Cupertino Collector is 'Hooked on Autographs'

Cupertino resident Joe Galiardi's collection of 300-plus autographed golf balls spans the "A to Z" of professional golfers (Bill Andrade to Fuzzy Zoeller), and includes seven presidents as well other golfing athletes, entertainers, and celebrities.

Galiardi details this hobby in his book, Hooked on Autographs.

Now 76, Galiardi started as a pre-teen while attending baseball games with his father at Forbes Field, Pittsburg. Galiardi asked the players to sign the picture cards that came in Topps bubble-gum packages.

"It was much easier to get players to sign baseball cards back in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The players were flattered when a young boy asked them to sign an autograph," he says. "I discovered later that the cards are more valuable when they are original--without signatures on them."

His autographed golf ball collection started in 1989 when he waited patiently in line at the inaugural Transamerica Senior Golf Tournament at the Silverado County Club in Napa for an autograph from Arnold Palmer — an encounter that has developed into an off-the-golf course friendship. 

Galiardi had become an avid golfer when he moved to Cupertino near and was asked to complete a foursome in a charity round.

He began collecting logo golf balls from the courses he played. After filling two 72-ball racks, he shifted his focus to getting them autographed. And the idea of having a collection of top players' autographs eventually became his book. 

To house his growing collection, Galiardi converted a bedroom. He chronicles the mini-museum in his book, with a chapter called a "Tour of Golf Room."  

The Golf Room displays the autographed golf balls and other memorabilia — photographs, books and magazines--even one of Palmer's Bullseye putters.

In one case are the seven United States president's autographed golf balls, including Barack Obama. A second display case labeled "Golf Legends" holds autographed golf balls from Golf Hall of Fame members, including Kathy Whitworth, who won 88 Ladies Professional Golf Association victories.

The net proceeds from his book are donated to the Walter Reed Society, Washington, D.C., established to aid our wounded troops and their families financially. Galiardi's sister Rose Marie Mologne, is one of the seven founders of the Walter Reed Society.

"Recently Rose got me an autographed ball from Gen. David Petraeus when he visited the hospital at Walter Reed.

Galiardi's collecting focus is now on the autographs of golfers who are champions at the Masters Tournament.

"I'm getting pretty particular," he says.