After being involved in autograph signings for years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the biggest names in sports.

People often ask what athletes are actually like during private autograph signings.

Are they friendly?

Do they take their time?

Do they care how the autograph looks?

Do they interact with the people working the signing?

The answer varies tremendously from athlete to athlete.

Some of my favorite signing experiences have been with athletes who produce beautiful autographs and take great care of collectors’ items.

Others make the list because of their personalities or because something memorable happened during the signing.

So I thought it would be fun to put together my 10 favorite athletes to work with at autograph signings.

This isn't a ranking of the greatest athletes I've worked with, and they're really in no particular order.

It's simply a list of 10 athletes who have created some of my favorite experiences from years in the autograph business.

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1. Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry is one of the biggest athletes of his generation, which is exactly what makes working with him so interesting.

An athlete with his accomplishments and popularity certainly doesn't need to do autograph signings.

Yet Curry has always been incredibly personable in our experiences.

He's friendly, willing to have a conversation, takes photos and, most importantly from our perspective, genuinely seems to care about how the items turn out.

That's a big deal.

When you're handling expensive memorabilia for customers, you want an athlete who understands that the item they're signing means something to the collector.

Curry also gets some incredible items sent in for his signings.

We'll see high-end cards, Kabooms, multi-signed pieces that need Curry added to them and other extremely valuable collectibles.

That makes his signings exciting, but it also raises the stakes.

Knowing that Curry takes the process seriously makes working with him that much better.

He's also known for signing for fans at games, which is pretty remarkable considering his stature in the sport.

There aren't many athletes at his level who still seem to enjoy interacting with collectors and fans as much as he does.

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2. Barry Sanders

If I were designing the perfect athlete for an autograph signing, Barry Sanders would be pretty close to it.

Barry checks virtually every box.

He has a great autograph.

His inscriptions are legible.

He takes his time.

He understands how memorabilia should be signed.

And he actually asks questions about how you want the item completed.

For example, he might ask whether you want an inscription stacked or where you want the autograph placed.

That might sound like a small thing, but it's incredibly valuable when you're responsible for someone else's memorabilia.

You don't have to explain every little detail to him.

He understands the process.

Barry is also incredibly easy to talk to.

You can ask him about golf or whatever else comes up and have a normal conversation while he's signing.

When Barry gets to our section at a signing, there's a sense of relief because I know the customers' items are going to be taken care of.

For someone who is arguably one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, he's incredibly down to earth.

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3. Reggie Jackson

Reggie Jackson might surprise some people on this list, but I've always enjoyed working with him.

One reason is that we've had a great experience working with his agent, Ryan.

If we've ever had an issue with an inscription or needed to correct something, they've been very accommodating.

That matters tremendously in this business.

Reggie himself knows exactly what he's doing around memorabilia.

He takes his time.

He knows where to sign.

His handwriting looks good.

And he wants the finished item to look right.

He's also good for the occasional one-liner.

I've heard a few over the years that I definitely can't repeat here, but they're hilarious and very much classic Reggie Jackson.

Ultimately, what I appreciate most is knowing that our customers' items are in good hands.

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4. Myles Garrett

Myles Garrett makes this list for both the signing experience and a personal reason.

At one signing, Myles had finished everything and was getting ready to leave.

My oldest daughter was a fan of his but couldn't be at the signing.

So I asked Myles if he'd be willing to record a quick message for her.

He did.

He gave her a little encouragement about playing soccer, and I still have that video today.

That's something I'll always remember.

Myles is also a really interesting guy to talk with.

He's a huge music fan and can talk music all day.

He's personable, has a nice autograph and takes his time with items.

And one other observation you don't fully appreciate from watching football on television:

Myles Garrett is an absolutely massive human being.

You know he's big when you watch him play, but seeing him in person is another experience entirely.

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5. Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield is one of those athletes who can make an autograph signing genuinely fun.

He's just a normal, funny, quirky guy.

Talking with Baker doesn't feel like you're trying to make conversation with a professional athlete.

It feels more like talking with one of your buddies.

You can just shoot the breeze about whatever comes up.

That creates a completely different atmosphere at a signing.

He's also good at the actual autograph side of things.

He takes his time, has good handwriting and understands how to sign memorabilia.

But the reason Baker makes this list is really the overall experience.

His signings are fun.

And after doing as many autograph signings as we have over the years, you remember the ones where everyone genuinely had a good time.

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6. Bob Cousy

Bob Cousy is on this list because of one of my favorite conversations I've ever witnessed at an autograph signing.

We did the signing at his house, which itself was a pretty unique experience.

At some point while Cousy was signing, someone asked him about Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game.

Cousy stopped signing.

He put the pen down.

And for roughly the next 30 minutes, we got a basketball history lesson.

He talked about Wilt Chamberlain.

He talked about Bill Russell.

He explained how those Celtics teams approached playing against Wilt and why Russell was so important, not only defensively but also because of his rebounding and ability to start their transition offense with a quick outlet pass.

I love basketball, especially the nuances and history of the game, so I'm sitting there thinking:

I'm in Bob Cousy's house listening to Bob Cousy tell stories about Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell.

How cool is that?

You can watch documentaries and read books about that era, but there's something completely different about hearing someone who actually played in it explain what happened.

That signing has always stuck with me.

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7. Freddie Freeman

Our Freddie Freeman signing was memorable for a completely different reason.

We did the signing after the Dodgers' 2024 World Series championship, right around Christmas.

Our challenge was getting customers' items back before Christmas.

Instead of shipping everything from Southern California back to Kansas City and then sending the orders back out to customers, we decided to package and ship everything directly from California.

My dad lives in Northern California, so he flew down and helped me with the signing.

It also happened to be his birthday.

I put him to work putting cards back into penny sleeves and top loaders, bagging baseballs and helping tape boxes.

Of course, every once in a while he'd decide it was time for a break and I'd have to ask when he planned on getting back to work.

It was a lot of fun.

Freddie was also gracious enough to take a photo with the two of us.

So this one isn't necessarily about something crazy that happened with the athlete.

It's about getting to work an autograph signing with my dad on his birthday and having that signing be with Freddie Freeman shortly after winning the World Series.

That's a pretty cool memory.

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8. Miguel Cabrera

Miguel Cabrera is an autograph professional.

That's probably the easiest way to describe him.

Miggy knows where to sign.

He knows where the inscriptions should go.

He has excellent handwriting.

His autograph has plenty of flair.

And he understands how to make the finished piece look good.

That's incredibly important when you're dealing with inscriptions such as his Triple Crown inscription and other accomplishments collectors might add to an item.

He's also just a great personality.

I've always enjoyed talking with him, and he's consistently been fun to work with.

When we're doing a Cabrera signing, I'm confident the customers' items are going to come back looking good.

That's about as much as you can ask for.

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9. Manny Ramirez

If Miguel Cabrera has a big personality, Manny Ramirez takes things to another level.

You never really know what's going to happen with Manny.

At one signing, we ended up talking about CrossFit.

He was explaining that he'd tried it but couldn't figure out the technique for movements like the snatch and clean and jerk.

I remember thinking how funny it was imagining Manny Ramirez doing CrossFit.

Another time, at the National in Cleveland, I had a Dodgers jersey perfectly laid out on the table for him to sign.

Manny wasn't interested in signing it that way.

He picked up the jersey, put it on my back and signed it while I was wearing it.

That's Manny.

His autograph can also vary tremendously from one item to another, which is one reason third-party authentication can be especially important with his memorabilia.

But from a personality standpoint, he's unforgettable.

When you see him around guys like Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz, it's like watching long-lost brothers get back together.

There's a lot of laughing and joking.

Manny always seems to have a smile on his face.

If we're ranking purely on entertainment value, he's near the top.

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10. Willie Mays

I couldn't make this list without Willie Mays.

One of the last signings we did with Willie was around 2006 or 2007 in Walnut Creek, California.

Think about how much the autograph hobby has changed since then.

At that signing, I don't remember a single card or ticket being signed.

Today, if Willie Mays were doing a signing, cards and tickets would probably make up a significant portion of the submissions.

Back then, it was much more about baseballs, bats, jerseys and traditional memorabilia.

Another interesting detail was that many of the baseballs were signed in black Sharpie on the sweet spot because Willie had difficulty seeing and needed something he could see clearly when signing.

People traveled from around the country for that signing because opportunities to attend a Willie Mays signing were extremely rare.

And then there was the Leroy Neiman painting.

A collector contacted us before the signing with a large original Leroy Neiman piece and wanted to know what Willie would charge to autograph it.

We didn't know.

The pricing was ultimately Willie's decision, so the collector was going to have to bring the painting and work it out with him.

At the signing, the collector explained the piece to Willie and asked what it would cost to have it signed.

Willie looked at him.

He looked at the painting.

There was a pause.

Then Willie asked:

"How much you got?"

Eventually, they settled on $3,500, and Willie signed the painting in black Sharpie.

It's one of those stories I've never forgotten.

And regardless of everything else, the biggest thing I remember is simply being around Willie Mays.

There aren't many opportunities in life where you get to spend a couple of hours in the presence of someone who occupies that kind of place in baseball history.

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What Makes an Athlete Great to Work With at an Autograph Signing?

Looking back at these 10 athletes, there's actually a common theme.

It's not necessarily about who has the biggest name.

The best signing experiences usually come down to a few things:

• They care about how the finished item looks.
• They take their time with the autograph.
• They have legible inscriptions.
• They understand autograph placement.
• They're willing to communicate when there's a question.
• They have a personality that makes the signing enjoyable.

When collectors send us memorabilia, we're responsible for items that can be extremely valuable and, in some cases, irreplaceable.

Knowing an athlete understands that responsibility makes the entire signing process easier.

But some of the best memories aren't really about the autographs at all.

They're the conversations.

They're listening to Bob Cousy talk basketball history.

They're having Myles Garrett record a message for my daughter.

They're doing a Freddie Freeman signing with my dad on his birthday.

They're watching Manny Ramirez decide my back is a better surface for signing a jersey than the table I carefully prepared for him.

Those are the things you remember.

Final Thoughts

I've been fortunate to be around a lot of incredible athletes through this business, and I've accumulated far more signing stories than I could ever fit into one article.

Some of those stories will probably never be told publicly.

But that's part of what makes this business so interesting.

Collectors normally see the finished product: the signed baseball, helmet, jersey, card or photograph.

Behind that autograph, though, there's an entire experience that most people never get to see.

And sometimes the story behind getting the autograph becomes almost as memorable as the autograph itself.

For more autograph collecting advice, signing stories and behind-the-scenes information from the memorabilia industry, visit PowersSportsMemorabilia.com and follow us on Instagram @PowersAutographs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happens during a private autograph signing?

At a private signing, memorabilia is typically organized in advance based on autograph placement, pen color, inscriptions and other customer requests. The athlete then works through the items while the signing team makes sure each piece receives the correct autograph and requested inscriptions.

Do athletes choose where they sign an item?

It depends on the athlete and signing. Some athletes are extremely experienced and immediately know the best autograph placement, while others may be given instructions for specific customer requests. Athletes such as Barry Sanders and Miguel Cabrera stand out because of how well they understand autograph placement and inscriptions.

Do professional athletes care how their autographs look?

Many absolutely do. Some athletes take extra time to make sure the signature, inscription and placement look right. That's especially valuable when they're signing expensive or one-of-a-kind memorabilia.

Why does autograph handwriting matter?

Legible inscriptions and consistent signatures can make a signed item much more visually appealing. For collectors paying extra for inscriptions such as career achievements, championships or statistics, clean handwriting can make a major difference in the finished piece.

Are private autograph signings different from getting an autograph at a game?

Yes. A private signing is generally a controlled environment where the athlete has time to sign specific items and complete paid inscriptions. An autograph obtained at a game is usually much quicker and the collector typically has less control over placement, pen choice and inscription options.

Why is third-party authentication important?

Authentication from a respected third-party company can help establish confidence that an autograph is genuine, particularly when the item is later bought or sold. It can be especially useful with athletes whose signatures can vary considerably from one autograph to another.

What makes an autograph signing memorable?

Sometimes it's the athlete, sometimes it's the memorabilia, and sometimes it's what happens behind the scenes. After years of doing signings, the conversations and unexpected moments are often what you remember most.