I've had this card since the age of 12. Never had the opportunity until now to get his RC signed. Thanks Matt for making this happen!!
George Brett Autograph Signing: Tips, Fixes, and Fun Stories
Spring training in Phoenix is one of the most fun places to be if you love sports memorabilia. The weather’s great, the player access is strong, and you can knock out a lot of baseball autos in a short window.
Today was one of those days.
We got a bunch of names done—Tim Raines, Steve Stone, and others—but the two headliners for me were George Brett and Rollie Fingers. And along the way, we had a couple collector lessons that are worth sharing (including a paint pen smudge that we caught in real time).
The One Signing Rule I Never Break: No Drinks on the Table
My rule of thumb at every signing is simple:
Liquids go on the floor. Nothing on the table.
I learned that early—because at one of my first signings my mom knocked over a drink and it soaked about 25 photos. It wasn’t the end of the world, but it was enough to make that a permanent rule.
So when George Brett put his drink on the table… I’m not going to tell an athlete what to do, but I’m absolutely watching that cup like it’s a live grenade. Luckily, it stayed far enough away and everything worked out.
George Brett Autograph Signing Recap
George Brett isn’t a slow, talk-all-day signer. He’s there to work.
And when you’ve got a lot of pieces, that’s a good thing.
Boom, boom, boom—items moved fast, and the overall results came out great. Jerseys looked sharp, helmets looked clean, and we had a couple standout items that collectors are going to love.
The Paint Pen Smudge We Fixed Instantly
One item was a batting helmet with:
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a signature on the bill
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plus two inscriptions on either side of the logo
What should happen with paint pen is you sign in an order that reduces the chance of the athlete’s hand touching fresh ink. In hindsight, the best sequence would’ve been left inscription → signature → right inscription.
But George signed first, then did one side, then shifted the helmet and—like clockwork—his hand got too close to fresh paint pen.
Result: smudge.
Good news: paint pen on helmets is usually fixable. We cleaned the affected part, had him redo the numbers, and the helmet now looks really sharp. If that was your item—yes, it was corrected.
Collector Tip: How to Prevent Smudges at Signings
If you’re getting paint pen on anything glossy (helmets, chrome items, some posters), the best method is:
Have the athlete sign and don’t let them handle the item afterward.
Especially with cards. Athletes will pick them up, slide them, stack them—everything that can cause a smudge or corner damage.
The smoother the handoff, the better the final result.
A Standout Piece: Brett + Mahomes Custom Helmet
One of the coolest items today was a custom chrome helmet:
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Mahomes artwork/logo on one side
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Royals logo on the other
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and we had George Brett sign that side in white paint pen
That one came out clean. No smears, no thumbprints, and the white popped perfectly.
My New Favorite Paint Pen for Jerseys
I’ve been testing a lot of pens lately, and one that’s been impressing me is the Pilot paint pen (noxylene version).
It’s bold, dries fast, and doesn’t “blob” the way some paint pens do when the athlete pauses too long.
We used it on a bunch of Brett jerseys that needed black, and I was really happy with how those turned out.
Rollie Fingers: The Inscription Debate
Rollie was in a good mood today—and he had one moment that made me laugh.
A customer had an A’s mini helmet with a request for an inscription:
“81 AL MVP”
Rollie immediately stopped me and said (paraphrasing):
“I won that, but I wasn’t even on the A’s then. Are you sure?”
That’s one thing I actually respect: when an athlete cares enough to notice what they’re writing.
We tried calling the customer—no answer—so Rollie suggested the inscription that actually matches his A’s legacy:
“74 World Series MVP”
So that’s what we did. If the customer wants to change it later, we can cross that bridge—but Rollie wasn’t wrong. The 74 World Series MVP is the one that makes sense for A’s gear.
Rollie Fingers Is a Card Guy (and He Pulled a Monster)
Another funny moment: Rollie is a full-on box opener. He was talking about buying a box for around $200 and pulling a 1/1 auto (he mentioned Yamamoto), then getting offered $24,000 for it.
He turned it down… and said it already came back from grading as a PSA 10.
Rollie was absolutely fired up about it—and honestly, it’s cool seeing athletes enjoy the hobby from the collector side too.
Phoenix Extras: Lifetime Fitness and True Food
Phoenix has two things that feel way easier to find here than back home:
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High-end fitness options
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healthy restaurants that actually taste good
I almost paid for a day pass at Lifetime Fitness (the quoted price kept climbing—$60, then $75), and after joking with the front desk, the guy surprised me and comped it.
Great experience, super cool staff.
And food-wise, I found True Food Kitchen—no seed oils, organic options, grass-fed burger, sourdough pizza, and a dessert lineup that didn’t wreck me afterward like typical travel food does.
If there’s one in Kansas City, I’m taking the family.
Final Thoughts
Today was a reminder of why Phoenix spring training is such a fun stop for autograph work:
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strong player lineup
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fast signings
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great results when you manage paint pens properly
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and occasional moments where the athlete adds value just by caring about the details
We’ve got McGwire tomorrow, plus more spring training work coming up.
Visit: powerssportsmemorabilia.com
Follow: @PowersAutographs
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Davis
April 14, 2026
Hi, just wanted to clarify — when you mention the Pilot paint pen (noxylene version), are you referring to a true paint marker (oil-based/opaque ink), or the standard Pilot Super Color permanent marker (solvent-based, typically chisel tip)?
I ask because I’m seeing “Super Color” used for both, and most black versions appear to be permanent markers rather than paint markers.
Also, just to confirm — is the noxylene version you’re using the broad chisel tip format? From what I’ve seen, the noxylene versions seem to mainly come in chisel tip, whereas the older xylene-based versions are often available in broad bullet tip.
If that’s the case, do you find there is any meaningful difference in performance between:
• the noxylene chisel tip
• and the xylene-based broad bullet tip
Specifically in terms of:
• ink flow/control (especially at the start of strokes)
• drying time
• adhesion on slick surfaces
Lastly, how does the noxylene version perform on slick, screen-printed numbers (like modern soccer jerseys)?
Any issues with smudging, pooling, or the ink sitting on top of the surface compared to other paint pens?
I’m planning for a live signing environment, so drying time and smudge resistance are a big factor.