Header - Baseball by the Letters

Month: April 2011

Houston’s Glenn Davis Snubbed Topps Cards

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Who’d Autograph This?

Some former players take it out on us.

Why would you want them to autograph card picturing them on THAT team? It gives them a chance to tell about the grudge they still hold.

In the 1980s, Astros slugger Glenn Davis was different.

The outspoken Christian was upset with Topps producing Garbage Pail Kids cards. In protest, he vowed not to autograph any of his Topps-made cards.

I wondered how collectors were supposed to make his case in front of Topps executives.

During my SCD days, I found Davis on the field readying for batting practice at Dodger Stadium.

“We’ve worked things out with Topps,” he said. “I’ll be signing again.”

Davis had tried to recruit other Christian players into his autograph boycott. I think Tommy Herr might have participated?

Sadly, Davis hasn’t been signing by mail for years.

Good luck to all the set collectors. I’m expecting more of these autograph protests in the future.

Pitcher Larry Gura Signs To Save Family Farm

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The sig stands tall!
Gura is still looking up.

For 16 seasons, pitcher Larry Gura faced down future Hall of Fame hitters. None of these sluggers may rival Gura’s toughest foe yet:

Real estate developers.

Gura asks a $2 donation per autograph, with checks payable to Dale Creek Equestrian Village. Wanting the rest of the story, I dialed the Village number.

Returning my call was Cindy Gura, Larry’s wife.

This is the family farm where Cindy grew up. When her parents died in 2000-2001, Cindy and Larry took over the operation.

“We have a therapeutic riding program,” she said. “A charter high school comes here weekly for equine classes.”

At Dale Creek, the Guras grow and sell organic food. They have a citrus grove and mesquite trees, complemented by a booming garden. Don’t forget the cage-free eggs from the happiest chickens in Arizona.

The trouble is, cash doesn’t grow on trees.

“We needed more money,” Cindy said, explaining the $2 per autograph policy. “We’re trying to protect this open space. We had to preserve it.”

These days, Larry Gura is pitching to protect a farm that’s been in the family more than 60 years. Although housing developments loom on all sides, the Village isn’t surrendering yet.

Is the former pitcher riding horses?

“He just rides a tractor,” Cindy said with a laugh. “He helps with riding lessons, he gardens. He built all the chicken coops. He’s very busy.”

But not too busy for fans. “Please keep writing,” she asks collectors. “He’ll sign for everyone. We enjoy every letter.”

To obtain a Larry Gura autograph, send $2 for each item to be signed (checks payable to Dale Creek Equestrian Village) with a SASE to:

Larry Gura
P.O. Box 94
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
　

Kevin Elster, Reggie Cleveland, Larry Gura Remain Bargains For TTM Autographs

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Appreciate the facsimile sig.
This cup-of-coffee pitcher
now demands more than
$2 per letter for his last name!

 When in doubt, ASK!

One of the great parts of this hobby is knowing that veteran collectors will share their experiences with you. I called upon hobby veteran Rich Hanson for his impressions of former players charging for their autographs. I’m grateful for his words of wisdom:

“What do I look for in deciding whether to pay for a signature?  How tough the signer is otherwise, and how reasonable the fee is.

 One can find some good bargains in Harvey Meiselman’s list of signers.  HOFer Don Sutton @$5 a card, Reggie Cleveland and Kevin Elster @ $1 a card, Larry Gura $2 per.
 I’ve never had a problem sending cash by mail, but I don’t send large amounts.  Anything bigger merits a money order or check if they’ll accept it.
 I weigh the price on the player and how bad I want him in my collection.  Quite a few years ago I paid $5 each for two Dom Zanni autographs.  Now he’s charging $30.  Now I’d pass. 
Even worse is Bob Giallombardo’s $25 (double his amount of major league games, and Bob Allen’s $100 fee to sign a card (postal money order only).  This is either a joke gone awry or an extremely unrealistic request. 
 I can buy three Nolan Ryan signatures for what he’s charging.”

Tomorrow: The amazing mission of pitcher Larry Gura!

Yankee Hector Lopez Predicted Records For Maris AND Mantle In 1961 Home Run Race

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Watching history
happen  in 1961

Former Yankee Hector Lopez is a joy. He sounds more like a fan than a co-star in baseball history, someone grateful to have been part of it all.

How did it feel watching home run history being rewritten in 1961? He recalled:

“The Maris and Mantle home run derby in 1961: I thought both were going to do it, but Mantle got hurt.”

That same year, Lopez cemented his own bit of baseball history, becoming the first Panamanian-born player to win a World Series. One year earlier, Lopez became the first native to play in a Series. To this day, he shares the glory with other countrymen.

“About the attention I got in my hometown and the country was great. Panama is a small Central American county. It was always a baseball kind of country. They had some players, very good players, before me but never made it to the Big League.


By the way, Humberto Robinson was the first Panamanian to play in the ‘Big.’ He beat me by a couple of weeks in 1955.”

Reading the Wikipedia bio of Lopez, it’s important to note that he challenged one of baseball’s last color barriers. In 1969, six years before Frank Robinson landed his Cleveland Indians job, Lopez assumed the managerial helm of AAA Buffalo Bisons.

“Being named manager of the Buffalo Bisons, I had no idea I was making history.”

Tomorrow: What are the best bargains and worst deals for TTM signers? Veteran collector Rich Hanson makes his calls.

Who’s Worthy Of Your Autograph Collection?

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Some collectors feel
anyone on a baseball
card is worthy
autograph!

Who belongs in your autograph collection?

One early rule all collectors need is:

Collect what you like and WHO you like.

However, as signing habits change for current and former baseball players, keep this in mind:

Many groups are part of baseball history. Former owners. Broadcasters. Scouts. General managers like Pat Gillick. Even mascots.

I’ve spent time with Ted Giannoulas twice. He impresses me as a student of baseball history. I hope he writes a book about his career. He was thrilled to sign his full name on my Kellogg’s Corn Flakes box.

On http://www.sportscollectors.net/, I spotted some enterprising collector who sought out Dr. Frank Jobe (the pioneer of “Tommy John surgery” who has saved so many pitching careers) by mail for an autograph.

Every fan is different. The same should be true for each collection. However, I’m not going to wait for Cooperstown to tell me who’s a worthy signature.

Coming Monday: A letter from Yankee Hector Lopez, the pride of Panama!