World Cup Soccer Beauties Hope Solo & Christen Press Are Heroes In Rare Autograph Appearance

I was so excited about what I had just witnessed at a sports autograph show this past weekend that I hustled to the back room where the promoters were working with the guests to sign extra pieces for later resale. Mollie Ann Braciglia, the autograph guests’ agent and  the owner of MAB Celebrity Services, just about jumped out of her seat when she saw me; a working reporter with a pen and notebook, about to ambush her client.

“No press!” she exclaimed. You may know, as I learned after the show ended, that Hope Solo has been in the news lately for reasons having nothing to do with this column.  “Thank you to my fans for always standing by me and never questioning my integrity,” she wrote her 1.2 million followers on Twitter a few days ago. I’ll leave it at that.

Solo and Christine Press both flew into town to be two of the headline guests at the JP  Sports and Rock Solid sports card and autograph show in White Plains New York. In case you are unaware, as I was until the show, Solo is one of the best goalkeepers on earth,  a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, and a  USA World Cup champion on the USA’s 2015 World Cup soccer team.  Christen Press, a star forward, was Solo’s teammate on their World Cup squad.

Dozens of adoring fans, mostly young girls with their parents’ support, paid between $79 to $99 ($29 for inscriptions) for Solo and $49 to $59 ($10 for inscriptions) for Press. Solo sold about 100 tickets and Press a little bit less

In my 30 years of attending baseball card shows as a reporter and collector, I’ve met dozens of legends— everyone from Yogi Berra to Willie Mays, but no one like Solo and Press. They weren’t just the first female stars I’ve seen in person, but two of the kindest and most appealing autograph guests ever. They pretty much blew the men away on every front.

Let’s start with superficial appearances. At the last autograph show I covered for Forbes, the unassuming legends like Pete Rose and Cal Ripken wore track pants, a far cry from the sartorial elegance of Joe DiMaggio who dressed in dark suits and a tie at shows, as if at a corporate board meeting. (As he walked down the card show aisles to a stage collectors and dealers applauded him.)  Press made a bold fashion statement wearing a black overcoat over a black shirt and leggings. Solo wore a pretty white blouse.

For their part many of the young girls showed up in their soccer uniforms from head to toe in honor of their heroes.  Think about that. I’ve never seen little boys wearing their baseball uniforms to meet baseball stars.

The two long-legged, limber beauties have appeared prominently in sports and fitness magazines. Braciglia told me that, of course, their good looks make them more marketable.  I noticed a fair number of men standing by themselves on the autograph line who shared my crushes.

The two soccer stars seemed genuinely gratified to be the objects of so much affection. They looked up and smiled at each fan and reached out to shake their hands. They called the little girls “sweetie” and giggled when they did and thanked every one of them for coming. Solo and Press patiently answered questions. For example when a man expressed surprise about Solo’s height, 5 feet 9 inches, she said, “I am actually small for a goalie.”  In several instances they asked what color Sharpie their customers wanted and they signed twice on soccer balls if they thought they could improve their penmanship.

Above all, neither of them stuck to the photo op script requiring fans to pay $79 to pose with Solo and $49 with Press— a recent autograph  show practice I frown upon. As the autograph line snaked its way up to the stage, they posed for individuals, groups, and selfies— all quite happily. At one point, when I was shooting a picture of a family shooting their daughter, Press even asked me if I was satisfied with my shot. Maybe she thought I was a dad, but who cares?

If I had to pick one highlight, it was a tiny tot who couldn’t have been older than six.  When it was her turn for an autograph she darted to Press and wrapped her arms around her in a little bear hug. “Ohhh, that is so cute!” Braciglia said when I informed her. “It’s because they are legends to these girls.”

On Twitter “The SI King” gushed “@hopesolo was an absolute doll to my two girls today! Thanks a ton!!” Solo and Press weren’t paid extra to act with such humility. Nor did it require any special talent or intelligence to treat their customers with decency, no matter what their compensation.

In the winter of 1972 at the age of eleven, my mother took me to a boy’s clothing store in downtown White Plains to have Bud Harrelson, the Mets Gold Glove and 1969 World Champion short stop, sign a photo for me. Like these girls, I was awe-struck in my hero’s presence. I remember being second on line because I immediately recognized Harrelson, despite his new moustache. “I grew it to keep my lips warm during the winter,” he told me. Nineteen years later the felt-tip signature had long since faded so I took my dad to see Harrelson when he was the Mets’ manager and appearing at the New School in New York City. He resigned my photo for me. Like Solo and Press, he was an absolute doll.

For 43 years I have treasured the memories of meeting Harrelson twice with my parents and have kept my yellowed, signed photo on my apartment wall.  It heartens me to think that decades in the future dozens of young soccer fans will cherish the moments in the sun with their heroes, too, and that girls have role models in sports to emulate.

A card dealer showed me his 16 x 20 photos he had Solo and Press sign for his granddaughter. “Wow, it cost me $170,” he said. “I wish she could have been here. I also had better buy something for my grandson.”