7/16/09- Eastern League All-Star Game
I figured this would be a great event where I would be able to get nearly everyone I needed. However, I was very wrong. The autograph signing was terrible. Players sat on the field and fans waited on line in the stadium for the teams they wanted. The lines intertwined with eachother and I was never sure if I was on the right line until I actually got close to the players (that is slightly exaggerated). I waited in line for Portland and my "helper" went to the Akron line. After about half and hour I finally made it through the line and got Dustin Richardson on a card, Junichi Tazawa on a CIC and Lars Anderson on an 8x10. He was not sweet spotting balls and it was strictly one per (not that he would have signed 2 anyway) so I couldn't get a 50/50 done. Staff was also watching the players sign and making sure people didn't cut in line. I then was going to try and go for Reading but the line was insane so I went to Harrisburg becuase it was the shortest line. I got Josh Wilkie, Jack Spradlin and Marvin Lowrance on a program. I looked at Reading and Portland again and the lines were still insane. I talked to my "helper" and he had gotten me Carlos Santana 2/2 8x10s (1 for a 50/50), Beau Mills on a card I really needed for a set, and on a program Jeanmar Gomez, Nick Weglarz, Carlton Smith and Vinnie Pestano. He then went on the Reading line and I went on Portland. I saw I had no shot of getting to the players so I went on the New Britain line and got Matt Fox, Whit Robbins and Anthony Slama on a custom printout. Robbins also signed a card for a 50/50. Rene Tosoni had already left to get ready for the Home Run Derby and I don't know where Brian Dinkleman was. I then joined my "helper" on the Reading line, we never made it to the player. I then waited by the dugout and got Nick Weglarz 1/1 CIC. Overall it was a pretty disappointing night, but I did end up with some good signatures. Nearly none of these will be scanned.
6/30/09- Wareham Gatemen vs Orleans Firebirds
Just got back from my trip to Cape Cod. Last summer I was able to go to 5 games, this summer I was only able to go to one so I wanted to make the most of it. The first guy I got was Mike Ness (Duke) he signed 1/1 blank 3x5s. I didn't really need him but I wanted to get my first autograph as quickly as possible. Then Wareham's bus came and I went over to their side. Unfortunately two of my main targets, Brandon Workman and Connor Rowe had not been officially added to the roster yet. However, Wareham still had a lot of talent. My first success on their side was Brett Eibner (Arkansas). He signed 2/2 cics (1 for a 50/50). He was drafted in the 5th round out of High School and opted to go to college instead and has really become a star. Then I got Jack Armstrong (Vanderbilt) 2/2 cics (1 for a 50/50), and Zach Wilson (Arizona State) 2/2 cics (1 for a 50/50). Next I saw my main target Derek Dietrich (Georgia Tech). He was a 3rd round pick out of High School and is a projected 1st rounder next year. He also played for team USA last year and turned them down this year to play for Wareham. I asked him to sign and he came over no problem. He signed 1/1 USA baseball card and also signed a batting practice ball on the sweet spot (it looks really nice even though it was very used). I then went back to the Orleans side and got Rob Rasmussen (UCLA) 2/2 cics (1 for a 50/50). Then after checking out the Orleans side and the bullpen to see if anyone was around I went back to the Wareham side to try and get Arizona State catcher Jordan Swagerty. I saw him and asked him to sign the cards I had. He said he'd "love to" and signed all 5 I had and took a picture with me. I went back to the Orleans sifed I got Gary Brown (CS Fullerton) 4/4 cics (2 for a 50/50). I also got a picture with him, he is a super nice guy. I also got Casey Gaynor (Rutgers) 1/1 blank 3x5. That was all pregame. I got back during the 7th inning and waited around postgame. A ton of players on Orleans stood and signed on the field. I got Jeremy Gould (Duke) 2/2 cics (1 for a 50/50), Alex Hassan (Duke) 2/2 cics (1 for a 50/50). Now the funny part of the night. Deck McGuire (Georgia Tech) was one of my main targets. I saw number 33 and went over to him and said
"Mr. McGuire can you sign my ball on the sweet spot?"
D.M.- "Oh wow sweet spot" (as he is signing)
Me- "And can you write '09 ACC pitcher of the year also? I'm a big fan of you and Dietrich and Georgia Tech Baseball."
He begins to write in on a side panel then says "I'm not McGuire."
So I ended up getting Tommy Kahnle (Lynn) 1/1 SS Batting Practice ball with a 0 written on the side panel. All this time I was watching a hard throwing #33 in the bullpen and I got the wrong guy. It was pretty embarrasing but now Tommy Kahnle has a new fan. I then got Jaren Matthews (Rutgers) 1/1 blank 3x5 to finish my night. Overall I had a lot of fun, and got some a lot of signatures. I just wish that Rowe, Workman and McGuire would have been there. Thanks for reading!
6/19/09- Rays Hotel
I hit up the Rays again today. I did pretty well, I didn't get either of my main targets Longoria or Price. Here's what I got
Joe Nelson 1/1, Dave Martinez 1/1, Carlos Pena 1/1 + pic with, Ben Zobrist 1/1 + pic with and Gabe Gross 2/2 + pic with. I also got coach Tom Foley 1/1 ic. And two of my favorite successes so far. I got J.P. Howell and Dioner Navarro to sign the pictures that I took with them the last time I saw the Rays. Shields signed but I had nothing for him and I also got a pic with Jeff Niemann who racked today.
Picturs of the cards I got signed
6/6/09- Rays Hotel
Today I went to the Rays hotel and here is what I got.
Willy Aybar 1/1, James Shields 1/1, Jeff Niemann 1/1, Andy Sonnanstine 3/4, Jason Isringhausen 1/1 and Kevin Kennedy 1/1 (index card will not be scanned). I also got pictures with Dioner Navarro and J.P. Howell.
Pictures of the rest of the Rays cards
A few weeks back I went to the Brewers hotel and got Brad Nelson 1/1 (index card), Bill Hall 1/1, Mike Cameron 1/1 and Jeff Suppan 1/1. These will not be scanned.
3/12/09- Big East Tournament
Providence Pregame
Weyinmi Efejuku 1/1 3x5
Marshon Brooks 1/1 3x5
Geoff McDermott 1/1 3x5
Louisvill Pregame
Earl Clark 1/1 3x5
Samardo Samuels 1/1 3x5
Terrence Williams 1/1 SI cover
Walter McCarty 1/1 card
Postgame
Earl Clark 2/2 8x10s (one I got for another collector)
Samardo Samuels 1/1 Custom team 8x10
Jerry Smith 1/1 Custom Team 8x10
Marquette Pregame
Jerel McNeal 1/1 3x5 (wasn't sure it was him until I got the sig)
Dominic James 1/1 3x5, he's a really nice guy.
Postagame
Wesley Matthews 1/1 3x5
Could have gotten more but felt bad asking after such a tough loss.
Villanova was not allowed to sign pregame.
Postgame
Corey Stokes 1/1 3x5
Corey Fisher 1/1 3x5
Dante Cunningham 1/1 3x5
Scottie Reynolds 1/1 3x5
West Virginia was impossible to get to because all the Nova fans were still waiting for Nova to come out, and at the same time they were blocking access to the WVU players. Pitt was not allowed to sign pregame.
11/9/08- Knicks
Waited outside MSG before the game. I did pretty well. On cards I got Malik Rose 3/3, Quentin Richardson 2/2, Wilson Chandler 1/1, Mardy Collins 1/1 and Allan Houston 1/1. On 3x5s I got Danilo Gallinari 2/2, David Lee 2/2, Nate Robinson 1/1 and Jamal Crawford 1/2. Scans of the cards are below.
September 9, 2008- Local Card Store
This year like in years past my local card store had two NFL first round picks signing for free. I got both Vernon Gholston and Kenny Phillips on authentic 8x10s.
August 30, 2008- Brooklyn vs Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley- On cards, (a couple with help) Jake Jefferies, Frank De Los Santos, Jason Corder, Mike Sheridan, Tyree Hayes, Tyler Hauschild, John Mollicone, Jeff Carroll, Shane Dyer, Matt Gorgen, Rafael Montalvo and Dustin Biell. And TIM BECKHAM SS ROMLB! I did not see Nick Barnese, Glenn Gibson or Kyle Lobstein.
Brooklyn- On cards (silver sharpie) Eric Campbell, Jimmy Johnson, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Cesar Cordido and Ike Davis. On blank 3x5s Erik Turgeon and J.R. Voyles. And Reese Havens SS ROMLB with 08 1st Rd Pick inscription. Great day at the park!
August 22, 2008- Lowell v Brooklyn
Lowell- Tom Goodwin 1/1 cards, Tim Federowicz 5/5 cards, Derrik Gibson 2/2 cics, Kyle Weiland 1/1 cics. On blank 3x5s I got Drake Britton, Yeiper Castillo, Alex Hale, Robert Romero, Hunter Strickland, Ronald Bermudez, Mitch Dening and Luis Sumoza x2.
Brooklyn- Got help from somebody, all on an ice cream helmet. Seth Williams, Matt Smith and Stephen Clyne.
5 days and 5 games, does not get much better then that. Did all the games pregame and in 4 of them got help from a buddy who just likes getting autos and then gives them to me. Heres how I did.
August 1, 2008- Chatham v Orleans
Just got a few guys on Orleans that I had not gotten yet, all of the are on 3x5s, Isaac Morales x2, Travis Tartamella x2 and Elliot Glynn x2.
This was a great week of graphing, if anyone wants pics let me know and I'll get them up
August 1, 2008- Wareham v Brewster
Nobody on Brewster and on Wareham I got all these guys on 3x5s as well as a sheet of paper with Wareham's stats and roster that they gave out at Brewster. Josh Slaats, Jake Lemmerman, Brett Eibner, Blake Dean, Cole Leonida, Tom Stack-Babich, Ryan Pineda, Zach Brewster, Raynor Campbell, Matt Bashore, Kipp Schutz and Matt Way.
July 31, 2008- Wareham v Orleans
On 3x5s I got Blake Dean, Brandon Workman x2, Zach Brewster x2, Jimmy Saris, Robby Broach and Austin Graham. On 3x5s on Orleans I got Matt Thompson, Alex Hassan, Martin Viramontes, Tim Wheeler, Angelo Songco, Nate Freiman, Matt Bowman, Brad Gemberling and Shaun Kort. I also got Adam Wilk x2 on pictures I took, he inscribed one with an all- star inscription as requested, Nate Freiman also signed a pic I took.
July 29, 2008- Orleans v Chatham
Wasn't expecting to go to this game, but I got Kyle Blair, Justin Marks and Grant Green on blank index cards, (3x5 and 4x6 each) and I got Matt Harvey SS ROMLB.
July 28, 2008- Brewster v Orleans
It seems Brewster has a no signing pre game policy but I did manage to get Rob Gilliam, Wade Broyles and #16 on a team sheet. On an Orleans team sheet I got Rich Poythress, Brad Gemberling, Nate Freiman, Angelo Songco, Brad Stillings, Tim Wheeler, Matt Bowman, Mike Murphy, Gary Brown, Quinn Hasselhorst, Kyle Spraker and Mike Weldon (not 100% sure about that). On an all-star roster I got Poythress and Justin Earls (that was an accident, he wasn't and all-star).
7/14/08- MLB All-Star Fan Fest
Went to Fan Fest, heres the story. I got Rollie Fingers and Andre Dawson on cards. Paul Molitor on an ice cream helmet with HOF inscription. I was going to go back in line and found out it was a 6 hour wait so I left the line and went downstairs. There I got Justin Tuck on a 3x5 and on a T-Shirt. On 3x5s I got Evan Roberts, Joe Benigno, Alan Colmes, Darryl Hamilton and Jack McDowell. I also got Jeff Nelson on a postcard and Todd McFarlane on a picture. Security guards wouldn't let Winfield or Carew sign, and a guy asks for a pic and Winfield stops and poses with him. Why couldn't they have just signed?? Anyway, overall fun experience, my only complaints are the lines and the security guards.
7/8/08- Rays Hotel
First off the failures, I got rejected by Percival, Pena and Garza. On cards I got Shawn Riggans, Andy Sonnanstine (really nice guy), and Grant Balfour. I got Dave Martinez, Gary Glover (who I though was Gabe Gross), Jonny Gomes and J.P. Howell on a team roster. I also got Dan Wheeler on a Devil Rays authentic batting practice hat and I got Dioner Navarro on a mini helmet. Scans/pics will be up later.
5/17/08- Card Show
Bert Campaneris was signing for free, I got him on card.
3/29/08- Nets vs Suns
Did the Suns at shoot around and did much better then I thought I would. I got D.J. Strawberry, Brian Skinner, Boris Diaw and Steve Nash on cards! Strawberry and Skinner both signed a ton. Nash signed my card upside down but I am just happy he signed for me. I also got Sean Marks on an index card. Stoudemire signed a lot, just in odd places so I could not get him.
3/29/08- Card Show
First In Person success of the year. I got former Yankee Oscar Gamble on a card and a custom 8.5/11, the 8.5/11 will not be scanned.
12/30/07- Knicks
Waited outside MSG a couple hours before the game, got some help from the fam. Heres how I did. Renaldo Balkman x3, Jamal Crawford x3, Eddy Curry x2, Mardy Collins x2, David Lee x3,Quentin Richardson x3, Nate Robison x2, Herb Williams x2, Jerome James x2 and Stephon Marbury x2. I missed Randolph, he was in a rush, did not try for Randolph Morris but heard he turned someone down and I didn't recognize Fred Jones, he was standing right in front of me and nobody there even reacted. But great day! Scans will be up in groups:
October 6, 2007- Card Show
Got Johnny Podres on an 8x10 and on a card, nice guy and a nice sig to add to my collection.
September 4, 2007- Local Card Store
My local card store had another free signing for Darrelle Revis and Aaron Ross. I got them both twice, I got Revis on a mini nfl autograph football and on an 8x10 with Ross. I got Ross on the 8x10 and on a custon 8.5x11. Both were really nice guys and I wish them the best of luck!
August 14, 2007- New York Penn League All Star Game
Went in with a bunch of goals, pretty much got them all except for getting Tyler Henson on cards and getting Brett Cecil on a cic (got him on a ball)
National League- Colton Willems x2, Glenn Gibson x3, Austin McClune x2, Collin DeLome x2, Tyler Mach x3, Dylan Owen x2, Torre Langley x3, Bill Rhinehart x2, Chance Chapman x2,, Drew Naylor x2, Adrian Alaniz x2, Josh Dew x2, Nicholas Stillwagon x3, Steve Brown x2, Jess Todd x2, Justin Bylar x3, Ryan Anetsberger x2, Hector Berrios x2, Matt Hunter x2 (the trainer, really nice sig), Andrew Brown x2, Edgar Alfonzo x2, Jacob Eigsti x2, Guadalupe Jabalera x1, Aaron Seuss x2, Matthew Cusick x2, Garrett Parcell x2, Keanon Simon x2, Brandon Kawal x2, Jason Dominguez x2, Matthew Bouchard x2, Will Morgan x2 and 1 mystery sig. All the players are on an all star sheet, a ball or cics. They had the whole team (cept Willems) lined up to sign than you got back on line for the American league. I did not get American league players on the line so I waited for them to walk in the clubhouse or on the field.
American League- Jason Ragan x1, Brett Cecil x1, Todd Martin (ball blue sharpie on a panel, put all my stuff away when he came by), Justin Snyder x1, Emeel Salem x2 (reallly nice), Maiko Loyola x1.
July 26, 2007
Local card store has connections with the NBA and got Corey Brewer and Joakim Noah to sign for free. Got both of them on a street and smiths page already signed by Horford and got them on 8x10s. When I get my pictures back I will put them up.
July 16, 2007 Vermont Lake Monsters vs Staten Island Yankees
Good day overall, I got two of my goals in Colton Willems and Taylor Holiday. I did not get Dellin Betances though, I didn't even see him in the dugout. Willems is a great signer but not very talkative. Bill Rhinehart and Justin Snyder were really nice as well.
Vermont- Colton Willems x2, Bill Rhinehart (Sweet Spot of an OLB), Craig Stinson, Anthony Benner, Ricky Caouto, Aaron Seuss, Ryan Delaughter, Jorge De La Cruz, Mark Gildea, Ryan Buchter, Luke Pisker and Darnell Coles signed a team ball.
Staten Island- On a team bat, James Lasala, Christopher Carrara, Justin Snyder, Taylor Holiday, Adam Olbrychowski, Jason Kiley, Nick Chigges, Ryan Pope and what I think is D.J. Hollingsworth.
June 28, 2007 Falmouth Commodores vs Orleans Cardinals
All I had left for this game was blank 3x5 index cards. Just went for players on Falmouth which was the hardest team to get to sign. I ended up getting Conor Gillaspie, Christian Friedich, Matt Hague, Andrew Giobbi, Brett Graffy, Erik Bird, Kevin Dubler, David Adams and Aaron Shafer. One player said that he would not sign blank cards. David Adams asked if I had anything else to sign, he ended up signing anyway. Talked to Shafer for a while, was really nice but asked what I was going to do with the autographs. Great trip for autographing!
June 26, 2007 Hyannis Mets vs Orleans Cardinals
Got an official Cape Cod League t-shirt and went to get it signed by Cardinals players. Got there an hour before game time and most of the Cardinals team was sitting on this deck outside the field. Got the shirt signed by a couple guys and got to talking with Nate Freiman. He is the nicest player I have ever met at a game. He got my shirt passed around to every player that was around. It ended up getting signed by Chris D'Arnaud, Dennis Raben, Jon Gaston, Will Atwood, Freiman, Mark Sobolewski, Brandon Crawford, Tignor Hampton, Marcus Jones, Travis Tartamella, Eric Reese, Eric Surkamp, Jose Jimenez, Jason Novak and Sam Brown.
June 25, 2007 Bourne Braves vs. Brewster Whitecaps
Brewster- Ryan Babineau, Willy Fox, Danny Lima, Keith Shinaberry and Stephen Porlier (I think) on a program.
Bourne- Brian Pruitt, got him talking to Danny Lima outside the field. These games are so laid back that I went into the Bourne dugout and got Brett Basham, Kevin Hoeff, Jordan Flasher and D.J. Mitchell on the ball.
Got Felix Millan 2/2 on a homemade 8.5/11 and an authentic 8/10 (not going to scan)
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