Albert Pujols signing in Kansas City (early Feb)

[greatsacman]

any word on if they will do 16x20's?

 

[wevegotbaseballs]

Pujols at Millhouse

Just some info for anyone planning on getting Pujols at the Millhouse signing. Maybe some members on the board can tell me if I was out of line or not. I will cut and paste what I asked Millhouse and their responses to each.

Q Have you confirmed the February 7th date yet? Also, I was wondering if I will
be able to get my items signed in blue ink with my own pen? I heard there
might have been some problems last year with Albert using black ink.

A
Brian,
Problems??? We do this for the kids not for people to go and resale his
autograph. Blue or balck ink...????

Q I understand and I don't sell any of my items but if I am paying $155 per
signature I want my item signed in blue ink because as if you ask any collector
they will tell you black ink ''fades'' or gets a yellow
''tint'' over time. I am driving four hours one way and staying
the night at a hotel and this trip is going to be quite expensive so I just
wanted to make sure I can get my two baseballs signed in blue ink. Please let
me know. You say you do this for the kids yet the autos are $155 each? My 11
year old does not have that kind of money anyway. I don't think most kids
do. Please advise whether this will be possible or not.

A the photos are included in the clinic
there is no extra fee for the photo on top of the clinic
so the kids get an autograph which you know how much they are worth and to get to do a hitting clinic with albert doing all the teaching
I would have to say that this is for the kids and obviously if you are going to drive 4 hours and spend night in hotel you know how much his signature is worth
the kids are gettting much much more than the parents are paying for and we could charge 3-4 times this amount and have no problem getting it
Dont waste your time coming down for this event as we will not accomodate you and your blue ink request
Chris Mihlfeld

I didn't even ask about the photos opps or the hitting clinic portion?
I guess they won't let you get anything signed in blue ink!
I guess I won't be going now!

 

[ringer]

Why will he not sign bats or jerseys you think?

He's been like this at Cardinals Winter-Warm ups and other events. He's "picky" that way. Also in Spring Training when he's headed off the field he'll stop and sign. I've seen him do this many times and he often passes up those premium items and signs stuff like posters, tickets stubs, etc.

 

[ringer]

A
Brian,
Problems??? We do this for the kids not for people to go and resale his
autograph. Blue or balck ink...????

I certainly don't think you were out of line. You were polite and his response (as I've highlighted above) shows he doesn't really know what he is doing. As you said... it's common knowledge that black fades. I don't think you were out of line at all.

 

[wevegotbaseballs]

ringer,
thanks for your response!

 

[ringer]

I just reread his response..."We do this for the kids." Yep, $155 that's a kids weekly allowance these days isn't it?

 

[TriplePlayAutos]

I totally agree with you guys, the person who answered your questions was a jerk. I do, however, think I see what he/she was getting at.

To me it sounds like Albert is doing a hitting clinic for kids. Parents are paying, lets say $200, for their kids to participate in this clinic. As a part of the clinic and the $200, he will sign a photo of himself for each kid that participates in black (because the kids will not care black vs. blue and it eliminates the value of selling it in case a parent or someone wanted to). In addition to this little clinic and autograph session for the kids, jhawkfan79 has made contact with the group running the clinic and Pujols has agreed to sign some items for jhawkhan79 at $155 each (but like Albert normally does, he will only sign these items in black).

So all in all, I do not think this event is supposed to be an open autograph session. I think jhawkfan79 was able to get in somehow and was asking if anyone else would want a graph from Albert.

I am not sure if I am right, but this is what it seems like to me.

 

[TriplePlayAutos]

Okay I was actually slightly off with my narration there. The clinic is $155 per kid and includes a signed photo, shirt, and the lesson (this is where the it is really for the kids part they are talking about comes in). Albert is also signing for the public afterward, the part which jhawkfan79 is going to and was asking if anyone would want something for him to take with him.

So I guess Albert just does not want to sign in black of value reasons, even though it frustrates us collectors.

 

[msd1172]

The public autograph signing is schedueld to take place after the hitting clinic.

My feeling is, for $155 at the public signing he should sign whatever you present him with in your choice of pen as long as the items meet his preset limitations, eg. no bats, no jerseys.

So if you have a baseball or photo and want it signed in blue then it shouldn't be a problem as the website does not state "All signatures will be signed in black ink per Albert Pujols".

Here's the thing, Albert obviously knows the value of his signature, if he really doesn't want to sign even low tier items like flats and balls in the color ink you want then why sign at all? If it's really for the kids then just sign their photos which will probably get chucked in their closet or dresser drawer and completely forgo his "more then generous" offer of signing people's items at a public signing for $155.

 

[uniquegraphs]

I would be interested in making the trip for a couple 16x20's in blue sharpie, but it seems that would be impossible--both in getting a large item done and getting Albert to sign in blue.