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 Galiardi says he was, "born to be a collector." He recalls building World War II model planes in 1942 at age 7 in Western Pennsylvania and collecting comic books, stamps, and baseball cards. A fierce competitor even then, Galiardi outdid his fellow card-collecting friends by getting his baseball cards signed at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Joe Galiardi is an avid golfer himself. "It was easy in the late '40s/early '50s," Galiardi said. "I'd just go to the rail and call out to them. Players were flattered. It's a different world today." After that first signed Arnold Palmer ball, Galiardi began collecting autographs on balls from the game's greatest players. His collection, now totaling over 230 signed balls, includes Chi Chi Rodriguez, Byron Nelson, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, a Stanford University sophomore named Tiger Woods, and more. One year, at the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Golf Tournament, Galiardi spotted two of his boyhood idols, Johnny Lujack and Ralph Kiner, inspiring him to expand his autographed ball collection to non-golf celebrities, a roster that now includes Bob Hope, Evander Holyfield, Kerri Walsh, Mario Lemieux, Pat Boone, and scores more. The story behind Galiardi's George H.W. Bush ball is one of his favorites, demonstrating his tenacity and fast thinking in attaining his objective. "Nobody could have gotten his autograph that day," Galiardi said. "But I did." Bush was playing in the AT&T National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach shortly after leaving office. Galiardi staked out Bush's first tee on the practice round. Though it was crowded, Galiardi maneuvered to an opening where Bush would pass by, then called out, "President Bush, you knew my late brother-in-law, Major General Lewis Mologne." Mologne, who had commanded Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the 1980s, was married to Galiardi's sister, Rose Marie, a founding member of the Walter Reed Society. "Yes, I did," Bush acknowledged. Galiardi quickly asked to have a ball signed. "The Secret Service didn't like that," Galiardi said, but Bush acquiesced. "I normally always retrieve the ball between my thumb and forefinger, but he thrust it in my hand. Half of the signature went on my palm. But I was the only one to get his autograph." Galiardi obtained Donald Trump's autograph mid-stride while they were walking. It was an illegible scrawl. Galiardi later mailed the ball to Trump's office, requesting that he sign the other side. "My friends said I'd never see that ball again," Galiardi said, but Trump returned it, neatly penned. "He's a class guy," Galiardi said. "I knew he would return it." Galiardi's collection is mounted on a wall in his home. He occasionally gives public presentations, taking a few balls - always the Palmer ball - along for show-and-tell. A visiting literary agent was so impressed with Galiardi's display and stories that she encouraged him to write a book. A retired public affairs manager for Allstate - no stranger to creative writing - Galiardi undertook the effort. After a year and a half of revisions, including a thumbs-up review of a draft of the first chapter by Palmer, Galiardi's Hooked on Autographs was published last fall. Galiardi says he can count on one hand the number of celebrities who have flat-out refused to sign a ball for him, although it takes persistence to get through to some. At Pebble Beach, Jack Lemmon was always focused on his game. "Catch me later," he'd say, repeatedly. "I got it after five years," said Galiardi. A chapter in his book titled, "Tricks of the Trade," describes his techniques.  Galiardi is considering donating his collection to the U.S. Golf Association Museum, if there is interest in displaying it. "I didn't do this for an investment," Galiardi said. "It's been a bigger thrill than my two holes-in-one." Twenty-plus years in, Galiardi's life-changing moment has come full circle. Inspired by that first autograph from one hero, Galiardi is now doing his small part to help change for the better the lives of other heroes. In December, he signed and mailed in the first of what he hopes will be many checks - a portion of his book's proceeds - to the Walter Reed Society, to help America's wounded soldiers who are returning home from war. Joe Galiardi lives in Cupertino, Calif. with his wife, Judy. Hooked on Autographs is available at Amazon.com for $13.95. Contact Galiardi at joe@hookedonautographs.com or visit www.hookedonautographs.com. |
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