For us collectors, there is no amend feeling than getting an shorthand from one of your favorite athletes. You may take caught this issues from a young historic period meeting a sports superstar who you pretended to be on the field, wearing their number or trying to replicate their homerun swing. Fifty-fifty now, I get that feeling of nostalgia when I meet athletes. Information technology'due south that issues that keeps me collecting.

People will go to smashing lengths for autographs, including sitting outside squad hotels and dugouts with their Sharpies ready just hoping for the chance to talk with an athlete. Or for those with the ways, you can pay over $500 to get Tom Brady'due south shorthand today. This got me thinking, what is this whole shorthand experience similar for these superstars?

Luckily for me, one of my closest childhood friends is a former major league baseball player and was willing to tell all. Brent Lillibridge grew up in the Seattle expanse and played in the majors from 2008-2013. He has played alongside some of baseball'south biggest stars during his stints with the White Sox, Cubs, Braves, Cerise Sox, Indians and Yankees. Information technology wouldn't be uncommon to see him brand Sportscenter'southward Height 10 with plays like these, robbing Robinson Cano from game winning hits in Yankees Stadium:

I spent time picking his encephalon on everything shorthand-related that could assistance those of usa who collect baseball game memorabilia, including: the all-time places to get baseball game autographs, proper etiquette on getting autographs and Brent's favorite autograph stories.

THE BEST PLACES TO Get AN Autograph

From Brent's perspective, the four best places to get autographs for free, and where athletes are almost receptive to greeting fans and providing autographs are: spring training, earlier baseball game games, team hotels and mail-in.

Before I share details, information technology's important to note that these recommendations don't include signing events where you pay to get an autograph (typically $100-$300 per event) – more on that beneath.

Leap grooming

If you are able to make information technology to Florida or Arizona in February – March for spring preparation, this is easily downward the best time and place to get autographs from players of all calibers. Players are more relaxed and in that location is more downtime with the players practicing in the morning and games in afternoon. Nearly players have their roles established, and then they don't feel like they are fighting for a spot. Prospects who are fighting for spots are also more inclined to sign autographs because it is heady for them to meet the fans as it may be their first time playing for a big league team. Fifty-fifty the most famous athletes will spend 5-10 minutes earlier and later practices and games to sign autographs.

These are the four all-time times to get signatures during a typical game day. Ideally, you would hang out around the clubhouse and catch them walking to and from the practise field or stadium.

  1. nine AM – Do starts. Tin can inquire on the way from clubhouse to practice field
  2. 10:30 – 11:00 AM – Practice Ends. Can enquire on the way back from the practice field to the clubhouse
  3. 12:xxx PM – Players kickoff to get in to the stadium typically xx-30 minutes before game time (unremarkably 1:00 PM). Y'all can either wait at the clubhouse as they start to walk to the stadium or at the stadium near the dugout equally they are getting loose before the game.
  4. 4:00 PM - Game over. Players volition stick around the field for 5-10 minutes to sign autographs or you lot can wait outside the clubhouse as they come up back.

Here is a map of Peoria Sports Complex, which is a adept example of most spring grooming complex set-ups and where you tin expect to hang out.

spring training complex map for signatures

Looking where your favorite team or histrion plays during jump grooming? Cheque out both the Grapefruit League (Florida) or Cactus League (Arizona) maps.

Games During Baseball Flavour

While not as piece of cake as getting an autograph at Jump Preparation, there is still an opportunity to snag an shorthand from players. Brent fabricated information technology very clear that there isn't much of a rhyme or reason why some players will sign and other won't. If a actor has a bad game, yous probably won't meet them wanting to stop for the fans. Hither are the two places yous tin get autographs while in flavor.

  1. Batting practise, this will exist your best chance and he recommends coming to the dugout surface area correct when gates open 2 hours beforehand. The home squad hits get-go, unremarkably from 2 ½ hours before game time for an hour and and then the visitors volition hitting correct after for near an hour typically catastrophe thirty minute before first pitch.
  2. After the game – Not recommended since players usually want to go dwelling house right after the game, specially if they played poorly. On the rare occasion, you may catch them around the dugout for a quick signature for up to xxx minutes subsequently.

Team Hotel During the Flavour

There are typically a few hotels that will ever host the visiting team in each urban center. They are usually the bigger four-5 star backdrop like a Hyatt or Sheraton that are located downtown. There isn't any site out there (that I know of) that posts where the teams are staying at, by and large because those group rates are negotiated betwixt the team and hotel and that information doesn't unremarkably leak. I am sure there are super-fans in your town that will post where the team is staying, typically through tip-offs from the hotel staff or someone who notices the team busses arrive. Await to do a lot of waiting if y'all go this road for an autograph, but if you practise, at that place is a much better chance yous become an autograph with smaller crowds to compete against.

Players typically leave the hotel 3 hours before game time and 1-2 hours later on the game. If you military camp out around those time, that's your best hazard.

Mail-In To Clubhouse

The best part about mailing in to the athlete at their clubhouse is your fan mail will ALWAYS get to the player. It's really upward to them if they want to sign it or not. Brent said it tin take up to a twelvemonth for players to go through all the fan mail.

At that place are two places y'all can mail in a request to go an autograph:

  1. The Squad's Bound Training Clubhouse (preferred) – Players have a lot of reanimation for a month, and so this is a great best time for them to read through fan post. Beat the rush of postal service and send something in ii weeks before practices begin. Full listing of squad addresses at their spring training complex tin exist found here.
  2. The Team's Clubhouse – Mailing here volition ensure that the athletes get your fan post when yous send year-round. Full list of addresses tin be found hither.

 For your best chances of getting an autographed returned, brand sure you send:

  1. Pre-stamped and addressed return envelope or package – Make information technology every bit easy as possible for the players to ship the card or item back.
  2. Proceed it small – A baseball card or photograph is fine; don't transport annihilation bigger such as a bat or glove.
  3. Make it personal—A cursory letter, ii to three sentences saying how much that actor means to you and thank you for signing this card is sufficient.
  4. Limit quantity – It's OK to transport a few cards, just don't button your luck. fifteen maximum, less is platonic.

It is absolutely not recommended to mail anything to a player's home. Brent said to avert this at all costs and there is probably no gamble y'all would get your particular dorsum. Be respectful of their privacy, because it doesn't feel secure when fans find a player's home accost through tax returns or home records. Players will call the MLB security team if they feel unsafe nearly how fans accept contacted them about getting autographs.

Through The Mail (TTM) - New Update (!)

I've connected with Brent recently on his stance on having cards sent to his home address and he seems to have taken a much softer arroyo. Now that he is a few years removed from the league, he really enjoys getting fan mail and cards asking for a signature. His newest recommendation would be to try through the post (TTM) for retired players only. For players still in the league, you have a very proficient chance to not become your item back, or to receive it dorsum unsigned.

One last recommendation is to keep it small and simple in the mail. Cards are the best to ship in and out. Don't send anything large like a bat or a helmet. Also, for you the sender, you don't want to risk not having a great particular sent back.

For through the mail (TTM) addresses on former players, the nearly trusted source on the market today is Sports Collectors. At that place is a gratis version and a membership version that allow you access to players dwelling addresses to send cards to.

Signing Events

There are pros and cons to signing events. While they are the best way to go an autograph and meet the players, they can be expensive and y'all may not experience equally much of a personal connection since it's a paid effect. Still, this is my favorite way to meet players and even grab a photo with them – without all the work of waiting around hotels or going to Leap Grooming.

Look out for local sports memorabilia stores for local sports stars. Here is a listing of national signing events, services and conventions:

  1. Crave The Car - A great way to find local signing events by state. Ane of the well-nigh complete lists y'all will find.
  2. Tristar Productions – They run the largest almanac convention for sports autographs called the National Sports Collectors Convention. At that place are almost 800 vendors at that place to sell autograph memorabilia. Their motto is, "if you can't observe information technology at National, it isn't available".
  3. Steiner Sports - Can ship in items to be signed by large names. Take been around since 1987 and a household name in the industry today.

Practice's & Don'ts

Baseball game players more often than not dearest to requite autographs, it's their way of giving back to their fans. Unfortunately it tin exist very hard for players to determine what to sign with a big group of fans. Unsurprisingly kids have the best chance to get an autograph. Information technology feels more genuine having a kid inquire because y'all know information technology is going to make their solar day. The lowest priority are what Brent calls "card guys" – these are the guys who are sitting in the bleachers or hotel street with binders of cards or an envelope with 3 cards and you will discover them in all the locations nosotros talked about. Players don't feel information technology is very genuine and will always sign kids' stuff commencement. Players know when these "card guys" send kids likewise, so don't endeavour to trick them. If you are an adult with no kids, don't feel like yous don't take a chance, just be patient and squeamish and you may be able to get their attention.

Other Tips And Tricks

  1. Bad to arroyo if eating at a restaurant or out with friends. It rubs them the wrong way to interrupt them. Look until they are walking out of the eating place to ask.
  2. No more than three autographs at a time. Ideally, line upward your three cards in a row so information technology's like shooting fish in a barrel for them to sign.
  3. Bigger items similar a bat or glove are preferred over a ball or card if trying to get a signature in person. Brent says that he knows y'all went out of your mode to bring a big item to the game, so he would be more than inclined to sign a bigger item.
  4. Knowing kids may have amend chances of getting an autograph, ask a friend or nephew or niece to come with you – it's a win-win as they get to feel a game or meeting an athlete and may help you lot become a signature.
  5. When you do get an autograph, brand sure to protect your investment with one of our display cases. My personal favorite is a signed bat to show off, and then see all our baseball bat display cases to cull from.

 Q&A WITH BRENT LILLIBRIDGE

Do athletes collect autographs from the other athletes?

All the time. Before each game, nosotros would requite baseballs to our clubhouse employees who would bring them over to a specific player on the other team. Both teams do this and everyone is happy to sign autographs to "take care of each other". Your baseballs you send over would e'er get signed. I have an office full of baseballs signed and I am sure everyone else does too.

Weirdest place you lot got an shorthand?

While playing with the Cubs, I took the subway back from Wrigely Field. No i really recognized me as they probably weren't expecting a actor to take the subway after the game. I did get a 2nd look from another guy who put information technology all together that I was playing first base a few hours earlier. I have likewise been asked for my autograph while eating dinner with my whole family unit. It was a chip awkward, simply happy to do information technology.

Weirdest thing you signed?

Ane time a person didn't take annihilation for me to sign, so they pulled out their cell telephone! I asked if they were sure, and they said yes they want me to sign it. Another time I every bit getting takeout at a eatery and the staff asked if I could sign a take-out box to put on the wall.

Today, Brent lives outside of Seattle and runs a baseball game mentorship company chosen, BASE by Pros. "Edifice Athletes through Sport Education" helps mentor immature athletes past non but giving advice on how to ameliorate an athlete's performance, but also help equip them to handle the challenges of the mental side of the game.