A recent column by Steve Johnson in the Chicago Tribune examined why someone would ask a celebrity for an autograph.
He stated "The theory, I suppose, is that the autograph is a little piece of the person's soul, a way to make this impersonal celebrity more real. It's also a kind of proof that you've met this person."
Autograph seeking...hummm...yes sir, I know it very well - in fact it brings me back to grade school when I was a real sports autograph hound!
BACKGROUND
I had a passion for collecting, trading and buying sports cards and scoring my favorite player's autograph was always a triumphant moment - especially because I lived and breathed sports while growing up.
I went to several Chicago Cubs Conventions, baseball card shows and suburban events to see local sports celebrities. Not quite a Star Trek or video game dork, but I was a dork nonetheless.
One particular autograph I scored held a big place in my heart - it was my BIG shining glory, the end all be all of autographs for me.
THE STORY
My childhood friend Bobby L. was guided to the dark side at a very young age, he was raised a White Sox fan. If you know me you understand my deep love for the Cubbies - the White Sox arch enemies! Regardless of which team we rooted for our dad's took us to ball games on both sides of town.
One game in particular, when I was eight years old, gave me an opportunity to meet one of the greatest ball players of all time, Reggie Jackson.
On the drive to Old Comiskey Park Bobby's dad - Mr. L. - listened to sports talk radio, smoked cigarettes and chatted about his love of sports! He believed Sport Illustrated magazine was chuck full of crappy articles about New York City and Los Angeles teams, never giving proper notice of the sports teams in the best city in the world - Chicago!
Mr. L. was a die-hard Chicago White Sox fan and raised his kids to love the team. I remember him building up the anticipation of the game, "Kids, this is the last night game at Comiskey and maybe the last time we'll see Mr. October play." (Both the White Sox and A's were out of playoff contention on the last weekend of the season. Reggie Jackson was called Mr. October because of his clutch hitting when it really counted - in the World Series).
It was a brisk October night and we arrived early enough that we were able to get some players autographs by the dugout. I saw Reggie Jackson and asked Mr. L. for his pen so I could get my score card signed.
There was a big crowd standing around him but I was determined to get in front, get an autograph and take some photos! Apparently I had no shame at this age because I got low to the ground and wiggled my way through people's legs to get in front. To my own amazement - when I emerged from the ground - I found myself in the front of the pack - standing across from Reggie Jackson.
I quickly snapped a photo, right up in his face - I had paparazzi blood in me at a very young age. I put my camera in my pocket and politely waited my turn to get his autograph. It didn't take long before he looked at me - the youngest and most aggressive in the group - he smiled, scribbled his name on the paper that came with my score card. I remember saying thank you and running away to show off my new treasure!
Every moment of this short interaction is imprinted in my head. As I walked away I could see that the pen Mr. L. gave me must have been running out of ink because all you could see was a light scribble "Reggie" on the paper. Regardless, I remember thinking, I just got Reggie Jackson's autograph and I was floating on cloud nine!
Since the crowd was sparse, we proceeded to watch from several different seats - something my father would have never allowed - and took turns going into the concession area to see ourselves on TV in the background of home plate. At one point we sat next to the A's dugouts and could see Jackson sitting on the corner watching the game.
Jackson went up to bat once at the end of the game as a pinch hitter. I'll have to go back and consult my pictures but I think he hit a double.
THE END
From that day forward Reggie Jackson became my baseball hero. After he retired he hosted a television show where each week he would be joined by a major league ball player who would instruct kids how to play each position. I watched this show religiously every Saturday morning and taped them on our VCR so I could watch it over and over again.
I have a old green scrap book with his autograph, pictures I took of him and the ticket stub from the game.
Was getting Jackson's autograph a defining moment in my life? No. It's just a great story on how the game of baseball was introduced to me at a very young age and how it will always play a huge part of my life!
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