Mariano Rivera (10/17/14)

Mariano Rivera #42
New York Yankees Pitcher (1995-2014)

Mariano Rivera is a 13-time MLB All-Star, 5-time World Series Champion, 1999 World Series Most Valuable Player, and holds the MLB record for career saves (652). Rivera is a future Hall of Famer and was the last baseball player to ever wear the number 42.

Mariano was signing autographs in North Bergen, NJ at the grand opening of Big Lots. We were told that he will only be signing promotional pictures that Big Lots provides. He was scheduled to sign for an hour and there were only 200 available photos. Luckily, my father and I were one of the first 100 people in line. Big Lots also had a photographer who took pictures of everyone who met Mariano. This was my third time meeting Mariano and he is always a class act.

Mariano Rivera signed 8x10 promotional photo.

A picture of me and Mariano shaking hands.

Thank you Big Lots of North Bergen and Mariano Rivera for a great event.

Darryl Strawberry (07/12/14)

Darryl Strawberry, 1983 Rookie of the Year
New York Mets Hall of Fame Inductee 2010 

Darryl Strawberry is a 8-time MLB All-Star (1984-1991) and 4-time World Series Champion (1986, 1996, 1998, 1999). He won the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1983. In 2010, Darryl was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame.

Darryl was signing autographs at the Sports Authority in Paramus, NJ. This would be my second time meeting him. I previously met him at Mendham Books for a Brandon Steiner book signing on September 9, 2012. As always, Darryl was a great guy. He signed any type of item and took pictures with everyone who asked.

Darryl Strawberry signed Rawlings official MLB baseball.

Darryl Strawberry signed Rawlings Big Stick bat. This is the first autograph bat in my collection.

Darryl Strawberry signed New York Mets helmet with several other players from the 1986 World Series championship team.

Darryl Strawberry poses for a picture with me.

Here are some pictures of the autographs I obtained on September 9, 2012 at the Brandon Steiner book signing.

Darryl Strawberry signed book Straw: Finding My Way.

Brandon Steiner signed book You Gotta Have Balls: How a Kid from Brooklyn Started From Scratch, Bought Yankee Stadium, and Created a Sports Empire.

Darryl Strawberry signed photos promoting Brandon Steiner's new book. There were two photos of Darryl in a Mets and Yankees uniform. I asked him if I could please have two signed photos and he signed both of them.

 

Darryl Strawberry and Brandon Steiner pose for a picture with me.

Dwight "Doc" Gooden (05/03/14)

Dwight "Doc" Gooden, New York Mets Pitcher 1984-1994
New York Mets Hall of Fame Inductee 2010

Dwight "Doc" Gooden was a 4-time MLB All-Star (1984-1986, 1988) and 3-time World Series Champion (1986, 1996, 2000) with the New York Mets and Yankees. He was the 1984 National League Rookie of the Year. In 1985, Doc lead the National League in wins, earned run average, and strikeouts, which earned him the Triple Crown for pitchers and Cy Young Award. Dwight also pitched a no-hitter on May 14, 1996 while playing for the Yankees. On August 1, 2010, the New York Mets inducted him into the New York Mets Hall of Fame.

Doc was signing autographs at the Shop Rite in Little Falls, NJ. My goal was to get him to sign a baseball with an inscription and a couple of 5x7 photos. Doc was very friendly with the fans. He took pictures with everyone who asked. When I greeted him I asked if he can inscribe "86 W.S. Champs" on the baseball, but he said he wasn't doing inscriptions. I couldn't complain, since the signing was free. I was happy I got another sweet spot autograph. It's the second Doc Gooden baseball in my collection.

Dwight Gooden signed Rawlings Official MLB baseball.

Dwight Gooden signed 5x7 photos.

Dwight Gooden poses for a photo with me.

Here's a picture of my New York Mets helmet that I'm filling up with signatures of players from the 1986 World Series team. Doc signed this for me at a signing on June 6, 2010.

Overall, the signing was a success. It was interesting going to a signing at a supermarket, but everything was organized. Shop Rite did a great job hosting this event.

Bucky Dent & Mookie Wilson (04/26/14)

Bucky Dent, New York Yankees 1978 World Series MVP
Mookie Wilson, New York Mets 1986 World Series Champion

Bucky Dent and Mookie Wilson were signing autographs at the Nielsen dealership in East Hanover, NJ. This was my second autograph signing today. I had to rush over from the GT Sports Marketing autograph show in Somerset and made it with about 40 minutes left. Luckily for me, the line wasn't too long.

I met Bucky Dent before at a MAB Celebrity Services signing. I asked Bucky if he could inscribe "1978 W.S. MVP" on my baseball, but he denied my request. He did inscribe his #20 to the autograph. I noticed the dealership provided 8x10 pictures of him hitting the big home run in 1978 and asked if he could sign one for me. He signed the photo and inscribed the date he hit that home run. I also took a picture with him.

Bucky Dent signed Rawlings Official MLB baseball.

Bucky Dent signed 8x10 photo.

Bucky Dent poses for a photo with me.

Here's a picture of the 1978 World Series baseball with his "1978 W.S. MVP" inscription that he signed for me on December 2, 2012 at a MAB Celebrity Services signing.

Mookie Wilson was next. He's such a great guy. I asked Mookie if he could inscribe "86 W.S. Champs" on my baseball and he said yes. I also had a 8x10 photo of him from when he hit the ground ball to Bill Buckner in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. He signed the photo and also inscribed the date that it happened.

Mookie Wilson signed Rawlings Official MLB baseball with the "86 W.S. Champs" inscription.

Mookie Wilson signed 8x10 photo.

Mookie Wilson poses for a photo with me.

Here's a picture of my New York Mets helmet that I'm starting to fill up with players from the 1986 World Series team. Mookie signed this for me on December 2, 2012 at a MAB Celebrity Services signing.

It was my second time at the Nielsen dealership and once again it was a successful event. I enjoy going to their events. It's always organized and I've always managed to get an autograph without a problem. I'm looking forward to their next event.

Ron Guidry (05/25/13)

Ron Guidry, New York Yankees Pitcher 1977-1988
1977 & 1978 World Series Champion
1978 American League CY Young Award Winner

Ron Guidry played his entire career for the New York Yankees from 1975-1988. He was a 2-time World Series Champion, 4-time All-Star, and a 5-time Glove Glove winner. Guidry also won the 1978 American League CY Young Award. His jersey number 49 was retired by the New York Yankees in 2003. He is considered one of the greatest New York Yankees of all-time.

Ron Guidry made an appearance at Franklin Sussex Auto Mall in Sussex, NJ. They had a nice Memorial Day weekend BBQ, along with a three hour autograph signing with Ron. He was quick at signing autographs for his 200+ fans. Ron was very nice to everyone and signed any two items.

I brought two baseballs for Ron to sign and asked him to inscribed each baseball. He was really cool and had no problem inscribing both baseballs.

Ron Guidry signed my Rawlings Gold Glove Award baseball and inscribed 5x Gold Glove.

Ron also signed my Rawlings MLB baseball and inscribed 78 CY Young.

I also picked up a signed photo of Ron Guidry.

Thumbs up to Franklin Sussex Auto Mall for a great autograph signing. The BBQ was delicious and the entire event was a success. I hope they have more signings in the near future.

Tim Raines & Scott Brosius (01/26/13)

I recently started a collection of Official Rawlings World Series and All-Star game baseballs. My goal is to obtain the autographs of each year's Most Valuable Player(s). Rawlings started to produce MLB World Series baseballs in 1978 and All-Star Game baseballs in 1979. This means, I'm going to need a lot of luck to complete this collection.

Tim Raines, Montreal Expos 1987 All-Star MVP, and Scott Brosius, New York Yankees 1998 World Series MVP, were in town. They were signing at the Pinstripe Glory Day baseball autograph event from MAB Celebrity Services in Secaucus, NJ. This was a big event with a lot of New York Yankees greats.

Tim Raines was there early in the morning and very cool with all his fans. He took his time speaking with everyone and even took pictures.

Please don't laugh at me! I literally woke up 25 minutes before this picture was taken. I was lucky I made it on time. Haha

Tim signed my 1987 Official Rawlings All-Star game baseball and inscribed it with 1987 AS MVP.

Scott Brosius arrived later in the afternoon and there was HUGE line for him. It was his first ever public appearance in this area. He was also good with his fans and took pictures as well.

Not a great photo, but I can't complain since I asked a stranger to take it for me.

Scott signed my 1998 Official Rawlings World Series game baseball and inscribed it with 1998 WS MVP.

Overall, it was a good signing day thanks to MAB Celebrity Services for hosting a great event.