Crowds gathered throughout Cooperstown yesterday, but nowhere were the bodies packed tighter than around booths where baseball greats signed memorabilia.
The hunt for Ripken autographs became so intense that when the inductee's golf cart neared a fence bordering a public road yesterday, dozens of people appeared within seconds asking for some Sharpie love.
One enterprising homeowner charged $10 a head for anyone who wanted to stand in his yard near the edge of the golf course. Dozens paid the fee happily, perhaps realizing that they would pay five times as much at one of the autograph booths in town.
"I got Bill Ripken, but not Cal," said Mike Bell of Columbia.
When asked if that was enough, he crinkled his face.
Cal Ripken Jr. signed for a few moments, as did Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer and a few others.
Ripken has long been known as one of the sport's most patient autograph signers. "I like doing it," he said. "It's an icebreaker. It gives me a chance to talk to people."
Asked if he gets tired of the attention, he said he does sometimes.
"I've never felt so exhausted, to be honest with you," he said, referring to his hectic schedule of appearances in recent weeks.