Sign-or-else no way to define heroes

In an essay in Sunday’s New York Times, a distinguished news reporter chronicled his five-city, eight-game, eight-day venture with his two sons and called out Buster Posey for not signing an autograph for his 12-year-old, concluding the moment provided a “life lesson” for how “heroes can disappoint us.” Where do we begin? Autograph seekers represent the best and worst of baseball. The wide-eyed youth getting a rare glimpse of his favorite player, and an autograph is the bonus. On the other hand: a parent providing false hope to his kid, shoving him to the front of the scrum, trying to get the athlete’s attention and ripping him if/when he doesn’t sign.

Here’s some advice for all parents who want to push their kids in this direction: Don’t.

The less you’re involved, the better. The farther you’re away, the better. The fewer props, the better. The less you say, the better.

Don’t hold a “Posey for Prez!” sign over your kid’s head when he’s seeking an autograph outside the visitors’ clubhouse at Wrigley Field following a Giants loss — as the Times reporter did two straight days.

Posey and others tend to sign for kids when their parents are at a distance. More genuine that way. Less chance of signing for pros who obtain autographs for profit, though pros often hire kids to do the work for them.

The Times reporter wrote that his kids got autographs from five Giants, including Madison Bumgarner. No Posey, though. “What a jerk,” the reporter’s kid said before he grabbed the sign and threw it in the garbage.

Posey ranks in the middle of Giants who sign autographs. Not as much as Brandon Crawford, not as little as some others. No player is busier, though. Aside from all the pregame prep work demanded of a catcher, Posey is constantly pulled by the public relations and community relations departments.

He’s the commissioner of Junior Giants and does other work — including with the George Mark Children’s House — that isn’t always recognized, which he prefers. His “never give up” encouragement to a 9-year-old with cerebral palsy prompted the child to continue playing baseball, and he has given his time to a family’s foundation after the family’s 13-year-old daughter died as a result of a peanut allergy.

Heroes can disappoint us.