Garrett Stephenson

I met him at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 1997.

Garrett signed a 1996 Fleer Excel card #8.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stephga01.shtml

Ryan Karp

I met him at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 1997.

Ryan signed a 1994 Fleer Excel card #108.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/karpry01.shtml

Matt Buckles

I met him at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 1997.

Matt signed a 1995 Martinsville Phillies Team Set card.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=buckle002mat

Ken Westray

I met him at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 1997.

Ken signed a 1994 Classic Batavia Clippers Team Set card #29.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=westra001ken

Ken Oberkfell

I met him at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 1997.

Ken signed a 1984 Topps card #102.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/oberkke01.shtml

Douglas Aguiar

I met him at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 1997.

Douglas signed a 1995 Martinsville Phillies Team Set card.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=aguiar001dou

Scott Hatteberg

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1997, when the Boston Red Sox came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Scott signed a 1993 Classic Best card #7.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hattesc01.shtml

Pat Mahomes

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1997, when the Boston Red Sox came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Pat signed a 1993 Upper Deck card #SR16.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mahompa01.shtml

Arquimedez Pozo

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1997, when the Boston Red Sox came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Arquimedez signed a 1994 Classic card #198.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pozoar01.shtml

Bo Dodson

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1997, when the Boston Red Sox came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Bo signed a 1992 Upper Deck Minor League card #311.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=dodson001bry

Randy Brown

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1997, when the Boston Red Sox came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Randy signed a 1991 Classic Best card #131.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=brown-004ran

Tim Naehring

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1997, when the Boston Red Sox came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Tim signed a 1991 Classic Baseball card #T20.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/naehrti01.shtml

Al Osuna

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1997, when the Boston Red Sox came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Al signed a 1992 Fleer Ultra card #207.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/osunaal01.shtml

Johnny Ruffin

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1997, when the Boston Red Sox came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Johnny signed a 1991 Classic Best card #95.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ruffijo01.shtml

Vaughn Eshelman

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1997, when the Boston Red Sox came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Vaughn signed a 1992 Stadium Club Dome card #44.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/eshelva01.shtml

Darren Bragg

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1997, when the Boston Red Sox came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Darren signed a 1993 Fleer Excel card #221.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/braggda01.shtml

Mo Vaughn

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1997, when the Boston Red Sox came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Mo signed a 1992 Leaf card #103.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vaughmo01.shtml

Jimy Williams

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1997, when the Boston Red Sox, whom he was managing, came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Jimy signed a 1987 Topps card #786.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/williji03.shtml

John Cumberland

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1997, when the Boston Red Sox, whom he was the pitching coach for, came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

John signed a 1986 ProCards Tidewater Tides Team Set card.
This is an error card that was later corrected. Instead of showing the Tidewater Tides logo, it has the NY Mets logo.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cumbejo01.shtml

Luis Andujar

I met him at a Minor League spring training game at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 1997, when the Toronto Blue Jays came to play the Philadelphia Phillies.

Luis signed a 1994 Fleer Excel card #33.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/andujlu01.shtml

Darrell Whitmore

I met him at a Minor League spring training game at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 1997, when the Toronto Blue Jays came to play the Philadelphia Phillies.

Darrell signed a 1993 Classic Best card #268.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/whitmda02.shtml

Woody Williams

I met him at a Minor League spring training game at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 1997, when the Toronto Blue Jays came to play the Philadelphia Phillies.

Woody signed a 1995 Topps card #299.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/williwo02.shtml

Larry Bird

I met him at a celebrity golf tournament at Lansbrook Golf Course in Palm Harbor, Florida in 1997.

After collecting autographs in the same spot for several years at this golf course (on a public sidewalk by the 17th hole), this particular day I was hassled by golf course employees and the police.

Larry Bird was the host of this tournament, so I went to my usual spot hoping to get some autographs. Keep in mind, I'm all by myself, there were no other autograph seekers around. After waiting for a while, employees came over to me asking me to leave. I explained that I wasn't on their property and that I was always quiet and respectful to the golfers. Shortly after they left, a police car pulled up and the officer called me over to him. He asked what I was doing, and I told him that I was trying to get some autographs and that I had been doing it for years in this same spot. He asks to see my binder and he sees a baseball card of Reggie Jackson and an 8x10 photo of Larry Bird. He then seemed surprised that they were golfing there. He hands me back my binder and tells me that the employees wanted me removed but then agrees that since I'm on public property, he can't do anything.

Minutes later, employees come back to where I'm standing as I see Reggie Jackson approaching, about to tee off at the 17th hole. Reggie and his group take their swings, then drive their carts over by me and proceed to finish the hole. I always wait for the golfers to finish the hole before approaching them. I noticed the employees stood directly in front of me when Reggie finished as if to make a wall between him and me. I didn't let that stop me, so I called out to him, "Mr. Jackson?" As I'm walking, the employees are also moving, attempting to shield me. Reggie replies back, "Yes" and I ask him for an autograph. He then tells the employees to let me through and says "Sure, come on over." I thanked him and explained all the troubles I had gone through that day. He sees my Larry Bird photo and tells me Larry had an injured back and wasn't able to play golf that day but instead, he was spending the entire day at the 9th hole, teeing off with everyone as they came through. Reggie then offered to take me to the 9th hole but I'd have to sit with him as he finished his day of golf first. Of course, I jumped at that opportunity.

I was fortunate to get pictures that day, too. Hank Webb, whom I met at the same course years earlier, had a camera and offered to take pictures for me. A few weeks later at a Clearwater Phillies game, I saw Hank in attendance. He happened to have the developed pictures on him and gave them to me.

Larry signed an 8x10 photo.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/birdla01.html

Reggie Jackson

I met him at a celebrity golf tournament at Lansbrook Golf Course in Palm Harbor, Florida in 1997.

After collecting autographs in the same spot for several years at this golf course (on a public sidewalk by the 17th hole), this particular day I was hassled by golf course employees and the police.

Larry Bird was the host of this tournament, so I went to my usual spot hoping to get some autographs. Keep in mind, I'm all by myself, there were no other autograph seekers around. After waiting for a while, employees came over to me asking me to leave. I explained that I wasn't on their property and that I was always quiet and respectful to the golfers. Shortly after they left, a police car pulled up and the officer called me over to him. He asked what I was doing, and I told him that I was trying to get some autographs and that I had been doing it for years in this same spot. He asks to see my binder and he sees a baseball card of Reggie Jackson and an 8x10 photo of Larry Bird. He then seemed surprised that they were golfing there. He hands me back my binder and tells me that the employees wanted me removed but then agrees that since I'm on public property, he can't do anything.

Minutes later, employees come back to where I'm standing as I see Reggie approaching, about to tee off at the 17th hole. Reggie and his group take their swings, then drive their carts over by me and proceed to finish the hole. I always wait for the golfers to finish the hole before approaching them. I noticed the employees stood directly in front of me when Reggie finished as if to make a wall between him and me. I didn't let that stop me, so I called out to him, "Mr. Jackson?" As I'm walking, the employees are also moving, attempting to shield me. Reggie replies back, "Yes" and I ask him for an autograph. He then tells the employees to let me through and says "Sure, come on over." I thanked him and explained all the troubles I had gone through that day. He sees my Larry Bird photo and tells me Larry had an injured back and wasn't able to play golf that day but instead, he was spending the entire day at the 9th hole, teeing off with everyone as they came through. Reggie then offered to take me to the 9th hole but I'd have to sit with him as he finished his day of golf first. Of course, I jumped at that opportunity.

I was fortunate to get pictures that day, too. Hank Webb, whom I met at the same course years earlier, had a camera and offered to take pictures for me. A few weeks later at a Clearwater Phillies game, I saw Hank in attendance. He happened to have the developed pictures on him and gave them to me.

I included a picture of where I stood for autographs to better visualize this story.

Photo courtesy of Google Maps

I would stand on the sidewalk between that green box and the tall pole on the right of the picture. The golfers would park their carts on the opposite side of those bushes. I would try and get them to sign right there when they finished, or catch them as they crossed the street (you can see a golf cart crossing path at the top of the picture). That road is actually the entrance to a residential neighborhood, so I never once stood on golf course property.

Reggie signed a 1984 Topps card #100.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jacksre01.shtml

Darren Burton

I met him at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 1997.

Darren signed a 1994 Classic card #48.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=burton001dar

Derrick May

I met him at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 1997.

Derrick signed a 1993 Upper Deck card #248.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mayde01.shtml

Rico Brogna

I met him at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 1997.

Rico signed a 1993 Donruss card #41.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brognri01.shtml

Matt Beech

I met him at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 1997.

Matt signed a 1995 Fleer Pro Cards card #208.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/beechma01.shtml

Courtney Hawkins

I met him at a celebrity golf tournament at Lansbrook Golf Course in Palm Harbor, Florida in 1997.

Courtney signed a 1994 Fleer Football card #454.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HawkCo00.htm

Mel Stottlemyre, Jr.

I met him at a celebrity golf tournament at Lansbrook Golf Course in Palm Harbor, Florida in 1997.

I met his brother, Todd, several years prior at the same course.

Mel signed a 1991 Donruss card #257.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stottme02.shtml