The Autograph Experience: A Collector and an NFL Legend Share Their Stories

From childhood letters to professional athletes to the realities of paid autograph signings, the latest Reclaim CoLab Podcast explores what happens on both sides of the autograph table.

For generations of sports fans, collecting autographs has been about much more than obtaining a signature. It's about the excitement of connecting with a childhood hero, the anticipation of receiving something special in the mail, and the memories created through encounters with the athletes and celebrities we admire.

But what does that experience look like from the other side?

WATCH EPISODE HERE: https://youtu.be/66DDsm9ZaLc

In the latest episode of the Reclaim CoLab Podcast, hosts Eric Wagenmaker, founder of Reclaim Customs, and Herman Moore, former Detroit Lions All-Pro wide receiver, welcome longtime autograph collector Al Heminger for a fascinating conversation about the autograph hobby, its evolution, and the very different experiences of collectors and athletes.

When the Mailbox Was Part of the Hobby

Long before online autograph marketplaces, organized private signings, and social media, young collectors often relied on a much simpler approach: writing letters.

For Al Heminger, whose experience in the hobby spans more than 35 years, autograph collecting began during childhood.

At just 10, 11, and 12 years old, Al spent countless hours writing letters to professional athletes, carefully enclosing trading cards and mailing them away in hopes that one day those same cards would return bearing an authentic signature.

There were no guarantees. Sometimes the cards came back signed. Sometimes they didn't come back at all.

But that uncertainty was part of the experience.

Al recalls those early years and the excitement of checking the mailbox, hoping to discover that one of his favorite athletes had taken the time to respond.

It's a nostalgic reminder of an era when collecting wasn't necessarily about investment potential or resale value. Sometimes, the greatest reward was simply knowing that a childhood hero had held your card, signed it, and sent it back.

Meeting Your Heroes: The Good and the Bad

As Al grew older, his passion for collecting expanded beyond through-the-mail autograph requests.

Over the years, he attended paid autograph signings, memorabilia shows, and other events that gave him opportunities to meet athletes and celebrities in person.

Not every encounter went as expected.

During the podcast, Al shares stories about both positive and disappointing experiences, offering an honest look at what happens when collectors finally meet the people they've admired from a distance.

Some interactions create memories that last a lifetime. Others can change the way a collector views a particular athlete or celebrity.

These experiences raise an interesting question: When someone pays for an autograph, are they purchasing a signature, an experience, or a little bit of both?

For many collectors, the answer is both.

Herman Moore: The Athlete's Side of the Table

One of the most compelling elements of this episode is the opportunity to hear directly from someone who has spent decades on the other side of the autograph experience.

During his NFL career and in the years since retiring, Herman Moore has received fan mail, signed countless autographs, and participated in organized signing events.

While collectors often focus on the excitement of obtaining an autograph, athletes experience these interactions from a very different perspective.

Herman shares his experiences receiving requests from fans, responding to autograph seekers, and participating in paid signings.

The conversation provides a unique opportunity to explore how athletes view these interactions, what they mean to fans, and how the autograph experience has evolved over time.

With Al representing the collector's perspective and Herman representing the athlete's, the discussion highlights something that can easily get lost in today's memorabilia marketplace: behind every autograph are two people, each bringing their own expectations and experiences to the interaction.

More Than Just a Signature

Today's autograph hobby looks dramatically different from the one Al experienced as a child.

Collectors now have access to private signings, third-party authentication services, online marketplaces, and an enormous selection of signed memorabilia.

Autographs have also become an important part of the larger collectibles economy, with certain signatures commanding substantial premiums depending on the athlete, item, rarity, and authentication.

Yet despite all these changes, the emotional connection remains.

For some collectors, a signed trading card represents an investment. For others, it represents a memory, a personal interaction, or a connection to someone who inspired them.

And sometimes, the most meaningful autograph in a collection isn't the most valuable one.

It's the one with the best story.

Watch the Reclaim CoLab Podcast

In this episode, Eric Wagenmaker, Herman Moore, and Al Heminger explore the nostalgia, excitement, frustrations, and personal experiences that make autograph collecting such a unique part of the sports memorabilia hobby.

Whether you spent your childhood mailing trading cards to athletes, regularly attend autograph signings, or simply appreciate the stories behind sports collectibles, this conversation offers something for everyone.

Because every autograph has two sides: the person asking for it and the person signing it.

Watch "The Autograph Experience: From Both Sides of the Table" on the Reclaim Customs YouTube channel.

WATCH EPISODE HERE: https://youtu.be/66DDsm9ZaLc

About Reclaim CoLab

Reclaim CoLab brings together the worlds of athletes, collectors, and entrepreneurship through conversations about trading cards, sports memorabilia, collecting culture, and the stories behind the hobby. Hosted by former Detroit Lions wide receiver Herman Moore and Reclaim Customs founder Eric Wagenmaker, the podcast explores the people, perspectives, and experiences shaping the collectibles industry.