Embedded Files
ITEMS Players Won't Sign
NOTE: This section is consistently under construction...
Sometimes you run into a player who won't sign a certain card for some reason. The worst is when that card is all you're carrying for that player, or-- nearly as bad-- if it's a card for a set you're working on. Some may charge more to sign certain items or have various quirks about things.
I have seen various lists out there before but many are in need of updating. So here, I hope to assemble a full list in ALL major sports (and even non-sports items) of items players refuse to sign. If you run into any in your TTMing and IP graphing, or if you find a person has changed their policies, please let me know!
I am going to keep this only to players who are currently living. Some deceased players may have had policies about certain items as well, but I'll limit this to those who are currently 'graphable.
I also am not including the growing number of players who refuse to sign items like blank index cards or blank photo paper. That would take this already-long list and make it straight-up overkill. Some player are also charging premiums to sign rookie cards. I have only noted those where it is a significant increase (such as Ron Kittle signing most cards for free but asking $25 to sign his 1984 Topps card).
Also I know in some cases these players have signed these cards/items before. Sometimes they change over time. This should be seen more as a warning of "he may not sign that card" not a "he will absolutely never sign that card."
Baseball
Jimmy Anderson: 2001 Fleer Tradition; photo is Mike Williams
Rolando Arrojo: 2000 Upper Deck Victory: photo is Scott Aldred
Carlos Azuaje: 2015 Bowman Prospects
Floyd Bannister: 1985 Donruss; photo is Tom Seaver
Marty Barrett: 2004 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites; claims some sort of contractual agreement TTM, but will sign through private signings
Steve Bedrosian: 1982 Topps; wrong photo
Craig Biggio: bats; had several game-used bats stolen, and will no longer sign ANY bats
Tim Bogar: 1993 Stadium Club; photo is Aaron Ledesma (will sign back)
Brian Bohannon: New York Mets items
Archie Bradley: 2012 Topps Heritage Minors, 2012 Bowman Platinum; photo is J.R. Bradley
Milton Bradley: 2004 Topps; will sign but notes it's Matt Lawton
Tom Browning: 1991 Fleer Ultra; photo is Norm Charlton (will sign back)
Mark Buehrle: 2000 Bowman
Steve Busby: 1975 Topps; signs but also writes "Not My Photo" on it, as the photo is Fran Healy
Ernie Camacho: 1985 Donruss; photo is George Frazier
Mike Cameron: 2004 Topps Gold Glove; photo is Randy Winn (will sign back)
Stephen Cardullo: 2017 Topps Heritage
Rod Carew: Silver Slugger photo with Joe Mauer and Tony Oliva
Tony Castillo: 1994 Score; photo is Luis Sojo (will sign back)
Francisco Cervelli: 2009 Topps; photo is Austin Jackson (Jackson will sign front; Cervelli will sign back)
Wes Chamberlain: 1991 Topps error; photo is Louie Meadows
Stubby Clapp: 2001 Bowman; used the wrong printed signature
Brady Clark: 2004 Topps Total; photo is Wes Helms
Keith Comstock: 1991 Topps error and 1988 Topps error
Greg Deichmann: 2018 Bowman Draft; photo is Kevin Merrill (Merrill will sign it)
Elmer Dessens: 2009 Bowman Draft; wrong photo
Tom Dettore: Will not sign any cards
Miguel Dilone: 1978 Topps if signed by others already
Brandon Drury: 2016 Bowman; photo is Jake Lamb
Mike Dunne: 1987 Topps Traded
Deck Ellsworth: 1966 Topps; photo is Ken Hubbs
Danny Espinoso: 2017 Topps Heritage
Shawn Estes: 2001 Bowman Heritage; photo is Tim Worrell
Chone Figgins: Seattle Mariners items
Fritz Fisher: Will not sign any cards
Carlton Fisk: 1991 Score Record Breaker
Dave Flemming: 1994 Flair
Doug Flynn: 1986 Topps; has signed a few for a $400 donation.
Hank Foiles: 1991 Crown Orioles card only for a large sum; was not paid for his appearance in the set
Darren Ford: Bowman cards, Milwaukee Brewers items
Dexter Fowler: 2008 PROjections; photo is Chris Nelson
Juan Francisco: 2006 Bowman (photo Chris Valaika, who will sign it), 2014 Topps Heritage (photo Martin Maldonado)
Marvin Freeman: 1989 Donruss
Ron Gant: Will not sign items showing David Justice
Steve Garvey: 1982 Fleer
Bob Geren: 1989 Topps Traded; photo is Mike Fennell
Dan Gladden: Sports Illustrated cover if already signed by Greg Olson
Ed Glynn: 1983 Fleer; photo is Bud Anderson
Wiki Gonzalez: 2000 Skybox Dominion; with Mike Darr, does not sign it as a memorial to him
Terrance Gore: 2015 Panini Prizm, 2018 Topps Heritage (if signed by Finnegan)
Khalil Greene: 2003 Fleer Tradition; name misspelled
Rusty Greer: 1997 Skybox Metal Universe; wrong photo (will sign back)
Tommy Gregg: Atlanta Braves items, claims the team "did [him] wrong"
Kelly Gruber: any Leaf cards; only signs for family
Andy Hawkins: any Fleer cards; only signs for family
LaTroy Hawkins: San Francisco Giants cards, insert cards, Japanese cards
Kyle Heckathorn: 2010 Topps Pro Debut; photo is Caleb Thielbar
Rickey Henderson: Bases
George Hendrick: ONLY signs Rays and Cardinals items (will sign others at paid signings)
Bill Henry: 1980 TCMA '61 Reds; unauthorized card
Jonathan Hernandez: 2021 Topps Heritage; photo is Taylor Guerrieri. Will sign the back.
Keith Hernandez: Cleveland Indians items charged a premium; did not like his time playing there
John Hiller: 1966 Topps
Daniel Hudson: 2013 Topps Heritage
Orlando Hudson: 2008 Allen & Ginter; photo is Alberto Callaspo
Pete Incaviglia: 1993 Donruss
Bo Jackson: 1990 Score bat and shoulder pads; copyright issues with the photo
Danny Jackson: 1985 Donruss; photo is Frank Wills
Ron Jackson: 1991 Crown Orioles; depicts the wrong Ron Jackson
Jason Jaramillo: 2010 Topps; photo is Ramon Vazquez
Reggie Jefferson: 1992 Triple Play; photo is Stan Jefferson
Steve Jeltz: 1988 Donruss; photo is Juan Samuel
Kevin Jordan: 1990 Score; photo is Ricky Jordan
Ron Kittle: 1984 Topps gets charged a premium; fee goes to a charity
Frank LaCorte: 1981 Donruss
Pete LaForest: 2003 Topps Traded, 2004 Topps Total; photo is Toby Hall (will sign back)
Cory Lee: 1999 Just Minors; photo is Mike Venafro
John Littlefield: 1981 Topps; photo is Mark Riggins (will sign the back)
Scott Livingstone: 1992 O-Pee-Chee Premier; photo is Travis Fryman
Sparky Lyle: 1976 SSPC; unauthorized card
Mike Maddux: Minor league cards
Jose Malave: 1997 Fleer; photo is Alex Delgado (Delgado will sign front; Malave will sign back)
Ketel Marte: 2016 Topps Heritage
Octavio Martinez: 2011 Bowman; wrong photo
Doug Mathis: 2008 SP Authentic Rookie Exclusives; only signs for family
James McCann: 2016 Topps Heritage
Oddibe McDowell: Cleveland Indians items
Andy McGaffigan: 1990 Upper Deck error; #48 photo is Rich Thompson (will sign the back)
Mark McGwire: will not sign items with Jose Canseco
Mark McLemore: 1994 Score
Jackson Merrill: 2022 Bowman; wrong player in photo
Butch Metzger: 1991 WIZ Mets
Rick Miller: 1984 Donruss; name is wrong on it
Craig Monroe: 2007 Topps Heritage; photo is Roman Colon
John Montefusco: Atlanta Braves items
Bob Montgomery: 1975 SSPC; unauthorized card
Mike Moore: 1990 Score w/ Dave Stewart; neither player will sign it
Nyjer Morgan: Washington Nationals items
Jim Morrison: 1981 Topps; doesn't like the photo
Jason Motte: Colorado Rockies items
Chad Mottola: 1994 Ted Williams The Campaign; photo is Jason Moler
Al Nipper: 1985 Donruss; photo is Mike Brown
Hector Noesi: 2011 Bowman Prospects; photo is Ivan Nova
Rougned Odor: photos fighting Jose Bautista
Jonathan Ornelas: 2018 Bowman Draft (listed as Diamondbacks; never played for them)
Jayhawk Owens: 1995 Score; card depicts Jim Tatum
Orlando Palmeiro: 2006 Topps Heritage
Gary Pettis: 1985 Topps; card depicts his brother Lynn
Brandon Phillips: Cleveland Indians items; did not like his time playing there
A.J. Puckett: Chicago White Sox cards; had issues with the organization
Scott Radinsky: 1992 Score (wrong photo) and Jewish Major Leaguers (not Jewish)
Hanley Ramirez: 2006 Topps 52; photo is not him
Rafael Ramirez: 1981 Topps if signed by others already
Eric Rasmussen: 1976 Topps; listed as "Harry"
Edgar Renteria: 2006 Upper Deck
Rich Reese: 1965 Topps; name is listed as "Dick"
Luis Rivas: 2001 Bowman Heritage; photo is Jacque Jones
Brandon Roberts: Reds and Twins Bowman cards; wrong photo
Kerry Robinson: Tampa Bay Devil Rays items
Trayvon Robinson: 2005 Bowman Draft, 2010 & 2011 Tristar cards
Fernando Rodney: 2007 Topps, 2009 Topps Tigers Team set; photo is Roman Colon
Steve Rodriguez: 1995 Upper Deck; only signs it for family
Ryan Rolison: 2019 Panini Stars & Stripes
J.C. Romero: 2011 Topps Update; never played for Yankees
Kevin Romine: 1989 Fleer; photo is Randy Kutcher
Pete Rose: charges more to sign 1963 Topps RCs (often a 500-700% premium over other cards)
Bob Scanlan: 1991 Line Drive AAA
Jeff Schaefer: 1992 Donruss; photo is Tino Martinez (Schaefer will sign back)
Mike Schmidt: Rawlings bats
Dick Schofield: 1960 TCMA; photo is Gino Cimoli
Rodney Scott: 1982 Fleer; photo is Tim Raines
Magneuris Sierra: 2019 Topps Big League; wrong photo
Ruben Sierra: Oakland A's items
Jason Simontacchi: 2003 Fleer Tradition Banner Season; only signs for family
Bill Spiers: 1990 Topps; photo is George Canale (Canale will sign it)
Denny Stark: 2002 Upper Deck; photo is Caleb Balbuena
Dave Stewart: Rangers and Phillies cards; off-field issues in this era (has been signing them recently)
Bob Stinson: 1976 SSPC; unauthorized card
Steve Stone: 1974 Topps Traded; bad airbrush job
Josh Stowers: Any unlicensed photos
Stephen Strasburg: Tristar cards
Greg Swindell: 1991 Studio; photo is Tim Costo
Mark Teahen: 2005 Upper Deck SP; photo is Chris Lubanski
Rowdy Tellez: 2019 Topps Heritage with Reese McGuire; will not sign due to McGuire's 2020 arrest
Derrel Thomas: Senior League cards
Joe Thurston: 2006 Upper Deck; photo is Bobby Scales (Thurston will sign back)
Mike Trout: September 2012 Sports Illustrated
Jason Varitek: photos fighting Alex Rodriguez
Robin Ventura: photos fighting Nolan Ryan
Oscar Villareal: 2005 Topps Total; name misspelled
Arodys Vizcaino: 2015 Topps; photo is Yoanner Negrin
Ryan Vogelsong: 2017 Topps
Turner Ward: 1998 Fleer Ultra
Jarrod Washburn: 2003 Topps Heritage
Rico Washington: 2000 Upper Deck; photo is Adrian Brown (Washington will sign back)
David Wells: Any cards other than Blue Jays ones; only signs others for family
Randy Wells: 2012 Topps (NOTE: he has been signing them recently as of 2021)
Dave Wickersham: 1978 TCMA; unauthorized card
Keith Williams: 1996 Fleer Excel; photo is Jacob Cruz
Herm Winningham: 1990 Upper Deck; name misspelled on back (signs, but charges a premium)
Jay Witasick: 2004 Topps Total; name misspelled
Vance Worley: Minnesota Twins items; signs, but blacks out the logo
Ricky Wright: 1987 Topps
Dmitri Young: 1993 Upper Deck; doesn't like photo
Gregg Zaun: 2006 Topps; photo is Jason Phillips
Brad Ziegler: 2018 Topps Heritage
Basketball
Lou Carnesecca: 2000-01 Fleer Greats of the Game; has the wrong logo
Julius Erving: photos fighting Larry Bird
Blake Griffin: Topps cards
Football
Eric Allen: New Orleans Saints items
Marcus Allen: 10/5/81 Sports Illustrated
Albert Bentley: 1992 Fleer Gameday
Lyle Blackwood: 2004 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites (claims "contractual obligations")
Bryan Cox: Rookie cards
Len Dawson: photos smoking in locker room
Kenny Easley: Rookie cards
Franco Harris: Seattle Seahawks items
Andre Hastings: Will not sign cards
Qadry Ismail: 1992 Wild Card; name misspelled
Bo Jackson: Heisman items; Tampa Bay Buccaneers items; Auburn items signed by Pat Sullivan and Cam Newton; shoulder pads and bat photo
Billy "White Shoes" Johnson: 1997 Legends; wearing black shoes (will sign back)
Eddie Kennison: St. Louis Rams items
Dick Lebeau: Goal Line art cards
Peyton Manning: Sports Illustrated "Gator Bait" issue; Will not sign rookie cards TTM but will IP
Ed Marinaro: 2005 Topps All-Americans
Dennis McKinnon: 1986 Topps
Stanley Morgan: Rookie cards
Scott Norwood: 1991 Pro Set Super Bowl Highlight
John Offerdahl: Rookie cards
Jerry Porter: Oakland Raiders items
Andre Rison: 1990 Topps; photo is Clarence Weathers
Jackie Smith: 1990 Pro Set Super Bowl Supermen
Lynn Swann: Will not sign cards
Carson Wentz: Panini Super Bowl 52 card
Aaron Williams: 2011 Topps Rising Rookies; wrong photo
Steve Worster: 2011 Upper Deck U. of Texas; photo is Jim Bertlestein
Alvin Wyatt: 1973 Topps; wrong photo
Hockey
Kevin Adams: 2007-08 Upper Deck
Brent Ashton: 1991-92 O-Pee-Chee/Topps; only signs for family
Ken Baumgartner: 1990-91 Upper Deck
Radek Bonk: Las Vegas Thunder items
Mel Bridgman: 1983-84 O-Pee-Chee
Randy Carlyle: 1987-88 O-Pee-Chee and Topps
Bob Carpenter: 1989-90 Topps; will only sign back
Kevin Collins: 1990-91 Pro Set
Yvan Cournoyer: 2005-06 In The Game Heroes & Prospects; not him pictured
Russ Courtnall: 1991-92 Pro Set
John Davidson: 2001-02 Fleer Greats of the Game
Kevin Dineen: 1995-96 Edge Ice; only signs for family
Pelle Eklund: 1994-95 Parkhurst
Bob Errey: 1989-90 O-Pee-Chee
Craig Fisher: 1990-91 Upper Deck; Jay Wells on front, but will sign back
Mike Foligno: 1993-94 Upper Deck; only signs for family
Adam Foote: any Upper Deck Victory
Ron Francis: cards with him pictured with the Stanley Cup
Garry Galley: 1991-92 Pro Set (All-Star); only signs for family
Aaron Gavey: 1993-94 Upper Deck
Doug Gilmour: 1990-91 Upper Deck
Martin Gerber: licensed NHL photos
Chris Gratton: 2003-04 Topps Traded
Mike Green: 2003-04 Pacific Prospects; photo is Andy Reierson (maybe?)
Ron Greschner: 1978-79 Topps; will only sign O-Pee-Chee Rangers version
Wayne Gretzky: 1988-89 Topps, cards with his son Ty on the back; only signs for family
Greg Hawgood: 1993-94 Leaf; only signs for family
Phil Housley: 1990-91 Upper Deck; only signs for family
Mark Howe: 1989-90 Topps
Tim Hunter: 1997-98 Pacific Dynagon Best Kept Secrets; 2002-03 Fleer Throwbacks (refused to sign from 2003-2018 due to lack of compensation from Fleer, but signed one for me in 2018)
Gord Hynes: 2000-01 Upper Deck DEL; photo is Wayne Hynes
Peter Ing: 1990-91 Score; says he was not compensated for the card
Arturs Irbe: 1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Red Army
Mike Keane: Montreal Canadians Centennial cards; was not paid for his appearance in it
Petr Klima: 1992-93 Score
Alexei Kovalev: NY Rangers items
Milan Kraft: 2000-01 Upper Deck Reserve
Niklas Kronwall: 2012-13 Score; photo is Tomas Holmstrom
Guy Lapointe: 2001-02 Fleer Greats of the Game, 2004-05 Upper Deck Legends
Gary Leeman: Montreal Canadiens items
Reggie Lemelin: 2006-07 Parkhurst; photo is Yves Belanger
Mario Lemieux: cards with him pictured with the Stanley Cup
Mike Liut: 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Upper Deck; only signs for family
Jack Lynch: 1977-78 O-Pee-Chee; photo is Bill Collins
Al Macinnis: 1991-92 Upper Deck (All-Star); only signs for family
Sergei Makarov: 1991-92 Upper Deck; only signs for family
David Maley: 2002-03 Fleer Throwbacks
Dave Manson: Toronto Maple Leafs items
Kip, Kelly, and Kevin Miller: 1991-92 Upper Deck Bloodlines
Stanislav Neckar: 1994-95 Upper Deck
Brian Noonan: 1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier; photo is Dan Vincelette, Noonan will sign the back
Teppo Numminen: Adds the year he signed it to all rookie cards
Steve Ott: 2005-06 In The Game Heroes & Prospects; hated playing for Hamilton
Robert Reichel: 1993-94 Leaf
Gary Roberts: 1992-93 Pinnacle Heroes
Stacy Roest: Cards that have wrong player pictured
Christian Ruuttu: 1991-92 O-Pee-Chee/Topps, 1992-93 Upper Deck, 1992-93 Bowman
Tommy Salo: 1995-96 Edge Ice; photo is Milan Hnilicka (Hnilicka will sign it)
Al Secord: 1990-91 Bowman; photo is Duane Sutter (Secord will sign back)
Alexander Semin: 2003-04 Topps C55
Darryl Sittler: 1990-91 Pro Set; only signs for his kids
Billy Smith: 2006-07 In The Game Heroes & Prospects
Ryan Smyth: 1997-98 Upper Deck Collectors Choice
Mario Tremblay: 1975-76 Topps; photo is Gord MacTavish
Marty Turco: 2015 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions
Darren Turcotte: 1995-96 Pinnacle
Wes Walz: Cards that have wrong player pictured
Doug Wilson: Rookie cards and reprints of them
Tyler Wright: 1998-99 Upper Deck; only signs for family
Paul Ysebaert: 1991-92 Stadium Club; photo is Mike Sillinger
Other
GOLF
Bruce Crampton: 1992 Pro Set; only signs for family
Phil Mickelson: 2002 Upper Deck; only signs for family
WRESTLING
Dan Gable: 2008 Upper Deck Goudey; biographical error on back
NON-SPORTS
Elizabeth Berkley: Topless photos from Showgirls
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