Al Kaline Failure - kept donation, sent back card unsigned

[MW1221]

First off, very sorry about your RTS. I wrote to Al a few months back with no donation and he signed for me within 2 weeks. I recommend trying again, my with out even including any money, that way the worst you can lose is your card, which you could more easily replace. By the way, I read some where that a lot of players don't like signing cards that alrwady have the fake printed sigs on them. That may be totally untrue, but maybe that would be worth a try too?
As far as whether Mr. Kaline is obligated in any way to sign for anyone...honestly I come out on the side that says "yes". To SOME extent I believe celebrities ARE obligated to do things for fans. If it weren't for the fans, what would these celebs really be? When you decide to take the millions of dollars and step out into the spotlight, you DO give up certain things. Celebs are "on call" the same way a doctor is. Doctors trade away their right to a full nights sleep when they sign up for the job. In return the reap lots of tangible benefits. He really should have returned your money. Did he HAVE to? No. Are you correct in saying that it kinda makes him seem loke a jerk for not sending it back? Yup. If I see an old woman fall on the sidewalk I don't HAVE to help her up when she asks me to. I'm under no contract or obligation to do so, but we can all agree that it makes me a jerk if I refuse. That said, Mr. Kaline is getting up there in years, and perhaps it was simply and oversight. I would try him again if I were you!! good luck and I hope we see a success reported next time!

First off all, quite a few places have laws that require you to help someone if you're able. So yes, in a lot of towns/cities, you would be obligated to help that old woman.

Second of all, nobody is obligated to sign for anyone. Yes, they do owe things to their fans.

They owe their fans entertainment.

Nothing more.

Buying a CD entitles you to that CD--nothing more.
Buying a ticket to a movie entitles you to a ticket to that movie--nothing more.

Third of all, he's retired. So no, he's no longer in that public spotlight. Going back to your doctor analogy that doesn't actually work, but whatever--if a doctor is retired, are they still on call 24/7? No. They're retired. If the hospital called them at 3am saying "We need you to come in right now", they'd get an earful. Because the doctor is retired.

Al doesn't owe anyone anything--he's retired. When he was working, he owed fans a good game, because that's what they paid him for.

But now he doesn't get paid. So he doesn't owe anyone anything.

Collectors need to stop feeling entitled to autographs just because they think the person owes them one. They don't.

[cagneyfan]

Just as you don't owe us your opinion.

[BS18]

First off, very sorry about your RTS. I wrote to Al a few months back with no donation and he signed for me within 2 weeks. I recommend trying again, my with out even including any money, that way the worst you can lose is your card, which you could more easily replace. By the way, I read some where that a lot of players don't like signing cards that alrwady have the fake printed sigs on them. That may be totally untrue, but maybe that would be worth a try too?
As far as whether Mr. Kaline is obligated in any way to sign for anyone...honestly I come out on the side that says "yes". To SOME extent I believe celebrities ARE obligated to do things for fans. If it weren't for the fans, what would these celebs really be? When you decide to take the millions of dollars and step out into the spotlight, you DO give up certain things. Celebs are "on call" the same way a doctor is. Doctors trade away their right to a full nights sleep when they sign up for the job. In return the reap lots of tangible benefits. He really should have returned your money. Did he HAVE to? No. Are you correct in saying that it kinda makes him seem loke a jerk for not sending it back? Yup. If I see an old woman fall on the sidewalk I don't HAVE to help her up when she asks me to. I'm under no contract or obligation to do so, but we can all agree that it makes me a jerk if I refuse. That said, Mr. Kaline is getting up there in years, and perhaps it was simply and oversight. I would try him again if I were you!! good luck and I hope we see a success reported next time!

First off all, quite a few places have laws that require you to help someone if you're able. So yes, in a lot of towns/cities, you would be obligated to help that old woman.


Second of all, nobody is obligated to sign for anyone. Yes, they do owe things to their fans.

They owe their fans entertainment.

Nothing more.

Buying a CD entitles you to that CD--nothing more.
Buying a ticket to a movie entitles you to a ticket to that movie--nothing more.

Third of all, he's retired. So no, he's no longer in that public spotlight. Going back to your doctor analogy that doesn't actually work, but whatever--if a doctor is retired, are they still on call 24/7? No. They're retired. If the hospital called them at 3am saying "We need you to come in right now", they'd get an earful. Because the doctor is retired.

Al doesn't owe anyone anything--he's retired. When he was working, he owed fans a good game, because that's what they paid him for.

But now he doesn't get paid. So he doesn't owe anyone anything.

Collectors need to stop feeling entitled to autographs just because they think the person owes them one. They don't.

You must be fun at parties.

[MW1221]

Just as you don't owe us your opinion.

That's right, I don't.

But you seem to be under the mistaken impression that not owing something means that it's not to be given.

[jbwesterfield]

Kaline didn't owe me anything. But I don't owe him a fan's loyalty after his unprofessionalism. As a fan of the game and a collector, I have the right to go public with my experience.
And he is retired, but still on the Detroit Tigers staff. So he is not out of the public light.

[MJS73]

First off all, quite a few places have laws that require you to help someone if you're able. So yes, in a lot of towns/cities, you would be obligated to help that old woman.

This is true. Elaine Benes, George Costanza, Cosmo Kramer and Jerry Seinfeld are all doing prison time for failing to help a man that was being robbed.

[MJS73]

Kaline didn't owe me anything. But I don't owe him a fan's loyalty after his unprofessionalism. As a fan of the game and a collector, I have the right to go public with my experience. And he is retired, but still on the Detroit Tigers staff. So he is not out of the public light.

Al Kaline just tweeted that have lost touch with reality. And he still has your $10.

[gunsmoke]

its possible the letter got hijacked in the mail by a crooked postal worker-been known to happen-I have 15 fan packs I requested via mail out over 2 months and I wonder if they wernt taken

[Historical]

I had a success from him a few months ago for $5 on a tigers item. He signed it in blue. He's getting up there in age and may have just mistakenly not signed and thought he did. Might be worth re-sending along with a note.

[cagneyfan]

Here's what I think of Al Kaline now.

It's worth it!