I've never really been a big autograph hunter and I have my reservations about paying for a person's autograph. However, it's a new year and I have to believe that a person should be open-minded. In that new light, I have embraced the idea of autograph cards being bought and sold.
It's not that I never have gotten an autograph, just that I used to get them free. Even my days as a sports writer I got one or two, here and there - between interview and games. In my second phase of collecting (1.boyhood - 2.college - 3.semi-retirement) I got a few signatures from baseball players attending card shows - Willie Mays, Joe DiMaggio and Willie Stargell to name a few.
Fast-forward to 2009 where my collecting goals are aimed more at hockey and of course Olympians. Well I am off to a flying start as I added 3 - all which fit into my plans. First is
DANIEL ALFREDSSON, the Captain of the Ottawa Senators and a Gold Medalist from the 2006 Winter Olympics.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6KuNMyB40HFC9A0au4ZWEKoACM9AfHwLQZ8xEuov9DEpmhVcdlpsANxLOD6E-HVwHTxQMGkVGiIMQSl5D5bDyBzPCdf07duReXVcOdFGJNYegVqCerYVvekhBJ_2WkWdzKm2-PponvTm/s320/2005+BAP+-+Alfredsson+auto.jpg)
The next two cards (BAP signature cards -
ROBERTO LUONGO and
MIKKA KIPRUSOFF) were such a bargain that I could not pass them up. I have to say I detest, loathe, hate and despise poorly signed cards and sticker autographs. And these two goalies are better at holding pucks than pens. Never-the-less, the cards are hard signed (no sticker) autographs.
Both goalies are former international players. Luongo played for Canada in the 2006 Olympics while Kiprusoff represented Finland in several tournaments.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihorUOTJsWguEkgY_MWCta7wFxZv1woOleihDA_nVxLxEzm2u8B6s2MJa76TLy81leg_-ccPKSCC3MZTawfiMO-375A0eXitDzjfYX_B_ysP4NXAH5ftLrGAg25PQFlD5HIubpGtG9rTZx/s320/2002+BAP+-+Kiprusoff+auto.jpg)
(
2002 BAP Signature Series Kiprusoff - top;
2001 BAP Signature Series Luongo - below)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmINxXXFvnaa0Pa14YaI-INSofNY6THxrAsM8nlgiKfhVkXm0mUluAOWfm4cjiTbWGAlZsZHE4-PB41A1z__nDamIi9s4i_DQMnG1gjkbiZSVTCiYPN3UAJaVtTmH1qVbiE6rWLElDuxx/s320/2001+BAP+-+Luongo+auto.jpg)
As I was finding a new home for these hockey autographs, I uncovered some closeted sigs from the past. A
1981 fleer - KEN SINGLETON - signed on the back. Ken was a star player with the Montreal Expos and Baltimore Orioles. When you get a signature in person, it's hard to tell the person how to sign, you just walk away grateful. This was my case with Ken.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEPodDA0Tk_P2CavpQbguwiEOC4cM9PEW8iLZZpJpihg4Z6Tbe8wkHy4KHIkcWo-WdHMPkGWdhL7erJSccdiwopCiqv5OmQB8L970BU7GUot0KW0fuyBp6MMI5Tsp_rcy1dCxj5IbpC_3/s320/81+fleer+-+Singleton+auto.jpg)
In 1982
STEVE BALBONI was a hot commodity. His rookie card,
1982 Topps was on the top ten radar for collectors. As a Yankees' prospect who could hit big home runs, there was great expectations. Steve was one of the star guests at a local benefit so I got him to pen his rookie card. Unfortunately, my expertise about marker pens was crap. Subsequently, the ink did not take well.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLOilhEZ_MQpjub07vB5bZQqu0rdAPio0y5xdU2I7TCNnorMdg11ljx24qY_yOswbgHV1wMwJEHrBkPjjLXpB5JRZ_CoCM4-ROAa65_L9ozXH468qXYGvOIsjq9a5rfmMdsDAT5DD-ogC/s320/82+topps+-+Balboni+auto.jpg)
The above two cards are probably good reasons to purchase company signed cards. However, the experience of meeting players cannot be substituted.
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