The Hockey News: The Straight Edge: The Straight Edge: The lost art of autograph collecting

The Straight Edge: The lost art of autograph collecting

Andrew Cogliano, Sam Gagner and Ales Hemsky lean over the boards to watch the play against the Columbus Blue Jackets. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Ryan Kennedy
2008-12-05 13:49:00

By and large, hockey players are seen as some of the most humble and accommodating professional athletes around, which is why it’s so awkward to see some of the game’s stars getting snared in uncomfortable business deals lately.

You see, there are autographs and then there is the autograph industry. And the autograph industry is getting players in trouble.

Earlier this season, young Edmonton Oilers stars Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano were put in the odd situation of signing autographs at a memorabilia show without realizing their fans were getting charged $25 per signature for the honor. The two sophomores weren’t aware of the fee until they were actually at the show and by that time, they were caught in a catch-22: disappoint their fans by walking away or stay and give them the impression hockey players aren’t satisfied with the pay they get for their day jobs.

More recently, as reported by the excellent Vancouver Province-based Orland Kurtenblog a trio of Canucks had a similar run-in with the industry. Fortunately for Alexandre Burrows, Taylor Pyatt and Ryan Kesler, they were alerted to the steep fees the promoter planned to charge – $30 for a small item, $40 for a big one (and as a quick aside, why charge more for a stick than a puck? The signature is the same size, isn’t it?) – and excused themselves from the engagement before it happened.

The whole thing makes me feel uneasy. Like many kids, I was in awe of pro athletes when I saw them in person. Getting a face-to-face autograph from Wendel Clark or Felix Potvin was huge because I got to see them in person, three feet away from me. It’s the same for kids today when they wait outside the arena gates for Henrik Lundqvist or Corey Perry or any other star.

Those sorts of connections are what make sports intrinsic to the lives of many kids (not to mention grown-up fans) and to have that spoiled by third-party commoditization just seems so disappointing. As Burrows noted in an interview with the Province, he didn’t even think his autograph was worth $30 – he signs things for kids all the time after games and he does it for free. That’s the sort of attitude hockey is known for and it’s something to feel good about.

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Of course, there’re a lot of unscrupulous folk out there who will get autographs just to turn around and sell them at exorbitant prices and it’s not like the players can tell who these types are, so here’s the solution: personalize everything.

If there was anything even better than an autograph when I was a kid, it was an autograph that said “To Ryan, best wishes…” and then the signature. Of course, if I wanted to re-sell that glossy 8 X 10 photo now, I’d be hard-pressed to find anyone interested in buying it, despite the fact I have a very common first name.

And that’s how it should be. I was always suspicious of autographed merchandise for sale, because I didn’t see the player sign it himself. How do I know someone didn’t forge it? Trying to determine signature forensics is probably pretty tough when a Sharpie is involved. Game-worn jerseys are very popular now, but they have strict authenticating procedures to make sure no one gets ripped off.

If the NHL or a team like the Canucks or Oilers wants to sell player-autographed merchandise and donate the proceeds to charity (a common practice), that’s totally cool. But third parties that trade in ink without giving customers (ugh) the tangible reward of actually meeting one of their heroes seems like a pretty hollow enterprise and a rather sad comment on where some people’s priorities are.

Ryan Kennedy is a writer and copy editor for The Hockey News magazine, the co-author of the book Hockey's Young Guns and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears Mondays and Wednesdays, his column - The Straight Edge - every Friday, and his features, The Hot List and Prep Watch appears Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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COMMENTS (40)

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Matthew Sommers Posted
(2009-04-30 07:40:47)

When I was in fourth grade I was eating breakfast at the Golden Griddle across from the Old Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, and the New York Rangers came in. I had my NYR jersey on and got all of them to sign it. My idol was Mike Richter and he sat down with my parents and I and talked for a solid ten minutes. It was great

John Lane Posted
(2009-04-30 07:31:05)

I remember getting autographs from injured Hawks and visitng players from the old pres box att he Chicago Stadium...no more. The way to fix the autograph mess is simply not to buy them anymore. If the market dries up, then the scumbags will quit polluting it...

CoyotesFan4Ever Posted
(2009-04-30 07:27:50)

My son, my wife and I waited outside one night after a Coyotes home game, hoping to get a few autographs. The captain, Shane Doan (who just happens to be my son's favorite player), finally came out of the player lot around midnight. Of course he stopped (he actually got outta his truck), and must have talked with us for almost 30 minutes before getting home to his family. During the conversation, I asked him why he stopped and spent so much time with us. He said that he remembers being a kid himself, and what it felt like and meant to him to have his hockey idol stop and talk to him and sign something for him. So he's vowed to make that happen to his "biggest, little fans", and never wants a kid going away not getting something from him that takes so little time and effort to do. Now that is what I call a class act, and someone that all other hockey players should look up to.

jan Posted
(2009-04-30 07:27:39)

I live in a city that has an AHL team for many years. We have often invited players to visit our school for students with special needs, and the players have been very accommodating -- they'll answer every question, sign autographs for anyone who wanted one, etc. One player mentioned to me when he played in juniors in Canada that their coach taught the team that they should always be courteous to and respectful of their fans. It's nice to read about memories some of the bloggers have about getting that special autograph. It's one of those things that makes hockey the great sport that it is.

John C Posted
(2009-04-30 07:27:26)

Hi ! Since Im living outside Boston, the Bruins are my team and has been for over 40 years. I remember getting Wayne Cashmans autograph at Bradlees in 1972,(my all time favorite player,) and still have it. It was the 1st hockey autograph in my life and I was 12 at the time. It was a team picture and over the years have added 99 percent of the 1971-72 Stanley Cup Winners. Of course I had to go to Card Shows today and get them (With Bobby Orr I stood in line over 2 hours at a hardware store opening since he doesnt do shows and I got him to sign it, along with a hockey card,,he was great as usual with people) but ,,,ALL the Bruins were gracious, happy to see thier fans , and heck, even Cash signed my picture again even though he already did so long ago. I made a copy of the picture and its hanging in my cube. It really means a lot to me and my son knows how great hockey players are to thier fans, which makes them rate high in my sons book. No other sport is even close.

only one team in ny Posted
(2009-04-30 07:27:04)

I remember at a pre-game warm up for the Jets once bobby hull was going along signing for kids that were lined up along the glass and he came to me and he was surprised that I didn't want an autograph!! I told him I already had it at home. He laughed and gave me a big wink. Plus Anders Hedberg gave me his stick during the warm up.

Fan Posted
(2009-04-30 07:26:51)

My favourite team, the Red Wings were in town recently, as was the Capitals. Neither Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Franzen nor Ovechkin would sign. All either shrugged fans off saying, "I'll sign later" which didn't happen. As a fan who collects the stuff and doesn't do it for business reasons, I can't help but think it's the industry that is ruining autographs and making the players cynical when it comes to us, the real fans. It also gives you a new appreciation for a guy like Jarome Iginla who never, ever refuses to sign. Even when he's in a hurry I've seen him smile and just say 'hey guys, I'm in a hurry today.' Now that's a true superstar.

Kenny Posted
(2009-04-30 07:26:51)

Last summer, after the Ducks' Stanley Cup celebration at Honda center, there were probably two-three hundred fans waiting for the team to come out. Now does anyone think Kobe Bryant, or Derek Jeter would have the patience to sit there and sign hundreds of autographs? Probably not. But I swear J.S. Giguere, Andy McDonald, Brad May, Rob Niedermayer, and two or three others went around and signed half of the crowd's stuff. The other half just wanted to congratulate and thank the players for a great season. Now that said, it does make me a little upset that some of those people turned around and sold their newly signed gear. Also, when I go to a game, I see dozens of fans with jerseys covered in ink, wearing them like they are badges of honor. I don't see that much at baseball games.

Carrie Posted
(2009-04-30 07:26:50)

I will have to say hockey players seem to be the most genuine and approachable of all professional athletes. At every Stars practice I've been to, most players come out, chat with fans, sign autographs, and take pictures. Even the ones who don't speak English as a first language make every effort to talk with fans. It's wonderful to root for teams and athletes who have such a commitment to their fans and the game and who carry themselves with class.

Ed Fulford Posted
(2009-04-30 07:26:43)

when i was younger me and my dad went to a ranger game, after the game we were standing outside to get autographs when my dad pulled me and said lets go, we walk across the street and we were following a guy, my dad yelled hey steve, the guy didnt turn around, as soon as he said hey steve, for the kid he turned right around, steve larmer signed i believe a puck, over the years ive gotten plenty of autographs, larmer, shane churla, glenn healy, peter popovic, dan cloutier, Niklas Sundstrom, Roenick(great guy, after a ranger-flyer game he came out to sign autographs, really a great people person) at a game the year the rangers won the cup i was 6 and eddie olcyzk was out with a thumb injury, i told him hope is thumb feels better, the following year after the lockout me and my dad were standing behind the bench watching warmups and eddie was stretching out, he looked up into the crowd, looked down, looked up again, bent down picked up a puck and pointed directly to me, my dad pointed to me and eddie shook his head yes, he then proceeded to throw up a puck to me, and i always remember that bc that was really cool....