Sign This [Paperback]

Tom Bunevich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 8, 2000

Detailed look at the sports autograph industry and 200 well known sports personalities.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a candid, entertaining look into the real personalities of the athletes and the autograph industry." -- Mark Jordan, longtime autograph dealer, Colleyville, Texas

"A very interesting book... Very informative. I recommed it for sports fans - collectors or not." -- Bill Miller, Publisher, Autograph Collector Magazine

"If you want to know what sports idols are like off the playing field, then this book is for you." -- Ryan Semanko, Columnist, Signing Bonus, Sports Collector's Digest

About the Author

Tom Bunevich graduated for Marshall University in 1975 with a BA in journalism. After obtaining a MA in sports administration in 1982 from Biscayne College (now St. Thomas University) in Miami, Florida, Bunevich entered the sports memorabilia business. He started Bay Area Sports Collectables in Tampa, Forida in 1983.

Tom has worked for a small number of local newspapers, the Charleston Daily Mail (WV), Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA), and Canonsburg (PA) Daily Notes. He has written freelance articles for Sports Collectors Digest, Sweet Spot and other publications dealing with the sports collectible industry. From 1991 to 1995, Tom hosted a weekly one hour collectible show on WFNS-Sprots Radio 910 in Tampa.

After selling his sports collectible shops in 1989, Tom formed TB Sports Promotions. TB Sports conducted sports collectible shows in Central Florida for eight years, hosting more the 300 sports figure autograph guests for events. He was a founder and first president of the Florida Baseball Card Dealers Association.

Bunevich is an autograph collector and gained presige as one of the leading sports collectibles show promoters in the nation. In business from 1983 to 1997, he earned a reputation for honesty, integrity, and quality service. He etimates he has sold more the $2 million worth of autograph signature tickets and items in his 14 years in the industry. Bunevich has worked as Show Manager for the Tampa Tribure since October 1997. He lives in Tampa with his wife Sue, and sons Matthew and Andrew.

Product Details

• Paperback: 190 pages
• Publisher: T & S Pub (June 8, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970022743
• ISBN-13: 978-0970022745
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,392,727 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The real personalities of sports personalities, May 13, 2005

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sign This (Paperback)

This was a fascinating book to read as it is a sports book about the real personalities of sports personalities. Specifically, how a collection of professional athletes behaves when asked to make paid personal appearances and autograph material. How they react to unscheduled requests for autographs is also included in the analysis. There is a top ten good guy's list:

*) Brooks Robinson
*) Harmon Killebrew
*) Lee Roy Selmon
*) Otto Graham
*) The Famous Chicken
*) Monte Irvin
*) Billy Williams
*) Muhammad Ali
*) Alan Trammell
*) Dale Murphy

They are people who always go out of their way to be polite and helpful. The only name on the list that surprised me was Ali, it appears that the loud mouth attitude that he projected was an artificial one. There is a companion top ten jerks list:

*) Willie Mays
*) Rickey Henderson
*) Errict Rhett
*) Mike Schmidt
*) Darryl Strawberry
*) Reggie Jackson
*) Joe Dimaggio
*) Pete Rose
*) Gaylord Perry
*) Denny McLain

I cannot say that there were any surprises in this list.
One hundred other sports celebrities are also ranked and there is a chapter devoted to Mickey Mantle, the most popular athlete. The author organizes sports celebrity appearances, so nearly all of the commentary is based on the author's personal experiences. It is indexed based on the athletes' name, so if you are interested in a particular figure, then this book will provide you with accurate information.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a must have, February 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Sign This (Paperback)

This book is a must have for anyone who spends Mondays cleaning black sharpie marker off their hands. You definately have to check out the Jerks and Good Guys lists to see if your favorite signers are there, and who you should not even try to get (unless you want to get yelled at).

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read This, October 1, 2000

By 

Ronld R Shuck (Longwood, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sign This (Paperback)

I picked up this book in order to recapture something that has been lost. Having grown up in the 1950's and 60's, I think we have lost a close relationship with sports. Today players move, teams move, and everything is about money. I hoped to spend a quiet afternoon remembering the way thingsused to be. While I was not disappointed, I found so much more. I learned what my favorite (and least favorite)sports stars are doing now. I found out what they are doing now. Some built on their success while others have not been able to move on with life easily. Tom's descriptions of these stars during an autograph session was both inciteful and interesting. Another unanticipated pleasure was Tom's description of the highs and lows of the sports collectable industry. I can remember when the industry did not exist. Tom describes how and why the industry gre so fast and why it has now returned to a more subdued level. If you pick this book up, I guarantee you will not be able to put it down. For memories and new insite this book is top rate.