# Whose autographs do you have? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 30, 2017, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181 "2017-06-30T03:58:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181/81 "2017-07-04T00:42:56Z")
I don’t _personally_ have/own any autographs. But, in my profession, I have currently a baseball signed by Cy Young, a signed Thurman Munson baseball, A land grant signed by Thomas Jefferson(not by a secretary), a check signed by Samuel Clemens(no relation 🙂 ). I have had baseballs in the past signed by the Pirates team who won the World Series in 1960, a Cleveland Indians baseball signed by Satchel Paige, A real photo signed by Henry Ford, literally hundreds of movie star photos with signatures, and a baseball signed jointly by Babe Ruth and Tris Speaker. I’m fortunate to work in a field when I can “own” these treasures for a short while, and then let others enjoy them ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181/82 "2017-07-04T01:53:44Z")
Since [my contribution to the 2004 thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4473434&postcount=78), I have added a few noteworthy items to my collection of autographed books, and remembered a couple of items I didn’t include in that post. I have a letter that **Peter Schickele** , creator of P.D.Q. Bach, sent me in response to a letter I wrote asking about the availability of sheet music. He started, “Thanks for your misguided interest in the music of P.D.Q. Bach.” I also have a large mounted photograph of **John Young** and **Bob Crippen** , the astronauts who flew STS-1, the first Space Shuttle mission, signed by both. As for new autographed books in my collection, I acquired the following at **James Randi** ’s Amazing Meeting in Las Vegas in 2006: **Daniel C. Dennett** : _Breaking the Spell_ **Murray Gell-Mann** : \*The Quark and the Jaguar \* (paperback) **Jamie Hyneman** and **Adam Savage** : _Mythbusters_ (paperback) **Phil Plait** : \*Bad Astronomy \* (paperback) **James Randi** : _An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural_ and _The Truth About Uri Geller_ (paperback) **Jamy Ian Swiss** : _Shattering Illusions_ Others: **Ayaan Hirsi Ali** : _Infidel_, _Nomad_, and _The Caged Virgin_ **Walt Kelly** : _Ten Ever-Lovin’ Blue-Eyed Years of Pogo_ **Mark Okrand** : _The Klingon Dictionary_ (paperback) **Roger Penrose** : _The Emperor’s New Mind_ **Jean Shepherd** : _Wanda Hickey’s Night of Golden Memories and Other Disasters_ **Dava Sobel** : _Galileo’s Daughter_ (first edition) and _Longitude_ (paperback) **Victor Stenger** : _God: The Failed Hypothesis_ **Richard Thompson** : _The Art of Richard Thompson_ **Elie Wiesel** : _Night_ I have dozens of other autographed books by friends, colleagues, and various others, including my father, but few are “celebrities” that many people here would recognize. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181/83 "2017-07-04T04:28:56Z")
I’m back with two more I just remembered: **Dave Barry** : I sent him a news story I found amusing, expecting nothing in return; he responded with a scrawled postcard officially declaring me an “Alert Reader.” **Riders In The Sky** (three signatures): At my written request they sent me a signed 8x10 glossy with a personalized message (provided by me) to married friends of ours who are seriously dedicated fans. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181/84 "2017-07-04T04:32:11Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > I’m back with two more I just remembered: > > **Dave Barry** : I sent him a news story I found amusing, expecting nothing in return; he responded with a scrawled postcard officially declaring me an “Alert Reader.” Oh! I have Dave Barry too - we went to one of his readings at a local bookstore. Also Scott Adams, though that was much cooler before he became a huge d-bag. This was way back when he was first getting started. And Berkeley Breathed (_Bloom County_), in a copy of his then-latest book, obtained at last year’s San Diego Comic Con. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181/85 "2017-07-04T09:55:58Z")
Stephen King, paperback copy of _Salem’s Lot._ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mr.Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Me)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181/86 "2017-07-04T15:23:26Z")
Kinky Friedman, on a snare drum head Alan Dean Foster, paperback of Star Trek Into Darkness John DeLancie, on a vinyl figure of Discord, his character on My Little Pony (where he’s basically Q from ST:TNG) Lauren Faust, on the same Discord figure Ursula Vernon, hardcover copy of Digger (2012 Hugo winner, graphic story) Tony Levin, several CDs John Mayall, CD Plus several more I doubt anybody here would have heard of. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181/87 "2017-07-04T15:56:13Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > Oh! I have Dave Barry too - we went to one of his readings at a local bookstore. This reminds me – I too have a book signed by Dave Barry. Oh, and also Matt Groening, in one of his “Life Is Hell” books, pre-Simpsons days. ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181/88 "2017-07-05T02:23:10Z")
Have a letter from Theodore Roosevelt to my father-in-law, signed by TR and dated 1916. It’s framed and on the living room wall. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181/89 "2017-07-05T13:38:27Z")
I have two window cards from the Broadway show 5th of July, signed by their lead roles: Christopher Reeve (gotten at the stage door) and his replacement, Richard Thomas. I got the latter at the Broadway Flea Market, where he was signing autographs at $5 each. He looked at the window card, then looked at me and said “I don’t have one of these.” I also have a first edition copy of the book Whistle Down the Wind, signed by author Mary Haley Bell. Her daughter Haley Mills starred in the Disney movie, and the book was turned into a (flop) musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman. Good songs, though, including one called Annie Christmas 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181/90 "2017-07-05T15:59:52Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > … **Dave Barry** : I sent him a news story I found amusing, expecting nothing in return; he responded with a scrawled postcard officially declaring me an “Alert Reader”… My sister once wrote to him asking why people from New York are New Yorkers, and people from Boston are Bostonians, but people from Liverpool are Liverpudlians. She got a postcard back from him with just six words: “Hell if I know! Dave Barry.” ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181/91 "2017-07-05T16:10:57Z")
From my PM to the OP: The Stephen King autograph reminded me of this: A buddy and I had a mutual friend whose family moved up to Portland area his senior year of high school. We took a long weekend and drove up (from Baltimore) to see him, and being a pair of schmucks we sent a letter to SK (via his publisher) beforehand, saying, **Hey, Steve-O, can we drive by and say Hi! while we’re visiting?** (What a pair of dweebs ) No response, not really expecting one. Months later, after the trip, here comes a post card in the mail from the man himself, saying, **Sorry; we were in Colorado at the time, but hope you enjoyed your trip to Maine!** Squeeeeeeeeeee! ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181/92 "2017-07-05T18:06:45Z")
I ‘had’ the first SupperBowl Champion Green Bay Packers, both autographs and autographed ball. Gave them to my nephew. They had to go somewhere and I couldn’t sell them. He’s an avid fan. ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181/93 "2017-07-05T20:10:05Z")
> [@MsKaren](#): > > Bruce Campbell on a Burn Notice cast map/directions who was newly playing Sam Axe. I recalled him fondly as Ash in Evil Dead. His Burn Notice troupe was using our Catholic school as a staging area and canteen. I think he was surprised to have a pudgy old lady Catholic math teacher tell him how much she admired his work in Evil Dead. lol I waited in line a long time to see Bruce at Project A-kon many years ago, and [got my picture taken with him](http://www.peteandkellie.com/images/misc/bruce_campbell.jpg) and an autograph. He gave a lecture later that afternoon, and imparted great wisdom: [QUOTE=Bruce Campbell] The movies that are the easiest to make are the hardest to watch. [/quote] He also admitted to being in several movies that were pretty easy to make. I (much) later attended a book signing of _Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way_, and got my copy autographed. I don’t usually “collect” autographs on purpose. In fact, I have [Michael Wm. Kaluta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Kaluta)’s autograph on an issue of _Starstruck_ completely by accident. I bought an issue second-hand from a used comics bin to complete my run of the original series, and he had signed it inside. Other comic writers/artists I have include Adam Warren (_Empowered_), Kenichi Sonoda (_Gunsmith Cats_), Ben Dunn (_Ninja High School_), and David Willis (_Shortpacked!_). I have a couple of prints hanging up here signed by Bowling for Soup (Jaret, Chris, Gary, and Erik) and by The Dollyrots (Kelly and Luis), as well as a couple of The Dollyrots’ albums. I also have a copy of The Donnas’ _Spend the Night_ on CD signed by all four girls. My son and I went to a Dallas mini-con and met Ralph Macchio (Daniel), Billy Zabka (Johnny) and Marty Kove (Kreese) from _The Karate Kid_. Ralph Macchio is older than me, but _looks_ younger - and [he is _nothing_ like Barney Stinson](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzx6iVPvR88). ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181/94 "2017-07-05T21:39:29Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > From my PM to the OP: > > The Stephen King autograph reminded me of this: > > A buddy and I had a mutual friend whose family moved up to Portland area his senior year of high school. We took a long weekend and drove up (from Baltimore) to see him, and being a pair of schmucks we sent a letter to SK (via his publisher) beforehand, saying, **Hey, Steve-O, can we drive by and say Hi! while we’re visiting?** (What a pair of dweebs ) No response, not really expecting one. Months later, after the trip, here comes a post card in the mail from the man himself, saying, **Sorry; we were in Colorado at the time, but hope you enjoyed your trip to Maine!** > > Squeeeeeeeeeee! We were very lucky, I have to say. SK appeared on a panel at a scifi/fantasy convention in 1979 in Fort Worth, and the three of us were at the end of a very short line seeking autographs afterwards. I think he must have been bored, or amused to discover he had teenaged fans, because he talked to us for a good twenty minutes & fielded questions about the set of The Shining, and the new book he was working on (The Stand). We ran out of questions eventually and left. The next day we were asked to leave a room where L. Sprague de Camp was doing a _Conan_ reading, but that’s a completely different story. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181/95 "2017-07-06T13:48:03Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > …A buddy and I had a mutual friend whose family moved up to Portland area his senior year of high school. We took a long weekend and drove up (from Baltimore) to see him, and being a pair of schmucks we sent a letter to SK (via his publisher) beforehand, saying, **Hey, Steve-O, can we drive by and say Hi! while we’re visiting?** (What a pair of dweebs ) No response, not really expecting one. Months later, after the trip, here comes a post card in the mail from the man himself, saying, **Sorry; we were in Colorado at the time, but hope you enjoyed your trip to Maine!** > > Squeeeeeeeeeee! Lucky you! I’ve written to SK three times over the years, and never got a response. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181/96 "2017-07-06T16:12:22Z")
A couple of books: Douglas Adams (on Dirk Gently) Frank Herbert (on Dune Messiah) On CD: Ian Anderson and Martin Barre from Jethro Tull (on Too Old to Rock and Roll) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181/97 "2017-07-06T16:38:01Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Who was he? Why was he there? You’re rapidly becoming an over-night sensation. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181/98 "2017-07-06T17:02:01Z")
I’ve got an old autograph book of my dead grandmother’s. Mostly unintelligible, except George Bernard Shaw’s, which is creepy-looking, but classy. ---
**Author:** ![Mavic\_Chen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mavic\_Chen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mavic_Chen)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181/99 "2017-07-10T15:12:55Z")
I have the autograph of Ben Collins, better known as The Stig from Top Gear (white Stig 2003-2010). It was at Silverstone race course in September 2010 during the 6 hour race, he had just released his book “The Man in the White Suit” and was driving an RML LMP2 at the time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-autographs-do-you-have/790181.md?page=4)