Many years ago, autograph collectors were content to carry an autograph book to events with the hope that they would encounter their favorite celebrities.  Many of those autograph books were filled with some of Hollywood’s greatest personalities.  They have since been torn apart and sold as individual items.

Years later, autograph books were replaced with index cards.  Autograph collectors would carry a certain quantity of index cards with the same hope.  That they would encounter…

Many years ago, I considered collecting the autographs of who I consider to be Gentlemen of Horror.  Many autograph collectors work on autograph projects that satisfy their interests.  Baseball fans collect the autographs of Hall of Famers.  Those who appreciate history collect the autographs of Presidents of the United States.  Fans of Hollywood collect the autographs of Oscar winners.  My list would not be as lengthy.  It would include only six names.

My plan was to begin with the…

Last month, I asked autograph collectors to consider some of the more obscure items that we request to have signed.  That got me thinking about baseballs.  It is becoming more common for autograph collectors to ask someone who is not a professional baseball player to autograph a baseball.  I have no idea why, but I am guilty of making more than one such purchase myself.

The first time that I noticed this practice was on a Bruce Springsteen autographed baseball.  I thought that it was…

I was attending ComiCONN at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut back in 2017 when I met Ron Perlman, one of Hollywood’s most famous tough guys.  Hellboy himself was appearing in person.  The line was long, and it was loaded with testosterone.  After a long wait, it was finally my turn to approach him.

Ron seemed like a decent man.  We exchanged pleasantries, and I immediately realized that my first impression of him was accurate.  I handed him my item, and I asked him to…