Building a business for Hernando County sports fans
After retiring from 25 years of employment in Law Enforcement in Pasco County, Jim Keith was seeking a new adventure which would keep him active in a field that he is passionate about.
“They say do something you enjoy doing once you retire, for your retirement job. I have been a sports fan forever and collecting autographs since I was young…and decided to merge the two,” Keith said.
When growing up, Keith was a huge baseball fan. He also appreciated what the players gave back to kids and fans.
So Keith developed a business in which he could facilitate the relationship between fans and players. His business focuses on meet and greets where fans can get to know the professional athletes they admire.
“I am more geared for the meet and greet… (fans) to be able come and spend a minute with someone, to get their autograph and have a story to tell,” Keith said.
Autograph Shack began in January of this year and he kicked off the first meet and greet with Adam Humphries, wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in August, followed by Alex Colome, relief pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays in October.
“Everyone had a smile on their face,” Keith said when talking about the meet and greet with Humphries.
“I am building this little business to give the kids of today and sports fans an opportunity to meet the people (professional athletes) they watch on TV,” Keith said.
Last weekend, Keith booked two other Tampa Bay Buccaneers, tight end Cameron Brate and linebacker Kwon Alexander for his third meet and greet at St. Joan of Arc in Spring Hill. With a modest turn out, the fans lined up to get their Buc merchandise signed as well as get their photo taken with these pro athletes.
“To show that I care…that is the reason I came out here. I am here for them,” Alexander said.
Building this business has provided dividends for Keith beyond anything monetary.
“I enjoy seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces and being able to provide the opportunity they are probably not going to get. It’s a part of my background, wanting to provide…from being with the sheriff’s office and baseball league, it’s kind of giving back,” Keith said.
Keith is a Spring Hill resident who has been involved in sports all his life. He played baseball at Springstead for four years and spent 19 years as director of Spring Hill Dixie.
To find out who is going to be at the next Autograph Shack meet and greet… visit his website at http://www.autographshack.net/
