Hobby Musings: Rico Petrocelli, 2024 National

Hobby Musings: Rico Petrocelli, 2024 National – Interview

Hobby Musings: Rico Petrocelli, 2024 National – Interview Transcript

Editor’s note: Some text has been changed from original audio for grammar and clarity. 

KS: So, you debuted a long time ago. Back then, it was just trading cards and people asking for a scrap of paper or baseball to be signed. Did you ever imagine the sports memorabilia industry would be the way it is?

RP: No, it’s been unbelievable. Fabulous, I love it. I’ll tell you; this is I think, the fifth show, National, I’ve come to and getting better and better. Larger and larger. It’s fabulous, I tell ya’, I love it. It’s great. You know, my era we didn’t collect. You know, in the 60s and 70s, you know, the industry wasn’t really growing yet, but eventually, you know, started to take off. And now it’s great. I think it’s going to even get better.

KS: Well, so fans love their autographs. You actually signed here at the National, when you were playing, what was that kind of like, people asking you for autographs?

RP: Yeah, we’d give it all the time. Fenway Park, we had our, our area, you know, we parked the cars, and then they had a gate outside. And at the gate, people would be there, kids and their families looking for autographs, and the guys would stop, you know, have no problem. You know, signing for them.

KS: Did you ever ask any of your teammates or fellow players or celebrities for an autograph?

RP: No, that’s the thing. You know, there’s one guy on the team who did collect bats. Because in his basement he made a bar, and he had, you know, the bats and chairs and stuff and stuff like that. But, no, I never had, but as a kid, I tried a couple times, but, I had no luck.

KS: Did you keep anything from your career?

RP: Like, I know you said, you know, no one collected, but did you keep anything? You know what, I didn’t. My wife and kids, actually, I have four sons, they actually collected stuff, which I have down in my basement, or else I wouldn’t have anything.

KS: So, when things like the certified autographs, the autographs you signed for, the card companies kind of started going. What was your reaction to it?

RP: Oh, I thought it was good. You know, like I said, it started, it was taking off the industry was taking off. And, you know, the players knew that, you know, there were, there were card shows and, and the National, of course, but we didn’t think about it, you know, that, because you know, the players, they didn’t make any money off signing the cards. It was giveaways. Just didn’t think about it. You know, it’s no big deal to us at that time.

KS: Looking back on it now, is there anything you wish you had kept?

RP: Oh, God. Yeah, I wish I had kept… bats. You know, though I have a World Series, my 40th home run bat is in the Hall, but, yeah, you know what I wish? This one other guy I was telling you about. I wish I had gone to the opposing players who were the big stars like Harmon Killebrew and, Clemente and all those guys. Mays I played against. I wish I would have gotten just pictures with them. I got Aaron, and he was one of my favorites. And, but I didn’t get his autograph. but it, it’s very special.  Stuff like that I wish I had done, you know, get signed bats, for you know, myself. For my own collection. But I didn’t!

KS: I’ll get you out of here on this question. Again, fans love their autographs. What is the strangest thing anyone has ever asked you to sign?

RP: Oh, okay. This is unbelievable. Now there’s a guy who had a Babe Ruth. Beautiful signature right in Boston. He says, I want you to sign this. I said, what are you, crazy? It’s a Babe Ruth. What do you want? You’re my favorite player. I want you to sign it. The guy was unbelievable. And big enough where he’d kick my butt in. So, I signed it, and I said, How could you do this? This is crazy. He didn’t care. I don’t know. I should have taken the ball. Just run with it without my signature on it. But it was good. This is so much fun. I just I loved it, and it’s great to see the kids and parents here. I love it.

Hobby Musings: Rico Petrocelli, 2024 National

Kelsey’s ability to bring hobby coverage to the mainstream sports fan has been a true asset. GTS is happy to feature his thoughts on collecting in Hobby Musings. The opinions expressed are his and do not necessarily reflect those of GTS Distribution.