The Stories

Pope Francis

The Pope is one of the toughest signatures on the planet to acquire. I tried very hard for many years to get Pope Benedict to sign a baseball for my collection. The results were never positive. Then one day it dawned on me. Let me try and get all the leading Papal candidates (Cardinals and such) to each sign a baseball for my collection in the hopes that they would someday be elected as the […]

Nelson Mandela

Back in 1999 – I jokingly said to my dear friend Congressman Greg Meeks (D-NY) that if he ever got a chance to take a Congressional junket over to South Africa – it would mean the world to me if you could ask Nelson Mandela to sign a baseball for my collection of signed baseballs from world leaders, which was in its infancy at the time. I had given him a few baseballs to keep […]

Mikhail Gorbachev

Back in October of 1996, shortly after I started collecting in person signed baseballs from world leaders, former Secretary General of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev published his memoirs. As part of his agreement with his publisher, Gorbachev held two book signings in the United States; his first stop was in New York at the Barnes and Noble Booksellers on Fifth Avenue. It was the first book signing I had ever attended with a dignitary of […]

Bill Clinton (Bat and Ball)

I have had the opportunity to meet President Clinton numerous times since I started collecting back in the 1990’s. The first time was in 1996 when he spoke before our trade association at a meeting in Washington, D.C. He was very generous with his time and his pen back then. I remember telling my associates at the meeting that it was my first time meeting a sitting President and I was very impressed with his [...]

Barack Obama (Baseball Bat)

Since obtaining a signed baseball bat from President Clinton – I have been able to acquire signed bats from the (3) other former living Presidents (Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush. Now the conundrum of how to get the current President, Barack Obama to sign a bat for this special niche in my collection. In the summer of 2013 – I attended a fundraiser for then Congressman Tim Bishop in the […]

Barack Obama (Baseball)

In May of 2006, I was on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. preparing to go to Senator Clinton’s office for a meeting with some of my peers. While we were outside the building – Senator Clinton walked by, said hello and that she would see us in a few minutes in her office. Moments later out comes the junior Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama. Before he could say a word – I pulled out my […]

Enrique Peña Nieto – President of Mexico

Recently I was able to get Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to sign a baseball for my collection of signed baseballs from world leaders and heads of state. His signature is very hard to acquire as he does not like to sign autographs but through a lot of perseverance with his inner circle – I was able to convince him to sign a baseball for my collection. He also sent me a photo (via email) [...]

(2) Former Filipino Presidents Joseph Estrada & Fidel Ramos

One thing I have learned over the past few decades of collecting signed baseballs from world leaders and heads of state is that almost everyone knows someone who can potentially help you get the signatures that you desire. One of my mottos in life is always talk about what it is you are passionate about and success will come. Life is all about creating and fostering relationships.Last year at a neighborhood park with my sons [...]

Hamid Karzai

As a government affairs specialist I am afforded many fantastic autograph opportunities that I never take for granted. Whether it be an in person encounter or I obtain a desired signature through the help of a top government official – I am always grateful. Sometimes it is not my vocation that helps me but just plain old fashion planning and positive thoughts that produce incredible results. Back in the early 1990’s I began documenting my [...]

Newly Elected Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen

Tsai Ing-Wen Was Just Elected The First Woman President of Taiwan in a Landslide Victory. Special Thanks to My Dear Friend Stephen Kraly Who was able to get her to Sign a Baseball for my Collection Last Year While She was Visiting Washington, D.C. We Knew She Was Going to be the Next President of Taiwan.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte signed a ball for my collection in Dec 2017 during a Rizal Day celebration in the Philippines.

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara signing a baseball for my collection during the United Nations General Assembly in NYC in 2017. The expose was filmed for an HBO Vice News segment which aired in Sept 2017.

Bahamas Prime Ministers Perry Christie, Hubert Ingraham and Hubert Minnis

Bahamas Prime Ministers Perry Christie, Hubert Ingraham and Hubert MinnisBahamas August 2017A dream day in August 2017 in the Bahamas for this autograph collector as current Prime Minister Hubert Minnis and former Prime Ministers Perry Christie and Hubert Ingraham all signed baseballs for my collection. We hired a driver to escort us throughout Paradise Island and New Providence for the day. Prime Minister Christie was a true gentleman and we finally connected at a local [...]