GaryMrMets
02-20-2003, 01:16 AM
Diamondbacks Will Sign for Fans at Home Games
MESA, Ariz. -- The Arizona Diamondbacks will have a mandatory 10-minute autograph session before every night home game.
Owner Jerry Colangelo said all team members except that night's starting pitcher will be required to sign for the fans.
After batting practice ends, approximately one hour, 40 minutes before gametime, players and coaches will be available to sign. The Bank One Ballpark scoreboard will count down the 10 minutes, and the visiting team will then be allowed to start batting practice.
Colangelo said Tuesday the autograph sessions are designed to help the team better connect with fans at time when the economy is soft and 10 percent of last year's season-ticket holders declined to renew.
"You better reach out, you better extend yourself, because it's the right thing to do. At this time and place, it's a requirement,'' he said.
There was some grumbling about disrupted pregame routines, but players generally endorsed the idea.
"I don't mind,'' closer Matt Mantei said. "I sign anyway.''
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
MESA, Ariz. -- The Arizona Diamondbacks will have a mandatory 10-minute autograph session before every night home game.
Owner Jerry Colangelo said all team members except that night's starting pitcher will be required to sign for the fans.
After batting practice ends, approximately one hour, 40 minutes before gametime, players and coaches will be available to sign. The Bank One Ballpark scoreboard will count down the 10 minutes, and the visiting team will then be allowed to start batting practice.
Colangelo said Tuesday the autograph sessions are designed to help the team better connect with fans at time when the economy is soft and 10 percent of last year's season-ticket holders declined to renew.
"You better reach out, you better extend yourself, because it's the right thing to do. At this time and place, it's a requirement,'' he said.
There was some grumbling about disrupted pregame routines, but players generally endorsed the idea.
"I don't mind,'' closer Matt Mantei said. "I sign anyway.''
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.