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I attended the Detroit Tigers vs. Houston Astros game 3/29/07 in Lakeland.
I got there early and attempted to get some autographs.
A lot of players were signing, but all refused to sign 3x5 notecards.
I did not have any baseball cards with me, and they were signing cards for other people, but all refused the 3x5’s.
Cecil Cooper even cursed when I ask him for his autograph when he saw the 3x5.
Yes, most were signing baseball cards, and balls (did not get a good look at the location on the ball). But all refused to sign 3x5. They were giving away local newspapers today that had a 18x24 poster of Gary Sheffield. After Detroit’s batting practice, he stopped and signed several of those along the right field line, going back into the clubhouse. When I got there several people had gathered along the right field line, and the Astros were beside their dugout stretching. I went over by the field/dugout and there was a man getting several baseball cards signed. My only success was on the program I bought, was able to get Tim Raines Jr, Noobie Varner and Dave Clark (AAA Manager-played with Cleveland and Kansas City).
As far as Cecil Cooper, I don’t believe it is as much as his autograph’s selling on e-bay as it is that some guy was telling me the reason they refuse to sign 3x5’s is because people have forged their signature and super-imposed (spelling???) their signature for forgery reasons????? I have written to Cecil Cooper in care of the Houston Astros and he has always willingly and quickly signed and returned my cards, so I absolutely do not have any complaints about him not signing 3x5’s. I made sure and thanked each player that I asked, even though I was disappointed.
To evaluate the autograph capabilities at Joker Merchant Stadium in Lakeland, I would say that autographs are easy to get on the field, right field line before games and at the end of Tigers batting practice. I recommend going over to the 3rd base side for visiting team autographs during Detroit’s batting practice, and also saw Astros players signing along the left field line. Many of the starting players had been replaced and were gone after the game. Saw some autographs being signed coming out of the clubhouse.
Andy Van Slyke was very active with the fans around the Detroit dug-out even though I never saw him signing anything. I have written to him a couple of times in care of the Detroit Tigers (last season and this Spring training)and have not received autographs back TTM.
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