When I started getting autographs in Milwaukee in 1986, I used to go down to County Stadium hours before the game and wait for the Brewers to show up. I know that most of you can not afford to do that on a regular basis, but if you ever do, it is well worth it. There are not as many people waiting for autographs before a game, so you have a better chance of getting an item signed.

If you are inside the stadium, most teams will let fans wait next to either dugout during batting practice. Batting practice starts early, so get there as soon as the gates open. When I am face to face with a player, I try to never ask him to sign more than one item. This makes your odds of you getting his autograph better, while giving the other people there a chance to get autographs also.

Here is the key to any in-person autograph request: always , and I mean always, be polite! Call each player by name, (example: Mr. Grissom, can you please sign this card for me?) Even if he says "No", or says nothing at all, still be polite.

This strategy worked for me in my early days with Cecil Cooper. Mr. Cooper rarely signed, but I asked him each and every day that I saw him. I was polite each time. Then one day, towards the middle of the 1987 season, he stopped when I asked him and signed a card for me. I felt great!

The moral here is if you send out positive energy, eventually you will get a positive response.