The Drought is Over! - My Family at the Nascar Hall of Fame!

My family attended the Nascar Hall Of Fame (NHOF) Induction ceremony this past weekend. What a haven for autographs! It had been a while since I had received any autographs in person, and when the drought ended, a flood came.

I will take it slow. There will be four blogs over the next few days.

It all started simply enough. We got to the NHOF about ten o'clock a.m. on Saturday. We got our admission tickets, and lined up against Glory Road. I had brought a few photos just in case the big names decided to sign. Lo and Behold, Jimmie Johnson, one of NASCAR's biggest names and the reigning Champion, was the first celebrity to walk Glory road. He signed autographs for just about everyone that asked. He had to do an interview, so after that, he stood and signed for quite a while.

This was the first of many autographs I got that day. Thanks, Jimmie.

Kevin McHale

Kevin McHale
April 5, 2010


Once again, the NCAA put on an autograph session the morning of the final game of the NCAA Championship. This year, it was Kevin McHale, former Celtic Great. Sara decided to take an additional day off of work after Spring Break, and the whole family went to Indianapolis!

We arrived at the Convention Center about forty minutes before the doors opened, and I was surprised to see that we were about twentieth in line to get in the event. Once the doors opened, we were even closer than that in the autograph line! While we were waiting, there was an announcement made that there was a policy of only one autograph per person. I had brought four things to get signed, but I did not expect to make that a reality.

The signing was scheduled to start at 12:30, but Kevin was introduced and sat down at the table a few minutes early. This day was turning out to be full of pleasant surprises! Sara went first, with Will in the stroller. She got the group picture and my NBA at 50 book signed. She even managed to sneak in an additional signature on an 8 x 10 for Will’s collection!

I slid the litho out of the sleeve so that McHale’s picture was accessible, and he said he knew what that was before I even set it down. I shot pictures as he signed, and I asked him if he could add his Hall of Fame year. As I asked, he was already in the process of doing just that, just like the “others had done!” I thanked Mr. McHale for his time, and we left the autograph table.

Sara and I discussed it later, and it seemed like this signing went almost perfectly. That doesn’t happen often.

I saw Kevin play a lot on television, and it was really neat to meet him.

A Great Honor....Maybe

Could this be the greatest achievement of any collector? I have been in contact with the NASCAR Hall Of Fame, and it seems that I may have an item that they are interested in displaying. I feel honored. Whatever we collect, to even suggest that one of our items would be displayed in such a manner is amazing.
Let me start from the beginning. I have in my collection, a NASCAR Media Pass from 1948, the first year of NASCAR. If that isn't historic enough, it is signed by Bill France, Sr., the "father" of NASCAR. I recently added this item to my collection, and I thought the NHOF might be interested.

We will see. If this comes to fruition, it just might be the pinnacle of my collecting career.

WOW.

Bill Walton Part 2

Every year, when the Chicago Auto show comes around in February, I check the schedule of appearances to see if there are any autograph guests I would like to see. This year, when I checked a day or two into the show, I did not see any athletes I wanted to meet. On one of my days off from work later in the week, I looked over the list again. I read that Bill Walton would be making an appearance at the show on Sunday, February 21. I arranged to be off of work that day, and my family headed off to the show.

We got to the show just before the doors opened. We went right to the booth when we got in. Being the second in line, I knew we were guaranteed an autograph. We spent the time before the signing entertaining Will and chatting with other people in line. When it got close to time to start, I looked over, and Bill was walking toward us! He stopped, thanked all of us for coming out, and made sure that we called him “Bill, NOT Mr. Walton!”

When it was our turn, we moved to the table, and I asked Bill if he still had his lithograph. He said he did. I mentioned that there is a story going around that Larry Bird did not take his, and opted for the money. Bill said he didn’t believe that, and would ask him! I got my picture taken with him, and Sara asked him why Celtics was not pronounced with a “K” initial sound. He said he had never been asked that before! Sara got one of the postcards they were handing out made out to Will and our experience was over.

After quite a long break, I finally have another signature added to my litho.

Bill was great to talk to, and the fact that it was free was the icing on the cake!

Bill Walton!

I just found out that Bill Walton will be making an appearance in Chicago this weekend! Looks like I will be one autograph closer to the finish of my NBA @ 50 Lithograph! YAY!!!!

I am also in negotiations to buy a redemption card for a NASCAR 50 greatest drivers Lithograph. Whew. I never thought I would have one of those. EVER.

My wife and I will be attending the NASCAR HOF Induction in May, as well as attending the Sprint All-Star race in Charlotte. Hopefully I will get some 'graphs that weekend, too.

Take Care, readers. Keep Getting "Em!

Winter Lull

Well, as usual, the Winter lull has set in. Basketball doesn't have the allure it once did for me to go autograph hunting. The lone exception will be the two dates that the Cleveland Cavaliers will come to Chicago. Shaq is on my NBA at 50 litho, and I would love to get him before he retires!

I have been organizing my collection, and trying to put together items to take to the track when NASCAR comes back around....

Stay tuned, this lull can't last forever!

I thought I would include a pic from one of the neatest days of Autograph Hunting for me... Miss Sprint Cup!

Trying to get autographs Through the Mail

Today, I will give my opinions about getting autos through the mail.

I recently received a response back from NASCAR star Joey Logano. I had sent a prepaid envelope and asked for a signed hero card (like a picture, but with stats). When I got it back, I was a little suspicious of the autograph. I cannot verify it, but it looks to be a rubber stamp.

Two years ago, I sent out requests to the living members of the NBA at 50 group. I received responses from a lot of the former players, but not even close to half. I did not get responses from the big names (Jordan, Pippen, Bird, Magic, Shaq, etc.). The ones I did get back, however, were very nice. In a lot of cases, I got back more than I sent.

The worst experience I had was from one on this list. I sent Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a picture that was taken of the two of us together. I received a note back saying that he would no longer sign through the mail, you would have to pay to get his auto in person. They also sent back the picture.

I don't know which is worse, getting my stuff back because I did not pay, or not getting a response at all!