  If you want to get a player's
autograph, there's probably no better place to go than
Meiji Jingu Stadium. But if you're planning on waiting
for your favorite player on the edge of the field, you're
likely to be disappointed. With chain-link fences
surrounding the playing field, it's rather difficult to
pass pen and paper to someone on the other side. Your
best bet at autograph-hunting lies outside the stadium.
Since
Jingu Stadium hosts afternoon college baseball
tournaments every summer, Swallows players often practice
on the field behind, and across the four lane street from
their home ballpark. The Swallows clubhouse lies outside
Jingu, near the right field foul pole (see map). Before each game, you'll find
players walking between the two. Because all Swallows
home games start at 6:20 PM, you'll probably see Yakult
players entering Jingu between 4:30 and 5:30.
Waiting
in line to buy tickets, I've twice seen catcher Atsuya Furuta ride by on his mountain bike. When a late
July game was canceled by an impending typhoon, Yakult
outfielder Dwayne Hosey stood near the clubhouse entrance.
For about thirty minutes, he signed autographs for about
a hundred fans who had come hoping to see a game.
The Asahi
Evening News quoted Hosey as saying, "I like
people. If they're fans, then they say hello to you. They
ask for an autograph, shake your hand, take your picture.
That's not a problem with me."
While
players like Hosey are often willing to give autographs,
their generosity shouldn't be taken for granted. These
guys are working nearly every day between February and
October. They're putting in a heavy time at pre-game
workouts and they're under daily pressure to perform
well. It's easy to understand why signing a lot of
autographs before a game might be a hassle.
While
most famous for his 868 home runs, Sadaharu Oh also signed an amazing number of
autographs, often signing photos and baseballs sent to
him in the mail . . . from America. Just as often, the
Japanese home run king would stand for more than an hour
giving autographs until every one was satisfied. But he
made a personal policy.  If he didn't have time to give
everyone an autograph, he wouldn't give any. It just
wouldn't be fair, Oh reasoned.
So
if players walk by and don't notice your pen and paper,
don't take it personally.
But
if they do stop, chances are they may either be in a
hurry or lugging a heavy gym bag. Make it easy on them by
having your paper ready (on a notepad or something easy
to write on) and by removing the cap from your pen
(felt-tip markers are usually the best). Saying
"onegaishimasu" (please) and "domo aragato
gozaimasu" (thank you) is also a good idea.
There
are good and bad times of the year to ask for an
autograph. Pre-season and all-star games have the loosest
atmosphere, and players are more willing to accommodate
fans. Also, after the pennant race has been decided,
there are usually a number of "statistically
meaningless" games, where the pressure less intense.
This is one of the best times to approach players.
But
during the August and September pennant race, players are
often exhausted and under a lot of stress. Better to
leave them alone.
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