
In sports, there are literally hundreds of different items a fan can get signed from a player, including game tickets, t-shirts, video game covers, index cards or even an autograph seeker’s own body parts. More commonly, autograph seekers tend to get balls or pucks signed, especially if the athlete is a favorite of the autograph seeker. You can get multiple autographs on balls, but pucks should generally be used for only one autograph. Another common item for autograph seekers to get signed are player cards. If it can be written on, it can be used to get autographs on.
What writing instrument to use:
With baseballs, use only a ballpoint pen, preferably black or blue. Black or silver Sharpies are good for basketballs, footballs and hockey pucks. However, if you have a silver or gold paint pen, use that instead of a Sharpie, especially on hockey pucks. Paint pens generally turn up more clearly than Sharpies. The paint pen rule also applies to hockey sticks, hockey masks, baseball bats and any other hard surfaced item where a Sharpie may not show up well enough. A word of caution: if you use a paint pen, be sure to give the paint ample time to dry or the autograph might get smeared and ruined. For player cards, use a Sharpie, preferably a blue one. Blue tends to show up the best on any card.
When asking for autographs:
When asking a player for his or her autograph, always ask politely and be sure to say “thank you” afterwards. If they don’t sign, do not get angry or vocally express your frustration. Doing so will only hurt your chances of getting the player to sign next time.
The most important thing to do:
When getting autographs, the most important thing to do is remember to have fun and enjoy the experience. Not everyone gets the chance to meet his or her favorite athlete in person, much less be there to get an autograph from that athlete.
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