It happens.
Fans are waiting in a designated area
for autographs and a Major League player
ignores them and just keeps walking.
There's nothing wrong with that.
But, the situation changes
when a star player has a teammate
announce, "Hoz won't be signing today,"
and casually walks with other players
"shielding" him from 20 slightly bewildered
fans (who are standing behind a tall fence).
That's what it's like to get Big Leagued.
The player is aware that fans are a big part
of the Major League experience
& Major League paychecks.
Fans buy tickets to games.
Fans demand games on TV.
Fans buy team & player merchandise.
But, the player can't possibly sign
for each & every fan at every turn.
Some fan-friendly advice:
Don't Big League your own Fans.
You're a Major League Baseball player.
We get it.
You can gold-plate your SUV & only
wear socks once before they're thrown away.
If you don't want to sign, just keep walking.
Having someone else talk for you
only works if your goal
is to 'Big League' your own fans.
Save that for the Rays' fans in Tampa Bay.
When there's a few dozen Royals' fans
at a Spring Training game, we expect better.
What to do:
If you don't want to sign, just keep walking.
What to do to be awesome:
Say, "When I come back out, I'll sign for two fans,
the oldest & the youngest."
(instead of being annoyed with a player only
signing for 2 people, there will be applause
& the player will probably gain more fans)
Or say, "I got to the ballpark early today
to find out how much stuff I can sign in 5 minutes."
Or, ask a fan to donate a baseball, then sign it.
Then give it to a kid
who didn't have anything to be signed.
A kid who just wanted a chance
to see his favorite player being awesome.