I met Steve Renko last week. Who is Steve Renko and why should I care, you ask? The first question (who?) is easy, mostly thanks to Baseball-Reference.com. Renko is a former major league baseball pitcher. Pitching for seven teams during his 15-year career, he lost more games than he won. Some would call him a journeyman. The second question (why?) is a bit harder to explain. Renko is among a growing number of ex-athletes (and minor celebrities) who have developed a second career and a second income on the celebrity ‘meet and greet’ circuit. My friends cannot believe people actually pay these celebs for autographs, and how much they pay. A few years back, a friend and I went to an old-timers wrestling convention. (Okay, yes, old-time wrestling was a guilty pleasure of mine.) Laurie was stunned by the size and passion of the crowd, as well as the amount they were paying for signatures and pictures with their wrestling heroes. During a four-hour session, wrestlers would accommodate a line of 300 fans, paying $20+ for each item signed, and most bought several items. She was continually amazed at the lines (lines which she somehow managed to circumvent for me, but that is another story). Laurie and I also went to a Hollywood Collectibles Convention, featuring Robert Englund. She knew what to expect, but it is still odd seeing the huge lines. Englund had the biggest line, but he played Freddy Krueger, a movie icon. How do you explain long lines for P.J. Soles and David Naughton? Yet, the lines were there, a continual stream of giddy fans, wads of cash in hand, waiting for their time with the celeb(s) of their choice. I am not criticizing these people. I already admitted I attend these conventions (however, due to some working relationships with the promoters, I have been spared the usual expenses at times). I even have a wall of photos taken with stars. I just think it is a fascinating concept. An obscure player like Renko can conceivably earn more money in a year now than he did pitching. Actors like Adam West (television’s Batman) and Butch Patrick (tv’s Eddie Munster), who would otherwise be forgotten, command top dollar. Even basic one-hit wonders like Larry Thomas (the Soup Nazi) and Tiffany (’80s pop sensation) have jumped on the gravy train. I don’t begrudge the celebs either. I just wonder what the going rate is for the co-owner of the 3rd largest publication distribution company in the Midwest. -John Wroblewski, distribution specialist