Bud Grant autograph hot item at his garage sale

Associated Press |

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (AP) — The hottest item at Bud Grant's garage sale on Thursday was the Hall of Fame coach's autograph.
Shoppers lined up to have the former Minnesota Vikings coach sign the team souvenirs and outdoor gear they bought. Even a gun.

The 87-year-old signed a poster for 7-year-old Preston Oberloh, of Rapid City, South Dakota, whose family happened to be in town. His father, Aaron Oberloh, said he thought it would be cool to get next to the coach and get a picture, even though at 33 he wasn't even born when Grant led the Vikings to four Super Bowl appearances.

If people didn't buy anything, Grant's signature came at a price.

"Now if you buy my stuff, these autographs are free. But if you just come here to get an autograph, and don't buy anything, then I charge you 25 dollars," Grant said as $20 and $5 bills piled up on the table in front of him.

Grant, an avid outdoorsman, signed a floating fishing chair that Kristen Strain, of Hudson, Wisconsin, bought for her 10-year-old son, Austin, as well as a Vikings drink glass for her 12-year-old daughter, Taylor. Strain said they're originally from Rochester and find it a little strange living as Vikings fans in Packers territory.

"My kids have issues with the green and the gold," Strain said.

It was Grant's 10th garage sale. He billed it as his last. It began Wednesday evening and runs through Friday.

Grant said his goals were simple: Get rid of stuff and make some money.

One table Thursday held Vikings memorabilia, including 40th anniversary posters from 2000 and Game 900 T-shirts from when the Vikings played the Lions in 2004. That merchandise belonged to a dealer. Grant said he let him come to draw a crowd.

Grant's own stuff included fishing reels, power tools, wildlife prints and the usual garage sale items. A Vikings Artic Blast snowmobile jacket and pants were priced at $225 together. The original price tags, totaling $330, gave away that he never wore the items.

But Grant had fired the 12-gauge shotgun that Leslie Davis of Apple Valley bought for $395, still in its original box. Grant signed it on the stock.

"I don't know if I'll use this now that he's autographed it," Davis said with a laugh.

To order my book Autograph Hell, please click HERE
For more information about my Summit Murder Mystery series, please CLICK HERE
Order my newest book Murder on Kilimanjaro by clicking HERE
Follow me on twitter, HERE
'Like' my Facebook page, HERE
Subscribe to my YouTube channel, HERE and HERE

How to Preserve your Autographed Photo Collectables

I came across this article and thought it was a good one to share! We all know that preserving your photos is very important! What is the point of collecting autographs if the photos become faded and start to deteriorate in a few years because you don't handle them properly? Take a look at these autograph preservation tips! 1. Acid free is the way to go - Whether you choose plastic bags, cardboard folders or frames to display your autographs, you need to make sure that the material you use is acid free. Standard bags, folders and frames are made with materials that release acids over time. These acids can make your photographs and other memorabilia fade and disintegrate. Make sure that the products that you buy to store your autographs is clearly labeled acid-free. If the package doesn't specify that, don't trust it with your photos. 2. Keep humidity low - Humidity causes moisture which can be devastating to paper products like photographs. To keep your...

Helpful collection websites

I have many friends on Facebook that ask what are the best ways to obtain a desired autograph? More specifically I was able to help a woman who wanted an autograph from Meryl Streep. Here are some of the sites I've found to be reputable as well as helpful when looking for information. http://www.autographcollector.com/ http://www.autographworld.com/ http://www.ha.com/

James Dean’s Intimate Letters to Girlfriend Coming to Auction

Three James Dean handwritten letters to his girlfriend, never before offered for sale, will be sold at Christie's London November 23, 2011. I've posted the article below from Autograph Magazine . Take a look! James Dean handwritten letters are among the rarest and most valuable of Hollywood autographs. Only a few have come to market since Dean’s tragic death in a 1955 car crash, just 24 years old. So when Neil Roberts, Christie’s Head of Pop Culture in London, asked for any information we might have on them to help him with a potential consignment, I had to know more. But I had to wait…. “At the moment they are reluctant to send me any copies,” Neil said. “However the names and places they provided seem to add up. I’m sure you will understand that at this time I cannot pass on any details.” That was a year and a half ago. The wait was worth it. On November 23, Christie’s will auction three James Dean handwritten letters never ...

Autograph Hell

Search This Blog