Phillies Spring Training Secrets: Top 10 Ways To Get Autographs

February 24, 2011

Spring Training is the best time to add to your autograph collection.  The atmosphere is laid back, everyone is relaxed and enjoying themselves and you can find many unique, up-close opportunities with the players.

If you are lucky enough to be in Clearwater, Florida from mid February to late March, chances are good that you will get some autographs.  But to make it easier, you will need to know a few autograph-hunting secrets specific to the Clearwater area.

From specific locations to proven methods, the following is a list of the top 10 ways to get Phillies’ autographs at Spring Training.

#1: Be Prepared

Before heading off to Clearwater, think about what you would like signed and by whom.  Also consider the size, weight and practicality of these items before stuffing your suitcase.  Bats and other large items are heavy and difficult to pack, especially if you are flying.  Balls, photos and small figurines are fairly simple.

Also remember that players generally do not carry around Sharpies or ball-point pens.  Bring your own in a variety of colors.

Once you have a plan, be ready to execute that plan in a matter of seconds.  Players will not stand around and wait for you to find what you want signed or to search for a pen.  Try to carry all items on your person in a convenient place.

For example, I hand sewed the bag in the photo and designed it specifically for 5×7 photos and Sharpies.  Inside the bag are hard, plastic photo holders that are open at the top to easily remove a photo.  Each photo is labeled with a name tag for easy identification and removal from the bag.

I also sewed in pockets to hold pens and markers.  The long shoulder strap I added keeps it close to me at all times and my hands are free to do other things while I wait for an autograph opportunity.

While not everyone is super crafty or good with a sewing machine, this just gives you an idea of what to think about when getting prepared for autographs.

#2: Practice, Practice, Practice

Get to Clearwater early, before the games begin, and attend as many practice sessions as you can.  Practice is held at the Carpenter Complex next door to Bright House Field and usually starts around 9:00am and ends somewhere between 12:00pm and 1:00pm, weather permitting.

Practices are free and open to the public.  There are four outdoor baseball fields arranged in a box pattern and the bleachers in between are for fans to sit and watch.  Usually, all fields are in use at once and players may hop between fields to work on different skills or with different staff and players.

Place yourself in one of the areas in between two of the fields where the players will pass by.  If they are not busy, they may stop and sign.  There is usually a short fence to keep you out of their area, but the players can walk right up to the fence and sign.

There are food vendors and restrooms for fans to use at this facility, so stay as long as you like.  Sometimes, right as practice ends and the team heads inside, a player will walk over to the fans who still remain and sign for a few minutes.  So staying late can pay off as well.

#3: The Early Bird Gets The Worm

At this same Carpenter Complex, there are opportunities to get autographs outside of scheduled practice and game times.  If you are an early bird, this lesser-known secret is the one for you.

Players will arrive to the facility on a practice or game day very early.  Most arrive between 5:30am and 7:30am on practice days.  On game days, the time will vary depending on the game schedule.

There is a tall, black metal fence that surrounds the complex and secures the player parking area.  Many players walk right past this fence after parking to head inside and prepare for the day.

Stand right up against this fence and wait.  You can stand on either the side nearest the practice fields by the fan parking lot or on the other side, nearer to Bright House Field.  If a player walks by, ask for an autograph. 

The photo to the left shows former Phillie Lou Marson signing at the fence.

#4: Persistence Pays

This same method as in the previous slide works after practice or games as well.  Although, this requires a lot of patience.  Most players do not leave to go home right away and some stay very late to either eat, receive injury treatments or get extra practice time.  Most have gone home by 4:00pm.

Also keep in mind that the bigger name players usually park in the back of the building.  You can see them drive by, but they are not likely to stop at the fence.

If you are at the fence early in the morning, make note of which players park on which side.  Then when you stay after practice, you have a better idea of who will be walking past you and on which side of the fence.

#5: Get Them While They’re Young

Just because a player is not a super star yet, does not mean he will not be someday down the road. Getting autographs from lesser known and younger players can pay off in the long run.

Plus, most minor league players are actually excited to sign for you.  Because not many people ask for their autographs, not only will most of them sign, many will hang around and chat with you as well.

Minor league players, many of whom are star-struck at playing with the big boys, are full of fun and interesting information.  You never know what you might find out.  I will let you use your imagination on that one.

#6: Do Your Homework

While the younger players are easier to get autographs from, some can be shy and slightly more reclusive.  In those cases, it pays to do your homework and figure out who is who so you can call them by name.

I once had a minor league player tell me, “I will sign that ball and give you my practice bat if you can tell me what my name is.” I did tell him his name and he did sign the ball.  Sadly, I could not coax the bat out of his hand.  I assume he thought there was no way I knew who he was.

Another time, I called a player by name and he literally came running over, telling me how excited he was that I knew his name.  He then spent the next fifteen minutes talking my ear off about his day at practice.

While he chatted, other players came over to see what was happening and I got three more autographs.  It was a chain reaction.

So do yourself a favor and look up names and photos of players who will be at Spring Training before you go.  Carry their photos with you if necessary and go get some autographs.

#7: Game Time

Regular practices in Clearwater end when the games begin.  If you do not arrive in time to attend a practice, you can still get autographs at the games.

The first thing you need to know is that the “home” side of the ballpark in Clearwater is the third base side. This is the opposite of the ballpark in Philly.

When purchasing game tickets, the best seats for getting autographs are sections 120, 119 and 118. These are along the left field wall where the players enter the field to head for the dugout.  You can get autographs as they walk past.

You can also stand in these sections before the game starts and try your luck.  However, about an hour before the games starts, the ushers will check tickets and toss you out off that section unless you have a ticket for the area.

If you get tossed out before the players walk by, you are out of luck.  The best way to ensure a shot at an autograph here is to buy a ticket for one of those sections.

#8: Keep Your Eyes Peeled

While in Clearwater, you may run into players in odd places like the local mall, bars or restaurants.  Carry supplies with you everywhere you go, just in case.

The same is true while the team is on road trips in the regular season.  I once ran smack into Jayson Werth on the street in San Francisco in a shopping district.

Wherever you go, keep your eyes peeled for wandering players.  Just remember to be courteous and not interrupt them while they have a mouthful of food or appear to be otherwise engaged.

#9: Sugar and Spice Isn’t All That’s Nice

The following is a rule I see people break all the time.  Do not be rude and obnoxious when attempting to get an autograph.

This does not only include being courteous to the players, but to fellow fans as well.  If someone got to the front of the line or fence ahead of you, do not try to push your way to the front.  Wait your turn and be respectful.

Once at the Blue Jays stadium in Dunedin, Florida, I stood up against the left field fence for two hours waiting for the team to come out and warm up.  When they finally did, a few players came to the fence to sign.

Some woman behind me who had just arrived was literally trying to climb up my back to get at the player.  As he was signing my item, the same woman bashed me in the head trying to thrust a baseball at the player.

The player saw what happened and asked me if I was alright.  He then shook his head disapprovingly at the rude woman and walked away without signing anything for her.

You can be sure that player will remember that and avoid her again in the future.  Do not be that person.

Help your fellow fans instead.  Had the woman been respectful, I would gladly have helped her get the autograph by either stepping aside or handing the ball over for her if she could not reach.  As a general rule, just be kind.

#10: Make New Friends

You never know who might help you get your next autograph.  Talk to other fans, make friends with the ushers at the ballpark and chat with the locals.

One of those people may have information you do not.  One of those people may be able to assist you if, for instance, you cannot get to the front of a line and they are willing to hand your item to a player to get signed.

Ushers especially are fun to talk to and they are usually bored as well.  I have had ushers give me foul balls, tell me great stories and once, I even got a signed baseball card.  He said it was an extra and wanted me to have it.

I have even had other fans hand me things for free as thanks for information I provided them with or just to be nice.  One time, Charlie Manuel came over to a group of fans I was with but I had forgotten my pictures in the car that I was using for autographs.  Another fan said he had plenty and gave me one of his photos to use.

I have made friends and kept in contact with many people I met at Spring Training.  So while the autographs are nice, making new friends that share your love for baseball is even better.

 

Good luck and have fun!

 

Photos by Jenn Zambri Photography

*Read more about the Phillies at my other home page, Phightin’ Phils Phorum in the My Team Rivals network*

 

Written by Phillies Phollowers Posted in Dailies Tagged with autographs, baseball, Charlie Manuel, Clearwater, Florida, MLB, Phillies, Spring Training