It's been a while since I've gone totally off the topic of collecting, but I was thinking about this recently and figured I'd put it out there into the world.
What's the longest trade chain that you can think of in current baseball?
By this I mean picking a player who was acquired by his current team for a player, who was traded for a player, going on back as far as you can get until you hit a wall with a player who was drafted or signed as a free agent.
A recent example would be the Indians: Yasiel Puig was acquired for Trevor Bauer, who was acquired for Shin-Soo Choo, who was acquired for Ben Broussard, who was acquired for Russell Branyan. That goes back to 1994: not bad.
Travis Fryman was an interesting one for the Tribe just because of the sheer volume of third basemen involved: Fryman for Matt Williams, for Jeff Kent, for Carlos Baerga, for Joe Carter, for George Frazier, for Toby Harrah, for Buddy Bell. Of the eight players involved, six played at least a significant bit of time at third for the Indians and spans a 1969 draft pick on up to a 2002 retirement. You can even sub in Jose Vizcaino for Jeff Kent: both were acquired for Baerga and both were shipped out for Williams and both played a bit at third in their careers (though only Kent did for the Indians).
Of course, the longest one for the Tribe now is Corey Kluber, who can be traced back through eight trades to Jerry Dybzinski's 15th round selection in the 1977 draft (14 slots after him? NBA All-Star Danny Ainge!). And with the trade rumors that have circulated around Kluber for the last year-plus, that chain could grow longer (Currently: Kluber for Jake Westbrook for David Justice for Kenny Lofton for Willie Blair for Alex Sanchez for Bud Black for Pat Tabler for Dybzinski).
Looking through the closest team to me geographically, the Rangers don't really have any longer than one or two links: most acquisitions have been via free agency and drafts lately, or a single chain like Willie Calhoun for free agent signee Yu Darvish. Even most departing players have been as free agents or retirements with zero return (Matt Garza, Julio Franco, Josh Hamilton, Mitch Moreland).
So, who has the longest current chain in all of baseball? Who has the longest one for your team? Any fun oddities like the third-base-heavy chain of Bell to Fryman?
EDIT
A few fun ones from some googling, as the question has been asked before...
The Mets can trace Robinson Cano's acquisition back to drafting Tim Bogar
Martin Prado of the Marlins goes back to Charles Johnson
Blog is on indefinite hiatus as of November 2020.
Showing posts with label Cleveland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cleveland. Show all posts
Friday, August 9, 2019
Saturday, August 3, 2019
Super Collector? Fingers crossed...
Every four years or so, I make it a point to go to the National Sports Colllectors Convention because it's typically in my hometown of Cleveland. I went last year, I went in 2014, and before missing a few years in the 2000s due to a lack of funds, I went in 2004, 2001, and 1997. This year's show in Chicago is getting skipped, as almost certainly will next year's Atlantic City show and 2021's Chicago show. But I'll be back to Cleveland in 2022. The plans are already being set in motion...
Meanwhile, you may know my favorite baseball player of all-time is Cory Snyder. Ever since I was four years old, I have no idea why, but Snyder was my favorite and remained my favorite even after the Indians shipped him to the White Sox, and he bounced on to the Blue Jays, Giants, Dodgers, Red Sox org, Padres org, and finally Spring Training in 1997 with the Cardinals. I even had a Dodgers hat when I was in third and fourth grade.
Anyways, out of 1068 career games, Cory Snyder played 657 of them in an Indians uniform.
So you can imagine how dumbfounded I was when I heard he was one of the VIP autograph signers at the National this year. Not one of the Cleveland shows, but in Chicago, where he played a whole 50 games (and batted only .188, thanks to Walt Hriniak's "my way or no way" approach to coaching hitters).
So, I'm missing out on a chance to meet my favorite player. But I did apply for Cory Snyder Super Collector status over at SCF today (the same day he's signing at the National).
While I wait for approval or denial, take a look at some of the photos I took of my collection. I don't have all the cards photographed, but here are a few of the better items and oddities.
Meanwhile, you may know my favorite baseball player of all-time is Cory Snyder. Ever since I was four years old, I have no idea why, but Snyder was my favorite and remained my favorite even after the Indians shipped him to the White Sox, and he bounced on to the Blue Jays, Giants, Dodgers, Red Sox org, Padres org, and finally Spring Training in 1997 with the Cardinals. I even had a Dodgers hat when I was in third and fourth grade.
Anyways, out of 1068 career games, Cory Snyder played 657 of them in an Indians uniform.
So you can imagine how dumbfounded I was when I heard he was one of the VIP autograph signers at the National this year. Not one of the Cleveland shows, but in Chicago, where he played a whole 50 games (and batted only .188, thanks to Walt Hriniak's "my way or no way" approach to coaching hitters).
So, I'm missing out on a chance to meet my favorite player. But I did apply for Cory Snyder Super Collector status over at SCF today (the same day he's signing at the National).
While I wait for approval or denial, take a look at some of the photos I took of my collection. I don't have all the cards photographed, but here are a few of the better items and oddities.
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
The Final Countdown...
Sing it with me, hit it Europe! *plays synth*
Or let's not.
But yeah, we're into the final days before the trip begins. Today is Tuesday, Arron and I leave Friday. Cards are bought, sorted and packed (aside from the final 15-20 I'm waiting on), photos are printed and boxed, snacks have been somewhat purchased, and I've made deals for all of the extra autograph tickets that we'll need. Just need to wash and pack clothes tomorrow and load up the car on Thursday night.
Before that, let me do a quick recap on some IP outings just to knock out July thus far. High temp for the day in parentheses because it's been ridiculous here...
JULY 6 - KC T-Bones vs. Texas Air Hogs (95)
Barrett Astin, 1/1
Joe Filomeno, 1/1
Adrian Nieto, 1/1
Taylor Featherston, 3/3
Todd Cunningham, 1/1
Zach Walters, 1/3
JULY 13 - Youth baseball tournament in Arlington (97)
Pat Meares, 15/15
JULY 14 - San Antonio Missions vs. Frisco RoughRiders (98)
Jimmy Jones, 9/9
Jonathan Meyer, 5/5? (Odd... the guy responded to Jonathan but gave me a terrible sig that doesn't match my previous one)
Michael Gettys, 1/3
Trevor Frank, 2/2
JULY 18 - Chicago Dogs vs. Texas Air Hogs (106)
Scott Barnes, 4/4
Joe Benson, 8/8
D.J. Boston, 3/3
Butch Hobson, 5/5
JULY 20 - Cleveland Indians at Texas Rangers (108)
Mike Clevinger, 1/3, 1/1 (with help)
Josh Tomlin, 3/3
Mark Budzinski, 1/1
Terry Francona, 1/1 (completes dual with Tito)
And so, it begins this week: Looking forward to a cool (?) 93 degrees in Birmingham on Friday, with it currently saying 87 by first pitch. Thomas Hatch is scheduled on the hill for Tennessee, no info yet for Birmingham.
Saturday in Lexington: high of 81. No word of who will be on the hill for either team. No report yet who we'll see on Sunday between Asheville and West Virginia either, but we'll have a high of 83.
Columbus gives us Mitch Talbot on Monday, no word on Indianapolis. Tuesday's pair of games have no info yet.
Or let's not.
But yeah, we're into the final days before the trip begins. Today is Tuesday, Arron and I leave Friday. Cards are bought, sorted and packed (aside from the final 15-20 I'm waiting on), photos are printed and boxed, snacks have been somewhat purchased, and I've made deals for all of the extra autograph tickets that we'll need. Just need to wash and pack clothes tomorrow and load up the car on Thursday night.
Before that, let me do a quick recap on some IP outings just to knock out July thus far. High temp for the day in parentheses because it's been ridiculous here...
JULY 6 - KC T-Bones vs. Texas Air Hogs (95)
Barrett Astin, 1/1
Joe Filomeno, 1/1
Adrian Nieto, 1/1
Taylor Featherston, 3/3
Todd Cunningham, 1/1
Zach Walters, 1/3
JULY 13 - Youth baseball tournament in Arlington (97)
Pat Meares, 15/15
JULY 14 - San Antonio Missions vs. Frisco RoughRiders (98)
Jimmy Jones, 9/9
Jonathan Meyer, 5/5? (Odd... the guy responded to Jonathan but gave me a terrible sig that doesn't match my previous one)
Michael Gettys, 1/3
Trevor Frank, 2/2
JULY 18 - Chicago Dogs vs. Texas Air Hogs (106)
Scott Barnes, 4/4
Joe Benson, 8/8
D.J. Boston, 3/3
Butch Hobson, 5/5
JULY 20 - Cleveland Indians at Texas Rangers (108)
Mike Clevinger, 1/3, 1/1 (with help)
Josh Tomlin, 3/3
Mark Budzinski, 1/1
Terry Francona, 1/1 (completes dual with Tito)
 |
| Mr. Kipnis, please? (Photo by Kevin Jairaj) |
 |
| Well damn... (Photo by Kevin Jairaj) |
Saturday in Lexington: high of 81. No word of who will be on the hill for either team. No report yet who we'll see on Sunday between Asheville and West Virginia either, but we'll have a high of 83.
Columbus gives us Mitch Talbot on Monday, no word on Indianapolis. Tuesday's pair of games have no info yet.
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Book 'em, Drew-o!
Got the hotel for the National booked. Yep, this is actually happening.
I got damn close to the rate I was wanting (Arron and I are each paying $230 for it; my original goal was $222) and only having to stay a little further out. My aim was for the La Quinta in Independence, instead we're at the one in Macedonia. Whatever. Ten minutes more of driving isn't the end of the world. It also gives us a slightly shorter return trip late at night from Akron, Columbus, and coming in initially from West Virginia. Eastlake should be about the same, Toledo will be slightly longer.
Ehh, whatever. It's not enough to make a huge difference really; the price and quality hooked me.
Next up: buying tickets, coming in March. Supposedly, autograph guests are supposed to be announced starting this month. Hope we see a lot from the VIP list early. There are a few I can guess will be there-- Len Barker, Joe Charbonneau, Kevin Mack... I hope they get Sonny Siebert again, I still have my 2014 photo of him and I need him for the 1972 Topps set.
I know, I failed to post an autograph update for January. It was a slow TTM month and I've been busy with the National and trying to keep my band afloat. Our guitarist just up and quit on us a week ago, which also left me without a drum set for a week. We have the latter squared away at least so far.
I'll have a full update on these two months coming at the end of February. At around the same time, I also will be writing a piece for SCF as a National Preview, which I will cross-post here. I'm going to be trying to write an update for them on each day of the trip, as well as posting it here.
I actually wrote a couple pieces for them on the NFL kneeling issue, as well as the removal of Chief Wahoo. The former got a LOT of talk going-- mostly against my position. The latter, not so much, as it seemed more people than I expected were in agreement with me. It seems I've become the SCF Writing Staff version of WFAA's Dale Hansen: clearly I'm not afraid to take on some controversial topics. On the old format, I also did editorial-style pieces in favor of fighting in hockey and applauding Sean Avery's work with the "New Yorkers for Marriage Quality" campaign.
I also will be re-writing my March 22, 2013 article on Steve Olin and Tim Crews for this year's 25th anniversary of their accident and deaths. It'll be a busy few months, but I'm in the mood to write again. Let's hope it stays for a while.
Back on the topic of National stuff, ballpark promotion schedules are trickling out. So far, nothing big for our games. Birmingham, West Virginia, Columbus, Lake County, Akron, Fort Wayne, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa don't have theirs out yet. Lexington has a vomitous Faith and Family Night, plus fireworks-- no giveaways. Toledo has the first day of a Youth Skills Camp-- also no giveaways. Indians have the Rock N Blast fireworks display, along with dollar hot dogs and a pregame block party (hmmm, alumni autographs maybe?)-- no giveaways there either. I've heard Fort Wayne typically has a postgame autograph session on Sundays.
(EDIT: Fort Wayne released their promotion sched on 2/14 and they do have a postgame autograph session; it's also Bark at the Park and a beer tasting... no giveaways)
Lake County confirmed their schedule times for me, as did West Virginia. We changed the Indians to Friday with our potential Lake County reprise moving to Saturday-- SCF is trying for a group outing to the Friday Tribe game. So far I know of two members likely to be there besides me (scottkoz20 and doniceage). I'd bet there will be more: I remember in 2014 I met up with BSEBALLCOMMISH75, loQtus, mlbfan85, michigandan, palantri, Postman, jeeptrader, and several others. I'm also hoping to meet up with autograph collectors in other cities.
I got damn close to the rate I was wanting (Arron and I are each paying $230 for it; my original goal was $222) and only having to stay a little further out. My aim was for the La Quinta in Independence, instead we're at the one in Macedonia. Whatever. Ten minutes more of driving isn't the end of the world. It also gives us a slightly shorter return trip late at night from Akron, Columbus, and coming in initially from West Virginia. Eastlake should be about the same, Toledo will be slightly longer.
Ehh, whatever. It's not enough to make a huge difference really; the price and quality hooked me.
Next up: buying tickets, coming in March. Supposedly, autograph guests are supposed to be announced starting this month. Hope we see a lot from the VIP list early. There are a few I can guess will be there-- Len Barker, Joe Charbonneau, Kevin Mack... I hope they get Sonny Siebert again, I still have my 2014 photo of him and I need him for the 1972 Topps set.
I know, I failed to post an autograph update for January. It was a slow TTM month and I've been busy with the National and trying to keep my band afloat. Our guitarist just up and quit on us a week ago, which also left me without a drum set for a week. We have the latter squared away at least so far.
I'll have a full update on these two months coming at the end of February. At around the same time, I also will be writing a piece for SCF as a National Preview, which I will cross-post here. I'm going to be trying to write an update for them on each day of the trip, as well as posting it here.
I actually wrote a couple pieces for them on the NFL kneeling issue, as well as the removal of Chief Wahoo. The former got a LOT of talk going-- mostly against my position. The latter, not so much, as it seemed more people than I expected were in agreement with me. It seems I've become the SCF Writing Staff version of WFAA's Dale Hansen: clearly I'm not afraid to take on some controversial topics. On the old format, I also did editorial-style pieces in favor of fighting in hockey and applauding Sean Avery's work with the "New Yorkers for Marriage Quality" campaign.
I also will be re-writing my March 22, 2013 article on Steve Olin and Tim Crews for this year's 25th anniversary of their accident and deaths. It'll be a busy few months, but I'm in the mood to write again. Let's hope it stays for a while.
Back on the topic of National stuff, ballpark promotion schedules are trickling out. So far, nothing big for our games. Birmingham, West Virginia, Columbus, Lake County, Akron, Fort Wayne, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa don't have theirs out yet. Lexington has a vomitous Faith and Family Night, plus fireworks-- no giveaways. Toledo has the first day of a Youth Skills Camp-- also no giveaways. Indians have the Rock N Blast fireworks display, along with dollar hot dogs and a pregame block party (hmmm, alumni autographs maybe?)-- no giveaways there either. I've heard Fort Wayne typically has a postgame autograph session on Sundays.
(EDIT: Fort Wayne released their promotion sched on 2/14 and they do have a postgame autograph session; it's also Bark at the Park and a beer tasting... no giveaways)
Lake County confirmed their schedule times for me, as did West Virginia. We changed the Indians to Friday with our potential Lake County reprise moving to Saturday-- SCF is trying for a group outing to the Friday Tribe game. So far I know of two members likely to be there besides me (scottkoz20 and doniceage). I'd bet there will be more: I remember in 2014 I met up with BSEBALLCOMMISH75, loQtus, mlbfan85, michigandan, palantri, Postman, jeeptrader, and several others. I'm also hoping to meet up with autograph collectors in other cities.
Monday, September 19, 2016
Mid-September update
Alright, so, time for that update I said I was going to do and never did until now...
AUGUST 19
Mark Mettrick, 4/4, c/o home, 11 months
AUGUST 22
Mike Hough, 6/6, c/o home, about 2 months
Frisco vs. Tulsa IP
Ryan Garko - 7/7, 4/4
Lars Anderson - 1/3
Terrmel Sledge - 7/7
Andrew Sopko - 4/4
Willie Calhoun - 3/3
Joey Curletta - 1/1
Bill Simas - 6/6
Josh Sborz - 2/2
Alex Verdugo - 4/4
Chase DeJong - 2/2
Yaisel Sierra - 1/1
Daniel Corcino - 4/4
Jeff Malm - 3/3
Kyle Farmer - 1/1
Jason Hart - 9/9
Carson Blair - 2/2
Carlos Maldonado - 3/3
Joe Jackson - 4/4
Kellin Deglan - 4/4
Scott Carroll - 3/3
Luke Jackson - 4/4
Isaiah Kiner-Falefa - 4/4
Darin Mastroianni - 1/2
AUGUST 25
Jim Mason, c/o home, 4/4, 1 week
Bob Reynolds, c/o home, 4/3, 1 week-- kept my 1972 card (he might not sign it anymore since it features him with the now-deceased Darrell Porter) but enclosed two signed photos
AUGUST 26
Steve Christie, c/o home, 6/6, 1 month
Paul Schaal, c/o home, 3/3, 1 week
AUGUST 27
Ed Romero, c/o home, 6/6, 1 week
Bob Gebhard, c/o home, 1/1, 1 week
AUGUST 29
Gary Neibauer, c/o home, 3/3, 2 weeks
Stan Williams, c/o home, 3/2, 1 week, personalized and wrote a short note back answering my question
Bill Greif, c/o home, 3/3, 1 week
Rangers-Indians IP
Terry Francona 1/2
Francisco Lindor 1/1
Cody Allen 1/2
Abraham Almonte 2/4
Tyler Naquin 1/2, 1/1
Danny Salazar 1/1
Mike Clevinger 1/1
Bryan Shaw 1/1
Tim Crabtree 8/8
Rick Manning 7/7
Trevor Bauer 1/1
Mike Napoli 1/4, 1/1
Jurickson Profar 1/1, 1/1
Jonathan Lucroy 1/1
Delino DeShields Jr. 4/4
Mitch Moreland 1/1
Doug Brocail 8/8
Brad Holman 2/2
Colby Lewis 2/2
AUGUST 30
Otis Sistrunk, c/o home, 1/1, 1 week
SEPTEMBER 1
Fred Scherman, c/o home, 3/3, 1 week
Dave Duncan, c/o home, 4/4, 1 week
SEPTEMBER 3
Jon Matlack, c/o home, 5/5, 11 days
SEPTEMBER 6
Dick Bosman, c/o home, 3/3, 2 weeks
Fred Stanley, c/o home, 4/4, 2 weeks
SEPTEMBER 7
Bert Campaneris, c/o home, 1/1, 2 weeks
SEPTEMBER 9
Connor Cook, c/o Oakland Raiders, 2/2, 3 months
Rich Karlis, c/o home, 2/3, 6 weeks, kept one card
Chris Speier, c/o Washington Nationals, 4/4, 2 weeks
Reggie Cleveland, c/o home, 2/2 for $2, 2 weeks
SEPTEMBER 12
Craig Coxe, c/o work, 6/6, 3 weeks - hadn't seen a success from him in 15 years!
Dave Johnson (Twins pitcher), c/o home, 4/3, 1 week, wrote a short note back
SEPTEMBER 13
Bobby Smith, c/o Halifax Mooseheads, 5/6, 4 months
A.J. Lachowecki, c/o home, 2/2, 1 week
Tito Francona, c/o home, 1/1, 1 week
SEPTEMBER 14
Chuck Essegian, c/o home, 1/1, 1 week
SEPTEMBER 15
Ray Busse, c/o home, 1/1, 1 week
SEPTEMBER 16
Frank Howard, c/o home, 3/3, 10 days
Hal Naragon, c/o home, 3/1, 10 days - added another signed card and wrote a short note back
SEPTEMBER 17
Sam Militello, c/o work, 4/4, 11 days
Greg Gagne, c/o home, 6/6, 11 days
Leroy Stanton, c/o home, 2/2, 11 days
Kevin Crow, c/o work, 4/4, 11 days
I ended up skipping my potential Labor Day Frisco outing due to a sore foot. Not sure what happened, it was fine by the evening, but still, not being able to put much weight on it without major pain made me not want to chance it. I still have one more Rangers outing later this month. Hoping for a good Alumni signer at least.
I've started mailing out a lot more soccer and baseball over the last few weeks-- and I need to update the soccer blog as well.
Since returning from vacation in July, I've mailed a bunch. Still waiting on...
JULY 26: Pat Leahy
AUGUST 16: Andruw Jones, Adrian Beltre, Alex Rodriguez, Clayton Kershaw
AUGUST 22: Mo Vaughn
AUGUST 23: Gene Hiser
AUGUST 24: Lance Johnson
SEPTEMBER 6: Joe Nathan, David Nied, John Olerud, Rob Dibble, Jim Corsi, Terry Kennedy, Scott Leius, Darren Daulton, Steve Trout, Tim Teufel, Tom Ragland, Hal Haydel, Jeff Montgomery, Dick Groat, Don Leppert, Mason Raymond, George Fernandez, Victor Nogueira, Desmond Armstrong, Tino Lettieri, Waad Hirmez, Joe Papaleo, Gregg Willin, Gary Etherington, Dave Clements, Tom Kain, Terry Brown
SEPTEMBER 12: Steve Zungul, Daryl Doran, Wes Wade, Duncan MacEwan, Chico Borja
SEPTEMBER 19: Theo Kulsdom, Ted Krafft, Steve Eise, Thomas Strunk, John O'Hara, Sean Phillips, Mike Fox, Branko Segota, Chris Kenny, Leon Hooten, Turk Wendell, Buzz Capra
I also had a failed attempt on Mike Fox. It turns out the owner of M&M Paper is NOT the Mike Fox who played pro soccer. Attempt #2 (to Colorado instead of California) went in the mail this morning.
AUGUST 19
Mark Mettrick, 4/4, c/o home, 11 months
AUGUST 22
Mike Hough, 6/6, c/o home, about 2 months
Frisco vs. Tulsa IP
Ryan Garko - 7/7, 4/4
Lars Anderson - 1/3
Terrmel Sledge - 7/7
Andrew Sopko - 4/4
Willie Calhoun - 3/3
Joey Curletta - 1/1
Bill Simas - 6/6
Josh Sborz - 2/2
Alex Verdugo - 4/4
Chase DeJong - 2/2
Yaisel Sierra - 1/1
Daniel Corcino - 4/4
Jeff Malm - 3/3
Kyle Farmer - 1/1
Jason Hart - 9/9
Carson Blair - 2/2
Carlos Maldonado - 3/3
Joe Jackson - 4/4
Kellin Deglan - 4/4
Scott Carroll - 3/3
Luke Jackson - 4/4
Isaiah Kiner-Falefa - 4/4
Darin Mastroianni - 1/2
AUGUST 25
Jim Mason, c/o home, 4/4, 1 week
Bob Reynolds, c/o home, 4/3, 1 week-- kept my 1972 card (he might not sign it anymore since it features him with the now-deceased Darrell Porter) but enclosed two signed photos
AUGUST 26
Steve Christie, c/o home, 6/6, 1 month
Paul Schaal, c/o home, 3/3, 1 week
AUGUST 27
Ed Romero, c/o home, 6/6, 1 week
Bob Gebhard, c/o home, 1/1, 1 week
AUGUST 29
Gary Neibauer, c/o home, 3/3, 2 weeks
Stan Williams, c/o home, 3/2, 1 week, personalized and wrote a short note back answering my question
Bill Greif, c/o home, 3/3, 1 week
Rangers-Indians IP
Terry Francona 1/2
Francisco Lindor 1/1
Cody Allen 1/2
Abraham Almonte 2/4
Tyler Naquin 1/2, 1/1
Danny Salazar 1/1
Mike Clevinger 1/1
Bryan Shaw 1/1
Tim Crabtree 8/8
Rick Manning 7/7
Trevor Bauer 1/1
Mike Napoli 1/4, 1/1
Jurickson Profar 1/1, 1/1
Jonathan Lucroy 1/1
Delino DeShields Jr. 4/4
Mitch Moreland 1/1
Doug Brocail 8/8
Brad Holman 2/2
Colby Lewis 2/2
AUGUST 30
Otis Sistrunk, c/o home, 1/1, 1 week
SEPTEMBER 1
Fred Scherman, c/o home, 3/3, 1 week
Dave Duncan, c/o home, 4/4, 1 week
SEPTEMBER 3
Jon Matlack, c/o home, 5/5, 11 days
SEPTEMBER 6
Dick Bosman, c/o home, 3/3, 2 weeks
Fred Stanley, c/o home, 4/4, 2 weeks
SEPTEMBER 7
Bert Campaneris, c/o home, 1/1, 2 weeks
SEPTEMBER 9
Connor Cook, c/o Oakland Raiders, 2/2, 3 months
Rich Karlis, c/o home, 2/3, 6 weeks, kept one card
Chris Speier, c/o Washington Nationals, 4/4, 2 weeks
Reggie Cleveland, c/o home, 2/2 for $2, 2 weeks
SEPTEMBER 12
Craig Coxe, c/o work, 6/6, 3 weeks - hadn't seen a success from him in 15 years!
Dave Johnson (Twins pitcher), c/o home, 4/3, 1 week, wrote a short note back
SEPTEMBER 13
Bobby Smith, c/o Halifax Mooseheads, 5/6, 4 months
A.J. Lachowecki, c/o home, 2/2, 1 week
Tito Francona, c/o home, 1/1, 1 week
SEPTEMBER 14
Chuck Essegian, c/o home, 1/1, 1 week
SEPTEMBER 15
Ray Busse, c/o home, 1/1, 1 week
SEPTEMBER 16
Frank Howard, c/o home, 3/3, 10 days
Hal Naragon, c/o home, 3/1, 10 days - added another signed card and wrote a short note back
SEPTEMBER 17
Sam Militello, c/o work, 4/4, 11 days
Greg Gagne, c/o home, 6/6, 11 days
Leroy Stanton, c/o home, 2/2, 11 days
Kevin Crow, c/o work, 4/4, 11 days
I ended up skipping my potential Labor Day Frisco outing due to a sore foot. Not sure what happened, it was fine by the evening, but still, not being able to put much weight on it without major pain made me not want to chance it. I still have one more Rangers outing later this month. Hoping for a good Alumni signer at least.
I've started mailing out a lot more soccer and baseball over the last few weeks-- and I need to update the soccer blog as well.
Since returning from vacation in July, I've mailed a bunch. Still waiting on...
JULY 26: Pat Leahy
AUGUST 16: Andruw Jones, Adrian Beltre, Alex Rodriguez, Clayton Kershaw
AUGUST 22: Mo Vaughn
AUGUST 23: Gene Hiser
AUGUST 24: Lance Johnson
SEPTEMBER 6: Joe Nathan, David Nied, John Olerud, Rob Dibble, Jim Corsi, Terry Kennedy, Scott Leius, Darren Daulton, Steve Trout, Tim Teufel, Tom Ragland, Hal Haydel, Jeff Montgomery, Dick Groat, Don Leppert, Mason Raymond, George Fernandez, Victor Nogueira, Desmond Armstrong, Tino Lettieri, Waad Hirmez, Joe Papaleo, Gregg Willin, Gary Etherington, Dave Clements, Tom Kain, Terry Brown
SEPTEMBER 12: Steve Zungul, Daryl Doran, Wes Wade, Duncan MacEwan, Chico Borja
SEPTEMBER 19: Theo Kulsdom, Ted Krafft, Steve Eise, Thomas Strunk, John O'Hara, Sean Phillips, Mike Fox, Branko Segota, Chris Kenny, Leon Hooten, Turk Wendell, Buzz Capra
I also had a failed attempt on Mike Fox. It turns out the owner of M&M Paper is NOT the Mike Fox who played pro soccer. Attempt #2 (to Colorado instead of California) went in the mail this morning.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Hounding Report: Cleveland Indians, April 1-2, and the Mailbox
Had the first outing to the Ballpark of the season, with absolutely zero luck at the tunnel on Saturday.
Fortunately inside was much better, as I got 23 cards signed by the Indians over two games. Briefly...
FRIDAY
Francisco Lindor, 1/2
Jason Bere, 4/4
Brad Mills, 2/2
Bryan Shaw, 2/3
Zach McAllister, 3/3
Roberto Perez, 1/1
Jose Ramirez, 2/2
Trevor Bauer, 1/1
Mike Napoli, 1/1
SATURDAY
Francisco Lindor, 1/1
Trevor Bauer, 1/2
Mike Napoli, 2/4
Joba Chamberlin, 2/4
I've also had a few come in via mail-- most can be seen on the Soccer project blog, but outside the MISL Alumni world, I got a few others...
March 23: Aleksander Barkov, c/o Panthers, 2/2, 1 month
March 24: Ron Guidry, c/o Yankees Spring Training, 2/2, 2 weeks
March 26: Bobby Valentine, c/o Sacred Heart University, 1/1, 3 weeks
I also mailed out a ton since the last update. 17 hockey, 14 baseball, 5 soccer, 1 football, and 1 non-sports-related.
Fortunately inside was much better, as I got 23 cards signed by the Indians over two games. Briefly...
FRIDAY
Francisco Lindor, 1/2
Jason Bere, 4/4
Brad Mills, 2/2
Bryan Shaw, 2/3
Zach McAllister, 3/3
Roberto Perez, 1/1
Jose Ramirez, 2/2
Trevor Bauer, 1/1
Mike Napoli, 1/1
SATURDAY
Francisco Lindor, 1/1
Trevor Bauer, 1/2
Mike Napoli, 2/4
Joba Chamberlin, 2/4
I've also had a few come in via mail-- most can be seen on the Soccer project blog, but outside the MISL Alumni world, I got a few others...
March 23: Aleksander Barkov, c/o Panthers, 2/2, 1 month
March 24: Ron Guidry, c/o Yankees Spring Training, 2/2, 2 weeks
March 26: Bobby Valentine, c/o Sacred Heart University, 1/1, 3 weeks
I also mailed out a ton since the last update. 17 hockey, 14 baseball, 5 soccer, 1 football, and 1 non-sports-related.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
IP and TTM, briefly
Still haven't mailed out my paid ones yet. Or any free ones.
TTM - Got Rudolph Giuliani on a Topps ATFF set card in 15 days.
IP
Friday, July 3, Rangers: 1/1 photo from Mitch Moreland, 1/1 photo from Ryan Rua with "First MLB player from Lake Erie College!" inscription, 4/4 from Steve Buechele, 3/3 from Mark Gubicza.
Sunday, July 5, Rangers: 4/4 from Dave Magadan, 3/3 from Steve Busby (with "NOT MY PICTURE" written on the 1975 Topps card that shows catcher Fran Healy).
I also picked up a few cards in a trade with Marcel in Sweden-- Tomi Kallio for my Topps Total set, plus Henrik Karlsson and Dennis Everberg. Also got a Danny Shelton auto from Bowman Chrome from a co-worker-- I think this is the only autograph I have from a current Brown.
Got Rangers alumni next weekend! Got my book together and just am waiting on a few more to come in the mail.
TTM - Got Rudolph Giuliani on a Topps ATFF set card in 15 days.
IP
Friday, July 3, Rangers: 1/1 photo from Mitch Moreland, 1/1 photo from Ryan Rua with "First MLB player from Lake Erie College!" inscription, 4/4 from Steve Buechele, 3/3 from Mark Gubicza.
Sunday, July 5, Rangers: 4/4 from Dave Magadan, 3/3 from Steve Busby (with "NOT MY PICTURE" written on the 1975 Topps card that shows catcher Fran Healy).
I also picked up a few cards in a trade with Marcel in Sweden-- Tomi Kallio for my Topps Total set, plus Henrik Karlsson and Dennis Everberg. Also got a Danny Shelton auto from Bowman Chrome from a co-worker-- I think this is the only autograph I have from a current Brown.
Got Rangers alumni next weekend! Got my book together and just am waiting on a few more to come in the mail.
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Hounding Report: May 15 and 17, Rangers-Indians
Just a couple quick pieces. George Bell TTM, 4/4 in about 3 months,
Prince Fielder 1/1 IP last night, a RTS from Oscar Roan, and a few
additions from Chris for getting him stuff at the Rangers Fan Fest and
last month in Frisco.
Friday night I almost decided to get out of the hobby. Today helped turn my thoughts around.
I've been growing pretty quickly disillusioned with the hobby as a whole, at least when going and doing it in-person. The Mets series to start the season made me not want to go to any games. This weekend my favorite team is in town and I completely skipped the first two games of the series aside from doing the postgame tunnel Friday night.
A little story about that postgame tunnel. I wasn't even planning on going except that Adrian Beltre hit his 400th career home run so Arron, Jake, and I figured we'd try the tunnel since a lot of guys will sign there after a big night. Beltre drove out the opposite side instead. We did at least get Prince Fielder, which was a nice score and a set hit for my 1972-style stuff (got his 2013 '72 mini signed).
A golf cart came out and Michael Brantley, a VERY tough signer and one of my favorites from the Tribe, was on it. We chased after it, and as I got to his car, stop the presses, he was signing. He signs for four of the six of us, gets to me and says "My ride's here, I gotta go," and gets in the car.
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?
The two of us not wearing Rangers attire (I was in my damn Larry Doby jersey and Browns hat; how much more Clevelander can I get?) were the only two he didn't sign for. I found out from one of the four who did get him that he was incredibly reluctant to sign so it's not like he was Mr. Nice Guy and then turned into a dick when he saw me. He wasn't even going to sign except that Nick Swisher, who he was riding with, was talking to the Rangers' clubhouse attendant.
I went to the tunnel Sunday morning. Not many signed; I got Kyle Blanks on a card (signing one of four), Mitch Moreland on a 11x14 photo, and Tom Grieve on two cards. Ryan Rua is going to turn into my new nemesis: two years ago I couldn't get Dave Magadan to save my life, this year I think it'll be Rua. Maybe it's just because he's on the DL.
David Murphy also drove in and signed, as always. Arron, Chris, and I were talking about how Murphy is exactly what a player should be. Fan friendly, loves signing, solid all-around ballplayer, has some power, usually hits for a decent average, is good for a few awesome catches, isn't ridiculously fast but has enough speed, and isn't afraid to get the uniform dirty. He had a great catch in left field to save a run later in the game.
Inside was surprisingly awesome. First out was Austin Adams, a recent callup who signed a team logo hologram. After doing some long-toss and running, Danny Salazar signed a card for me down the line, as did Trevor Bauer. Down by the dugout, Zach McAllister signed three, and Ryan Webb added his sig to the hologram, along with Scott Atchison.
Back down the line, Jason Bere signed three cards, while Cody Allen signed my lone card while chatting with some friends. As I was waiting on Allen, Arron tapped me and alerted me that Corey Kluber was signing. Needless to say, I jumped in and he signed for everyone, including me. I went back toward the dugout and apparently the Klubot's autograph switch got stuck in the ON position. Dude just kept on going and signed for everyone. As he came down I figured I'd get a picture with him. I set my book down and he walked right up and signed another card, and took a picture with me. Dude actually smiled too.
After that, we finished it off with a trip to the press box, where Rick Manning signed three cards for me. It's amazing the difference a day or so can make. After nearly deciding to get out of the hobby-- or at least change my approach-- I'm ready to get back into it hard.
TOTALS: 22 autographs from 14 players.
Friday night I almost decided to get out of the hobby. Today helped turn my thoughts around.
I've been growing pretty quickly disillusioned with the hobby as a whole, at least when going and doing it in-person. The Mets series to start the season made me not want to go to any games. This weekend my favorite team is in town and I completely skipped the first two games of the series aside from doing the postgame tunnel Friday night.
A little story about that postgame tunnel. I wasn't even planning on going except that Adrian Beltre hit his 400th career home run so Arron, Jake, and I figured we'd try the tunnel since a lot of guys will sign there after a big night. Beltre drove out the opposite side instead. We did at least get Prince Fielder, which was a nice score and a set hit for my 1972-style stuff (got his 2013 '72 mini signed).
A golf cart came out and Michael Brantley, a VERY tough signer and one of my favorites from the Tribe, was on it. We chased after it, and as I got to his car, stop the presses, he was signing. He signs for four of the six of us, gets to me and says "My ride's here, I gotta go," and gets in the car.
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?
The two of us not wearing Rangers attire (I was in my damn Larry Doby jersey and Browns hat; how much more Clevelander can I get?) were the only two he didn't sign for. I found out from one of the four who did get him that he was incredibly reluctant to sign so it's not like he was Mr. Nice Guy and then turned into a dick when he saw me. He wasn't even going to sign except that Nick Swisher, who he was riding with, was talking to the Rangers' clubhouse attendant.
 |
| One down, one to go! |
David Murphy also drove in and signed, as always. Arron, Chris, and I were talking about how Murphy is exactly what a player should be. Fan friendly, loves signing, solid all-around ballplayer, has some power, usually hits for a decent average, is good for a few awesome catches, isn't ridiculously fast but has enough speed, and isn't afraid to get the uniform dirty. He had a great catch in left field to save a run later in the game.
 |
| David Murphy signing for Arron outside (Photo Credit: Chris Winkles) |
Back down the line, Jason Bere signed three cards, while Cody Allen signed my lone card while chatting with some friends. As I was waiting on Allen, Arron tapped me and alerted me that Corey Kluber was signing. Needless to say, I jumped in and he signed for everyone, including me. I went back toward the dugout and apparently the Klubot's autograph switch got stuck in the ON position. Dude just kept on going and signed for everyone. As he came down I figured I'd get a picture with him. I set my book down and he walked right up and signed another card, and took a picture with me. Dude actually smiled too.
 |
| Rare photo of Corey Kluber cracking a smile |
TOTALS: 22 autographs from 14 players.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
We have clearance, Clarence - a TTM success
Got another back on Saturday though I didn't get it from the box until today on my way over the Plano for Browns' Backers. Former defensive back Clarence Scott was one of the players I sent out to back in July and I got him back, signing the trio of cards I mailed his way. He also wrote a short note back, letting me know he's in Dallas once a year on business and to give him a call sometime, enclosing his phone number as well.
I may do just that-- especially if he's in the area during the Browns' season. I'm sure the Browns Backers would love to have a former player watch a game with them. And even if not, it would be cool to possibly meet up with a former player sometime.
 |
| This is the first time I've had a player tell me to give him a call; he put both his cell and home number as well. |
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
National Sports Collectors Convention, Days 4 and 5, plus aftermath, Indians, and TTM
READ MORE: Preview, Day One, Day Two, Day Three, Day Four
NOTE: more photos will be added this week including the 8x10 and 11x14 photos.
I'm back in Texas now after a 6:45 am flight to start my day. That's 5:45 Central. As one who has never been a morning person, having to deal with pain in my ears and a screaming baby and flight attendants who twice forgot my drink order and weather that is 20 degrees hotter than what I left in Ohio, I arrived home tired and hot.
Saturday: Dad, Bobby Hull, and Johnny Football
Fortunately it was an awesome weekend that had bonuses beyond just attending the National, starting on Saturday. My dad came down to the show in the morning, and we went down to check it out. The first place we went was the Panini booth so I could show him a few of the products I've been involved in. I even got a few boxes to show him, breaking some 13-14 Contenders, Titanium, and Crown Royale hockey. I had a few nice pulls, it was great seeing the stuff I worked on, and my dad seemed pretty impressed by the stuff going on in the card world.
I had set up something with one of our guys from acquisitions and we went over to try that. I dropped my Milt Plum photo and ticket off with Dan from the SCF board and we headed over to the Case Break Pavilion. Panini was on the stage breaking some Prime, with Bobby Hull joining them for an interview and to comment on the cards. It's great to hear from one of the greats and he was hilarious. Only a hockey player could use both the terms "amalgamated" and "shitkicked" in the same breath. I had talked to one of Panini's acquisitions guys about trying to meet Hull, who is my dad's all-time favorite player. It looked like we would have a chance, but unfortunately later in the day he was sick and left the show early.
However, we were able to hit up a bunch of tables and I got to talk to a few people who could help me with some of my sets. I also bought a bunch. Saturday is the first day you really start to see prices occasionally drop and I foune one that had done so. Originally they had a bunch of cards at $6 or 5 for $25. They dropped them to $4 and 7 for $25. And they had a bunch I needed. For $41, I knocked out 6 for my football set, 3 for baseball, and picked up 2 I just wanted. There were some tough signers included in there as well. At another, I picked up a bunch, mostly basketball, at 3 for $1, as well as some Avs for my wife.
I also got Hanford Dixon and Al Oliver on 11x14 photos with my VIP tickets. Oliver really liked the photo I had, and Dixon was his usual self, always fan friendly and taking time to sign a good 'graph. It's just an H, a big loop. and an X, but he always adds his #29, "Go Browns" and his "Top Dawg" nickname.
Saturday night was the big one: the Panini VIP Party. As an employee I asked if they needed any help for it and was told to show up a little before 7 and I could certainly assist them. What an event! Julius Erving, Kyrie Irving, Trey Burke, Joe Namath, Tom Glavine, Jose Canseco, Dominique Wilkins, and of course Johnny Manziel. Plus a live set from DJ Kool of "Let Me Clear My Throat" fame. I got to chat briefly with Erving and Irving, and ended up near Canseco several times throughout the night. The dude is still huge. After I got done working, I got to go and rub elbows with the big spenders-- anyone wanting admission had to buy $7500 worth of Panini products at the show. And here I was, a guy barely able to afford to spend 1/20th of that getting to hang out with them. I love my job.
So while everything was going on, I went over and asked the aforementioned acquisitions guy if there was any chance I could get a photo with Manziel. As the only Browns fan at Panini (as far as I know), I figured I'd have a decent shot. About 15 minutes later, he told me to follow him to the back. After doing a quick interview and a couple photos, Manziel walked over, I got introduced, quickly told him I'm a huge Browns fan working at Panini and would love a photo with him. Manziel could not have been more accommodating. It would be easy for someone in his position to roll his eyes a bit and say "Alright, whatever, let's get this over." But he didn't: he seemed genuinely happy to meet a fan of the team, shook my hand, and posed for a picture, which I posted Saturday night/Sunday morning. I seriously spent the next 30 minutes wondering if that really just happened.
Sunday: The end of a week-long collectibles bender
I was pretty wiped out Sunday morning, but I still had autographs to get and money to burn. I got Jeff Burroughs on my 11x14 photo (soon to be signed by Tom Grieve as well) and Gary Bell on an 8x10 photo. He added "Smoke em inside" to it as well per my request, quoting his line to Jim Bouton in Ball Four when Bouton asked him how to pitch to guys in a team's lineup. That was Bell's answer for every single one. In the afternoon, I added Mike Hargrove on a 11x14 photo that he had never seen before, and Len Barker on several items-- my Tom Browning ball (completing a dual-signed by the only two pitchers to toss a perfect game in an Ohio MLB game since World War One), two cards (one for Chris), and a 11x14, celebrating the final out of the perfecto.
I also hit up a few more tables, finding one with a ton of hockey autos 3 for $1. I was able to find several more set needs, knowing my 2004 Choice AHL Top Prospects down to only three unsigned, picking up Yann Danis for the 05-06 UD Rookie Class set, and adding a notorious toughie to my Topps Total set in Fedor Fedorov. So overall, I added about 20-25 cards to my sets, plus picking up some trade bait and adding some higher-end items via the various signings. I also decided I'm going to start getting the 1972 Topps set signed as much as I can. I'll never complete it, but it would be a fun project to work on. At the very least, I'll get everything signed that I can and at least get the rest of the set unsigned but all together.
Monday: A bit of IP graphing
On Monday I headed down to The Jake to try my hand at the players' parking lot. I had pretty decent success-- at least a whole lot better than Arlington. Ryan Raburn signed 2 cards just after I arrived, followed by 3 from Bryan Shaw, 3 from Marc Rzepczynski, 3 from Mike Aviles, 3 from John Axford, and 1 from David Murphy. I wish the Rangers had easier access to players like this. The players' lot in Cleveland is fenced in and outdoors so it's easy to see them come and go and to call out to them as they walk to the door. I stuck around and checked out the game as well with a guy from the show that I met on the hotel shuttle. Good game, Tribe took it to the Reds 7-1 as Corey Kluber once again had a great game. I also surpassed the 50% mark on my goal of 1500 sigs for the year.
Tuesday: I went back to Ohio and my city was gone
Tuesday I mostly spent driving around Lake County. I tried to get in at my old high school but the driveway was under construction so I couldn't get in. I did go to my old elementary/middle school at least, which is now owned by a college nearby. I also drove around a few areas mentioned in an article I read on Dustin Spaller, a local athlete who was murdered in his early 20's. I never knew Dustin: he was a few years older than me but we attended the same school briefly. Our moms worked together at the local hospital. Of the places mentioned in the article, Just Teazin' was down the street from my house, I played Little League ball in Rec Park, we used to fill up at the BP station a lot, but Tony's is in what I had always heard was a pretty sketchy neighborhood. I drove around it a bit and it wasn't any worse than some areas I've been through, like Boston's Combat Zone, anything on the MBTA Orange Line, or a few areas of Wichita Falls. From the outside in the daytime it looks like just another bar or Italian restaurant. Granted, after something like this the area may have been cleaned up a bit-- signs are posted that the place is under 24-hour surveillance. I drove by my old house for a bit and it's almost unrecognizable. New siding, new windows, if I didn't know the location and the shape of it like the back of my hand, I never would have known I had lived there for nearly 20 years. Show me a photo with zero context and I wouldn't know.
Fortunately a lot of things are still around. Most of the businesses I know are there or have expanded and moved. Mr. P's Pizza is gone, as is the Donut Stop, but taking their place are a barbecue joint and a cupcake shop. Downtown, Puritan Bakery closed up, but the old Cards & Games from the Painesville Shopping Center moved in. I stopped in and picked up a box of 1988 Score baseball just for the hell of it. At the Great Lakes Mall in Mentor, it seems like every store space is filled. There are only a couple openings and the mall appears to be doing very well. I hit East Coast Frozen Custard for the first time in ten years, later finding they had opened a new branch at the Mentor-Painesville line. Dick's Sporting Goods moved to the mall, and a card shop is also open near it. I stopped in and talked to one of the proprietors for a while and left him my card.
The business card worked well all week. I found a few people who may be able to help me out and I them. I already found one auto for a guy who is collecting all the Fleer sets signed. I also may have a guy for signed hockey stuff.
To finish things out, I went to my dad's place on Tuesday and he told me he was giving me all his old cards. He didn't have many: most of his collection had been sold to a friend years ago. At one point he said he had nearly every card from the late 50's and early 60's. All he had left are the 1962 and 1963 Topps cards we found in Grandma's attic before she moved into an assisted living home in 1992. And now 22 years later, he was passing them down to me. Here are a few photos...
To finally top it all off, I had six TTMs waiting for me when I got home. Each taking less than 3 weeks were Ken Schrom (5/5), Jamie Easterly (4/4), Gerald McNeil (3/3, all personalized), Danny Wuerffel (3/3, plus a donation request), Stevon Moore (3/3), and Matt Stover (4/3, enclosing a signed religious card).
I got to hit Melt and Friendly's, picked up chocolates from Malley's, and got another supply of Stadium Mustard. It had been ten years since I had Pierre's and East Coast Frozen Custard. I love going back to Cleveland. I just wish I could do it more often.
Anyways, it was an amazing week and I can't wait to do it again, whether it's in the next three years for Chicago and Atlantic City or in 2018 in Cleveland again. At the very least, now the planning starts for hockey season along with the end of baseball. I'm sure I'll be cutting back on baseball a bit but we'll see. At the very least, I've been told I should consider hitting Frisco this weekend.
I may also write a full-week recap of this on SCF or elsewhere. We'll see.
NOTE: more photos will be added this week including the 8x10 and 11x14 photos.
 |
| A view of the show floor. |
Saturday: Dad, Bobby Hull, and Johnny Football
Fortunately it was an awesome weekend that had bonuses beyond just attending the National, starting on Saturday. My dad came down to the show in the morning, and we went down to check it out. The first place we went was the Panini booth so I could show him a few of the products I've been involved in. I even got a few boxes to show him, breaking some 13-14 Contenders, Titanium, and Crown Royale hockey. I had a few nice pulls, it was great seeing the stuff I worked on, and my dad seemed pretty impressed by the stuff going on in the card world.
 |
| Panini booth |
However, we were able to hit up a bunch of tables and I got to talk to a few people who could help me with some of my sets. I also bought a bunch. Saturday is the first day you really start to see prices occasionally drop and I foune one that had done so. Originally they had a bunch of cards at $6 or 5 for $25. They dropped them to $4 and 7 for $25. And they had a bunch I needed. For $41, I knocked out 6 for my football set, 3 for baseball, and picked up 2 I just wanted. There were some tough signers included in there as well. At another, I picked up a bunch, mostly basketball, at 3 for $1, as well as some Avs for my wife.
 |
| A few set hits |
 |
| A typical autograph line. Or a piece of it. |
So while everything was going on, I went over and asked the aforementioned acquisitions guy if there was any chance I could get a photo with Manziel. As the only Browns fan at Panini (as far as I know), I figured I'd have a decent shot. About 15 minutes later, he told me to follow him to the back. After doing a quick interview and a couple photos, Manziel walked over, I got introduced, quickly told him I'm a huge Browns fan working at Panini and would love a photo with him. Manziel could not have been more accommodating. It would be easy for someone in his position to roll his eyes a bit and say "Alright, whatever, let's get this over." But he didn't: he seemed genuinely happy to meet a fan of the team, shook my hand, and posed for a picture, which I posted Saturday night/Sunday morning. I seriously spent the next 30 minutes wondering if that really just happened.
Sunday: The end of a week-long collectibles bender
I was pretty wiped out Sunday morning, but I still had autographs to get and money to burn. I got Jeff Burroughs on my 11x14 photo (soon to be signed by Tom Grieve as well) and Gary Bell on an 8x10 photo. He added "Smoke em inside" to it as well per my request, quoting his line to Jim Bouton in Ball Four when Bouton asked him how to pitch to guys in a team's lineup. That was Bell's answer for every single one. In the afternoon, I added Mike Hargrove on a 11x14 photo that he had never seen before, and Len Barker on several items-- my Tom Browning ball (completing a dual-signed by the only two pitchers to toss a perfect game in an Ohio MLB game since World War One), two cards (one for Chris), and a 11x14, celebrating the final out of the perfecto.
 |
| Grabbed two of Fedor. That's trade bait! |
 |
| Everyone gets a photo with the Stanley Cup. Cool people do it with the Hart Trophy. |
On Monday I headed down to The Jake to try my hand at the players' parking lot. I had pretty decent success-- at least a whole lot better than Arlington. Ryan Raburn signed 2 cards just after I arrived, followed by 3 from Bryan Shaw, 3 from Marc Rzepczynski, 3 from Mike Aviles, 3 from John Axford, and 1 from David Murphy. I wish the Rangers had easier access to players like this. The players' lot in Cleveland is fenced in and outdoors so it's easy to see them come and go and to call out to them as they walk to the door. I stuck around and checked out the game as well with a guy from the show that I met on the hotel shuttle. Good game, Tribe took it to the Reds 7-1 as Corey Kluber once again had a great game. I also surpassed the 50% mark on my goal of 1500 sigs for the year.
 |
| The haul from the parking lot. Could have had Reds too if I was any good at ID'ing them. |
Tuesday I mostly spent driving around Lake County. I tried to get in at my old high school but the driveway was under construction so I couldn't get in. I did go to my old elementary/middle school at least, which is now owned by a college nearby. I also drove around a few areas mentioned in an article I read on Dustin Spaller, a local athlete who was murdered in his early 20's. I never knew Dustin: he was a few years older than me but we attended the same school briefly. Our moms worked together at the local hospital. Of the places mentioned in the article, Just Teazin' was down the street from my house, I played Little League ball in Rec Park, we used to fill up at the BP station a lot, but Tony's is in what I had always heard was a pretty sketchy neighborhood. I drove around it a bit and it wasn't any worse than some areas I've been through, like Boston's Combat Zone, anything on the MBTA Orange Line, or a few areas of Wichita Falls. From the outside in the daytime it looks like just another bar or Italian restaurant. Granted, after something like this the area may have been cleaned up a bit-- signs are posted that the place is under 24-hour surveillance. I drove by my old house for a bit and it's almost unrecognizable. New siding, new windows, if I didn't know the location and the shape of it like the back of my hand, I never would have known I had lived there for nearly 20 years. Show me a photo with zero context and I wouldn't know.
Fortunately a lot of things are still around. Most of the businesses I know are there or have expanded and moved. Mr. P's Pizza is gone, as is the Donut Stop, but taking their place are a barbecue joint and a cupcake shop. Downtown, Puritan Bakery closed up, but the old Cards & Games from the Painesville Shopping Center moved in. I stopped in and picked up a box of 1988 Score baseball just for the hell of it. At the Great Lakes Mall in Mentor, it seems like every store space is filled. There are only a couple openings and the mall appears to be doing very well. I hit East Coast Frozen Custard for the first time in ten years, later finding they had opened a new branch at the Mentor-Painesville line. Dick's Sporting Goods moved to the mall, and a card shop is also open near it. I stopped in and talked to one of the proprietors for a while and left him my card.
The business card worked well all week. I found a few people who may be able to help me out and I them. I already found one auto for a guy who is collecting all the Fleer sets signed. I also may have a guy for signed hockey stuff.
To finish things out, I went to my dad's place on Tuesday and he told me he was giving me all his old cards. He didn't have many: most of his collection had been sold to a friend years ago. At one point he said he had nearly every card from the late 50's and early 60's. All he had left are the 1962 and 1963 Topps cards we found in Grandma's attic before she moved into an assisted living home in 1992. And now 22 years later, he was passing them down to me. Here are a few photos...
 |
| Click to enlarge; Brunet lived next door to my dad in the 60's. |
 |
| The mailbox was busy while I was away. |
Anyways, it was an amazing week and I can't wait to do it again, whether it's in the next three years for Chicago and Atlantic City or in 2018 in Cleveland again. At the very least, now the planning starts for hockey season along with the end of baseball. I'm sure I'll be cutting back on baseball a bit but we'll see. At the very least, I've been told I should consider hitting Frisco this weekend.
I may also write a full-week recap of this on SCF or elsewhere. We'll see.
 |
| Until next time, Cleveland. |
Sunday, August 3, 2014
National Sports Collectors Convention, Day 4
MONDAY UPDATE: Still haven't written about Day 4 and Day 5 due to hotel internet speed issues. It may have to wait until I get back to Arlington on Wednesday afternoon.
POSTED SATURDAY...
I just got back from the Panini VIP Party.
It's late, I'm tired, my feet are killing me, and my ears are ringing.
I'll give you a full recap tomorrow of Days 4 and 5. Of course, anyone who can do math and remembers how many autographs I had this year as of Day 3 can figure out how many autographs I got today.
In the meantime, I leave you with this.
POSTED SATURDAY...
I just got back from the Panini VIP Party.
It's late, I'm tired, my feet are killing me, and my ears are ringing.
I'll give you a full recap tomorrow of Days 4 and 5. Of course, anyone who can do math and remembers how many autographs I had this year as of Day 3 can figure out how many autographs I got today.
In the meantime, I leave you with this.
Saturday, August 2, 2014
National Sports Collectors Convention, Day 3
First I'd like to say hello and welcome to anyone I've chatted with this week at the National or the Indians game, or anywhere else around Cleveland. Thanks for taking the time to check out my slice of the interwebs, and I hope you'll become regular readers and commenters.
Today was significantly lighter on the 'graphing front. There were five signers, but only three I needed anything from, as I couldn't find anything for Jim Stillwagon and didn't feel like paying $5 for a photo, so I gave away my ticket for him.
Apparently Sonny Siebert fell ill, so he was a no-show; fortunately TriStar allowed us to use our Siebert tickets on any other VIP signer that day, so I got an idea. Okay, I ripped off the idea from someone else. But only because it was a good one. I'll get to that in a moment.
Al "Bubba" Baker had his timeslot moved up to 11:30 to accommodate the lack of Siebert. He signed an 8x10 photo for me, even adding an inscription of his winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1978. Some may recognize him from the TV show Shark Tank, where he developed and patented a method for deboning ribs. He owns Bubba's Q, a barbecue restaurant in Avon, Ohio.
With some time before the two late signers, I finished walking the show aisles and checked out the cheap autograph tables. Sadly, there was nothing I could use for cheap. There were a few I need that were a bit pricier, but I'll wait until the last day before I make any big decisions. On the plus side though, I picked up a couple Hall of Famers' RCs for cheap. I spent $8 total to get a Jari Kurri and Carlton Fisk. I have one more table to check out, we'll see what develops there.
I did get my business card out to a number of people this week, so hopefully I'll have a few more regular readers of this blog, and maybe a few who can help me out with the holes in my collection. I was told to talk to a guy with Heritage Auctions as well; he's done a number of signed sets and has some excellent contacts.
I also helped out an SCF member with some signed items as contest prizes. Dan left his tickets and 8x10 photos of Joe Charbonneau and Tom Browning with me to get signed, which I did. Charbonneau also signed my 11x14 photo and shook my hand three times-- perhaps opening a beer bottle with one's eye too many times leads to short-term memory loss? He did add 1980 AL ROY to all his sigs which was a nice touch.
Browning was who I used my Siebert ticket on. I picked up a ROMLB from a dealer ($19, which is more than I like to spend, but I think this will be worth it) along with Dan's photo and my 11x14 photo. He added P.G. 9/16/88 to them all. As you may notice in the picture, I had him sign off on the side panel. I'm going to get Len Barker on the other side panel, thus having the only two Ohio pitchers to toss perfect games post-World War One on the same ball. Addie Joss is the only one I'd be missing if you include all of MLB history, and good luck getting him to sign it.
Tomorrow I'll be taking my dad to the show, and hopefully will have a surprise in store on here. I can't say much more than that right now. I also have a few unsigned items to buy, and hopefully autographs from Hanford Dixon, Milt Plum, and Al Oliver.
Today was significantly lighter on the 'graphing front. There were five signers, but only three I needed anything from, as I couldn't find anything for Jim Stillwagon and didn't feel like paying $5 for a photo, so I gave away my ticket for him.
Apparently Sonny Siebert fell ill, so he was a no-show; fortunately TriStar allowed us to use our Siebert tickets on any other VIP signer that day, so I got an idea. Okay, I ripped off the idea from someone else. But only because it was a good one. I'll get to that in a moment.
Al "Bubba" Baker had his timeslot moved up to 11:30 to accommodate the lack of Siebert. He signed an 8x10 photo for me, even adding an inscription of his winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1978. Some may recognize him from the TV show Shark Tank, where he developed and patented a method for deboning ribs. He owns Bubba's Q, a barbecue restaurant in Avon, Ohio.
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| Bubba said he smokes his briskets for 18 hours. I may have to sample it. |
I did get my business card out to a number of people this week, so hopefully I'll have a few more regular readers of this blog, and maybe a few who can help me out with the holes in my collection. I was told to talk to a guy with Heritage Auctions as well; he's done a number of signed sets and has some excellent contacts.
I also helped out an SCF member with some signed items as contest prizes. Dan left his tickets and 8x10 photos of Joe Charbonneau and Tom Browning with me to get signed, which I did. Charbonneau also signed my 11x14 photo and shook my hand three times-- perhaps opening a beer bottle with one's eye too many times leads to short-term memory loss? He did add 1980 AL ROY to all his sigs which was a nice touch.
Browning was who I used my Siebert ticket on. I picked up a ROMLB from a dealer ($19, which is more than I like to spend, but I think this will be worth it) along with Dan's photo and my 11x14 photo. He added P.G. 9/16/88 to them all. As you may notice in the picture, I had him sign off on the side panel. I'm going to get Len Barker on the other side panel, thus having the only two Ohio pitchers to toss perfect games post-World War One on the same ball. Addie Joss is the only one I'd be missing if you include all of MLB history, and good luck getting him to sign it.
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| I'll get a better picture of the ball later. |
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
National Sports Collectors Convention, Day 1
It's bad that I'm this tired and sore after a fairly short day. I'm finding out-- even at only 30-- that my dad was right: "Growing old ain't for sissies."
On the plus side, I got to meet up with a bunch of SCF people (BSEBALLCOMMISH75, loqtus, mlbfan85, palantri, jeeptrader, and doniceage), got a few autographs (11x14 photos of Billy Sims, Kevin Mack, Carlos Baerga, and Dale Murphy), got to stop in and see my people from Panini (shoutouts to Sharpie, Ivory, and Barr), and got to visit for a bit with Larry, one of my former 'graphing associates in Boston. I also got to chat a bit with other collectors. My photos definitely caught a number of eyes and got a lot of questions and compliments.
Unfortunately Denny McLean was a no-show. At least he was the only one, and I only had a set card for him, and he was a last-minute addition anyway, so I lost nothing more than some time waiting in lines and some effort in pulling a card for him.
I'm planning on spending tomorrow and Friday just browsing tables and taking note on what to check out more thoroughly on Saturday and Sunday. I think I have the timing pretty well down pat on when to jump into autograph lines so I don't wast time waiting around. At least I hope I do.
I'm also going to pick up my first game-used piece for my Cory Snyder collection. I talked to a guy who has a bat of his and will sell it to me for $50. Done and done. Tomorrow evening, I'll be hitting up the Mariners for some 'graphing. I've already gotten them twice in Arlington, but who can't use another shot at Robinson Cano and Felix Hernandez?
I'll also be in line for Howard Johnson, Andy Van Slyke, and Joe Delameilleure. I might even splurge on a photo of Rick Waits if his line is short enough.
It's been good so far. Here's to hoping it continues. I'll have more photos tomorrow.
On the plus side, I got to meet up with a bunch of SCF people (BSEBALLCOMMISH75, loqtus, mlbfan85, palantri, jeeptrader, and doniceage), got a few autographs (11x14 photos of Billy Sims, Kevin Mack, Carlos Baerga, and Dale Murphy), got to stop in and see my people from Panini (shoutouts to Sharpie, Ivory, and Barr), and got to visit for a bit with Larry, one of my former 'graphing associates in Boston. I also got to chat a bit with other collectors. My photos definitely caught a number of eyes and got a lot of questions and compliments.
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| Carlos Baerga, Dale Murphy, Kevin Mack, and Billy Sims |
I'm planning on spending tomorrow and Friday just browsing tables and taking note on what to check out more thoroughly on Saturday and Sunday. I think I have the timing pretty well down pat on when to jump into autograph lines so I don't wast time waiting around. At least I hope I do.
I'm also going to pick up my first game-used piece for my Cory Snyder collection. I talked to a guy who has a bat of his and will sell it to me for $50. Done and done. Tomorrow evening, I'll be hitting up the Mariners for some 'graphing. I've already gotten them twice in Arlington, but who can't use another shot at Robinson Cano and Felix Hernandez?
I'll also be in line for Howard Johnson, Andy Van Slyke, and Joe Delameilleure. I might even splurge on a photo of Rick Waits if his line is short enough.
It's been good so far. Here's to hoping it continues. I'll have more photos tomorrow.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Hounding Report: Rangers-A's, July 26-27, plus some TTM's
In my short-lived music career, it always seemed like the worse I screwed up a final rehearsal, the better the actual performance went. Likewise, a good final rehearsal meant a shitty performance followed. It happened when I was in my high school's orchestra, it happened when I was a drummer in a punk band in college. And hopefully this weekend's graphing exploits will be a harbinger of good things next week.
The A's were downright brutal. One of the best signing teams in years past, I managed a whole six autographs from two players over two games. Granted, I cut things short on Sunday so I didn't die of heatstroke. But still, it bordered on absolutely being pointless to have even gone.
I will say what the weekend lacked in quantity was easily made up in quality. Saturday at the tunnel was decent. I finally got Pudge on a card I got in a 2014 Topps Jumbo Box two-box break I got in on with Corey Mansfield. I'll post a photo of it later this week once I have a moment to move it off my phone. It looks pretty awesome. I also got two from JP Arencibia, three from Colby Lewis, and three from Matt Harrison (two of which go to Chris). Sunday I got no one at the tunnel and only Ray Fosse's three cards kept me from my first-ever shutout. It was also 103 degrees at the airport that day, so you can imagine why I wouldn't stick around for long at field-level.
Hopefully these crappy results are an omen of a good week ahead in Cleveland. In addition to the National, I plan to hit up the Mariners on Thursday, Rangers on Friday, and the Reds and Indians on Monday and maybe also Tuesday. I also have a special event on Saturday night that hopefully will net me a few autos.
Plus there will be about 20 autograph signers that I'll be getting at the show itself. I'm sure I'll have updates and a lot of photos throughout the week.
Meanwhile, back in the mailbox, I added former Browns Raymond Clayborn and Cody Risien. Each signed three cards for me after a 12-day wait.
The A's were downright brutal. One of the best signing teams in years past, I managed a whole six autographs from two players over two games. Granted, I cut things short on Sunday so I didn't die of heatstroke. But still, it bordered on absolutely being pointless to have even gone.
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| Spoiler alert... |
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| I was hoping to make a musical theatre pun here in reference to Bob Fosse (no relation to Ray) but my mind went blank. |
Plus there will be about 20 autograph signers that I'll be getting at the show itself. I'm sure I'll have updates and a lot of photos throughout the week.
Meanwhile, back in the mailbox, I added former Browns Raymond Clayborn and Cody Risien. Each signed three cards for me after a 12-day wait.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Preview: 35th National Sports Collectors Convention, July 30-August 3, I-X Center, Cleveland, Ohio
The Granddaddy of Them All is hitting the big 3-5 this year, and it's happening in my hometown.
The National isn't the first card show ever, but it certainly is the biggest. Every year in a different city, collectors come from all over the country-- sometimes even all over the continent, perhaps even the world-- for a five-day card show that takes up almost the entire floor of some of the world's largest expo centers. The show has been restricted to three different cities over the last eight years after having stops in eleven cities in the first 25. Add in the next six, and it will be four cities in 14 years. This year's will be the sixth to take up the International Exposition Center in Cleveland. Previously, the show was held there in 1997, 2001, 2004, 2007, and 2009.
I'm sure many of you have been to card shows of various sizes. Anything from a few tables in a VFW Hall or an Elks Lodge, to a corner of the Grange Hall at the county fair, and on up to a hotel ballroom. Before the 1997 National, the largest show I had been to was at the annual show at the Clarion Hotel in Eastlake, OH. The National trumps any show you have ever been to.
Even though I've been to three previous Nationals (1997, 2001, and 2004), the sheer size of it still knocks me off my feet when I first walk in. Let's put it this way: the I-X Center has 1 million square feet of exhibition and conference space. The Show takes up less than half of that, but it still is ungodly huge. It has 23 aisles, a 12,000 square foot Case Break Pavilion, corporate sections with giant booths for major sponsors (including Panini, Upper Deck, Leaf, PSA, Beckett, Blowout Cards, Dave & Adam's Card World, COMC, and plenty more), a 39,000 square foot autograph pavilion, a food court, and a VIP Lounge. The dealers take up the rest.
All the companies and sponsors have various freebies, whether it be in the VIP gift bags (double the stuff for Super VIP's) or via wrapper redemption programs or box breaks. Topps has already announced theirs, with Panini, Upper Deck, Leaf, and Press Pass certain to follow soon.
Past shows have had various sports artifacts on display, including the famous PSA 8 Honus Wagner, balls from the 1998 Sosa vs. McGwire Home Run Chase, some Barry Bonds home run balls from 2001, one of Shoeless Joe Jackson's bats, and more. Plenty of well-known dealers will be there as well: there's a full list here in PDF form.
And of course, there's the world's second tallest indoor Ferris Wheel, offering views of Cleveland Hopkins Airport and the city's skyline at the very top through a glass-enclosed cutout in the roof. It was the tallest until one in Turkmenistan passed it in 2012. It's definitely worth taking a few minutes out of your day to relax and enjoy a ride on it at some point during the show.
Needless to say, the National is a must-visit for any serious collector at least once in their lifetime. As a Cleveland native with vacation time built up at work, it's a good opportunity for me to get back to it again, visit friends, family, and my city, and add more to my collection.
Tristar runs all things autograph-related at the show. Fortunately, with my SuperVIP pass, I will at least get all of their free VIP signers, so I should be able to add about 20 autographs to my collection. The full rundown of freebies is as follows (with the item I plan to get signed in parentheses):
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30
Carlos Baerga (11x14 photo), Dale Murphy (11x14 photo, maybe some cards for Chris as well if I can swing it), Kevin Mack (11x14 photo), Billy Sims (11x14 photo)
THURSDAY, JULY 31
Andy Van Slyke (Topps ATFF card), Howard Johnson (Topps ATFF card), Rick Waits (not sure yet; hoping to trade it for an extra Van Slyke or HoJo), Joe Delamielleure (Topps ATFF card)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1
Sonny Siebert (8x10 photo), Jim Stillwagon (not sure yet; hoping to use as trade bait for Van Slyke or HoJo), Al "Bubba" Baker (8x10 photo; don't remember if I ordered 11x14 or 8x10), Joe Charbonneau (11x14 photo), Tom Browning (11x14 perfect game photo)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2
Milt Plum (8x10 photo), Hanford Dixon (11x14 photo with Frank Minnifield; hopefully I can get Minnie on it sometime in the future), Al Oliver (11x14 photo)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 3
Jeff Burroughs (11x14 photo with Tom Grieve; major thanks to TGC reader Big Anthony for hooking me up with it; I'm sure I can get Grieve on it at the tunnel later in August), Gary Bell (8x10 photo), Mike Hargrove (11x14 photo), Len Barker (11x14 perfect game photo)
In addition, I might go for one of the Topps wrapper redemption deals-- open three packs, turn in the wrappers, and get a Allen & Ginter mini card of Jadaveon Clowney, Johnny Manziel, Jim Brown, Jordan Cameron, Derek Jeter, Mike Trout, Bob Feller or Albert Belle. Hopefully if I break a box of Heritage, I can get all of them, plus some stuff I can get signed in the final months of the season. At the very least, I want Manziel and Cameron.
I'll also be on the lookout for anything I can find to add to my sets. I'll get at least three items signed for the Topps ATFF sets, maybe as many as five if I can swing a few trades. I'm sure a few dealers will have some signed cards. I'm also always on the lookout for any bargains (like getting a 1983 O-Pee-Chee Ryne Sandberg RC at the 2001 show for about 50 cents) and stuff of my wife's favorite players (Peter Forsberg, Matt Duchene, and Gabriel Landeskog).
Part of the fun of the show of course is networking. SportsCardForum will have a booth there, and I've already alerted collectors at several other boards that I'll be coming in. I even printed up business cards promoting TGC with a list of sets I'm doing. If you're reading this and will be there, let me know; I'd love to meet any other collectors, especially regular readers here. And if you'd be willing to trade or sell your Van Slyke and/or Hojo tickets, DEFINITELY let me know ASAP.
Outside the show, I already have a ton of other things I plan to do. I need to make sure I have a dinner at Melt one night, and the B-Spot. Maybe Hot Sauce Williams, or West Side Market. Malley's of course. Granted, I may be so tired from walking all through the show that I just end up hitting Friendly's, Panera, and Burger King every night near the hotel. I know one SCF member has talked about trying to get a group together one night, and who knows what my people from Panini may have in store.
I also plan to go to two Indians games as they take on the Reds the Monday and Tuesday after the show-- I will be graphing both games, both at the Indians; parking lot and inside for the Reds. I may also need to duck up to Eastlake to get a Lake County Captains team set at their team store. Plus I'll be visiting my dad, and hopefully meeting up with a few friends from high school.
It's going to be a crazy week, but a good one. It's been two years since I was last in Cleveland, so it'll be good to get back. I haven't been to the I-X Center in ten years and I've heard they added some floor space and repainted since then (first ceiling repainting since 1984). Plus, I plan to update here after every day of the show.
Hope to see you there, and if you can't make it to the North Coast, you can always follow along here.
For more information, visit NSCCShow.com for a full floorplan, list of dealers, sponsors, autograph signers, promotions, and photos from last year's show in Chicago.
The National isn't the first card show ever, but it certainly is the biggest. Every year in a different city, collectors come from all over the country-- sometimes even all over the continent, perhaps even the world-- for a five-day card show that takes up almost the entire floor of some of the world's largest expo centers. The show has been restricted to three different cities over the last eight years after having stops in eleven cities in the first 25. Add in the next six, and it will be four cities in 14 years. This year's will be the sixth to take up the International Exposition Center in Cleveland. Previously, the show was held there in 1997, 2001, 2004, 2007, and 2009.
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| The I-X Center: formerly a World War II bomber and Korean War tank plant (Photo Credit: Ohio Gun Collectors Association) |
Even though I've been to three previous Nationals (1997, 2001, and 2004), the sheer size of it still knocks me off my feet when I first walk in. Let's put it this way: the I-X Center has 1 million square feet of exhibition and conference space. The Show takes up less than half of that, but it still is ungodly huge. It has 23 aisles, a 12,000 square foot Case Break Pavilion, corporate sections with giant booths for major sponsors (including Panini, Upper Deck, Leaf, PSA, Beckett, Blowout Cards, Dave & Adam's Card World, COMC, and plenty more), a 39,000 square foot autograph pavilion, a food court, and a VIP Lounge. The dealers take up the rest.
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| A tiny piece of the 2009 National (Photo Credit: Sports Collectors Daily) |
Past shows have had various sports artifacts on display, including the famous PSA 8 Honus Wagner, balls from the 1998 Sosa vs. McGwire Home Run Chase, some Barry Bonds home run balls from 2001, one of Shoeless Joe Jackson's bats, and more. Plenty of well-known dealers will be there as well: there's a full list here in PDF form.
And of course, there's the world's second tallest indoor Ferris Wheel, offering views of Cleveland Hopkins Airport and the city's skyline at the very top through a glass-enclosed cutout in the roof. It was the tallest until one in Turkmenistan passed it in 2012. It's definitely worth taking a few minutes out of your day to relax and enjoy a ride on it at some point during the show.
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| The Wheel (Photo Credit: lareina1045 on Flickr) |
Tristar runs all things autograph-related at the show. Fortunately, with my SuperVIP pass, I will at least get all of their free VIP signers, so I should be able to add about 20 autographs to my collection. The full rundown of freebies is as follows (with the item I plan to get signed in parentheses):
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30
Carlos Baerga (11x14 photo), Dale Murphy (11x14 photo, maybe some cards for Chris as well if I can swing it), Kevin Mack (11x14 photo), Billy Sims (11x14 photo)
THURSDAY, JULY 31
Andy Van Slyke (Topps ATFF card), Howard Johnson (Topps ATFF card), Rick Waits (not sure yet; hoping to trade it for an extra Van Slyke or HoJo), Joe Delamielleure (Topps ATFF card)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1
Sonny Siebert (8x10 photo), Jim Stillwagon (not sure yet; hoping to use as trade bait for Van Slyke or HoJo), Al "Bubba" Baker (8x10 photo; don't remember if I ordered 11x14 or 8x10), Joe Charbonneau (11x14 photo), Tom Browning (11x14 perfect game photo)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2
Milt Plum (8x10 photo), Hanford Dixon (11x14 photo with Frank Minnifield; hopefully I can get Minnie on it sometime in the future), Al Oliver (11x14 photo)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 3
Jeff Burroughs (11x14 photo with Tom Grieve; major thanks to TGC reader Big Anthony for hooking me up with it; I'm sure I can get Grieve on it at the tunnel later in August), Gary Bell (8x10 photo), Mike Hargrove (11x14 photo), Len Barker (11x14 perfect game photo)
In addition, I might go for one of the Topps wrapper redemption deals-- open three packs, turn in the wrappers, and get a Allen & Ginter mini card of Jadaveon Clowney, Johnny Manziel, Jim Brown, Jordan Cameron, Derek Jeter, Mike Trout, Bob Feller or Albert Belle. Hopefully if I break a box of Heritage, I can get all of them, plus some stuff I can get signed in the final months of the season. At the very least, I want Manziel and Cameron.
I'll also be on the lookout for anything I can find to add to my sets. I'll get at least three items signed for the Topps ATFF sets, maybe as many as five if I can swing a few trades. I'm sure a few dealers will have some signed cards. I'm also always on the lookout for any bargains (like getting a 1983 O-Pee-Chee Ryne Sandberg RC at the 2001 show for about 50 cents) and stuff of my wife's favorite players (Peter Forsberg, Matt Duchene, and Gabriel Landeskog).
Part of the fun of the show of course is networking. SportsCardForum will have a booth there, and I've already alerted collectors at several other boards that I'll be coming in. I even printed up business cards promoting TGC with a list of sets I'm doing. If you're reading this and will be there, let me know; I'd love to meet any other collectors, especially regular readers here. And if you'd be willing to trade or sell your Van Slyke and/or Hojo tickets, DEFINITELY let me know ASAP.
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| Photoshop skills. |
I also plan to go to two Indians games as they take on the Reds the Monday and Tuesday after the show-- I will be graphing both games, both at the Indians; parking lot and inside for the Reds. I may also need to duck up to Eastlake to get a Lake County Captains team set at their team store. Plus I'll be visiting my dad, and hopefully meeting up with a few friends from high school.
It's going to be a crazy week, but a good one. It's been two years since I was last in Cleveland, so it'll be good to get back. I haven't been to the I-X Center in ten years and I've heard they added some floor space and repainted since then (first ceiling repainting since 1984). Plus, I plan to update here after every day of the show.
Hope to see you there, and if you can't make it to the North Coast, you can always follow along here.
For more information, visit NSCCShow.com for a full floorplan, list of dealers, sponsors, autograph signers, promotions, and photos from last year's show in Chicago.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
A TTM Trio
Got three back in the last few days!
First on Monday came former Indians and Rangers pitcher Brad Arnsberg. Now working with the Arizona Diamondbacks, he signed 6 cards via the D-Backs in 14 days.
Wednesday brought in former Indian Ted Power. He didn't sign my Indians or Tigers cards, but did sign 3 of 5 mailed via the Louisville Bats in 16 days.
Today came Manny Mota. I had gotten Mota a few months back but figured I'd try him again after finding a copy of his 1963 Topps rookie card. He signed it for me in 17 days via the Dodgers.
I also had a failure on Tuesday-- Glenn Blackwood came back RTS with a new address. My friend Eric in Rhode Island (whom I've mentioned before, mostly on hockey stuff) told me before I mailed that he got RTS'ed too, so it wasn't unexpected that my gamble wouldn't pay off. I'll try the new address soon.
Coming this weekend: a preview of the National Sports Collectors Convention, coming at the end of the month in Cleveland, OH!
First on Monday came former Indians and Rangers pitcher Brad Arnsberg. Now working with the Arizona Diamondbacks, he signed 6 cards via the D-Backs in 14 days.
Wednesday brought in former Indian Ted Power. He didn't sign my Indians or Tigers cards, but did sign 3 of 5 mailed via the Louisville Bats in 16 days.
Today came Manny Mota. I had gotten Mota a few months back but figured I'd try him again after finding a copy of his 1963 Topps rookie card. He signed it for me in 17 days via the Dodgers.
I also had a failure on Tuesday-- Glenn Blackwood came back RTS with a new address. My friend Eric in Rhode Island (whom I've mentioned before, mostly on hockey stuff) told me before I mailed that he got RTS'ed too, so it wasn't unexpected that my gamble wouldn't pay off. I'll try the new address soon.
Coming this weekend: a preview of the National Sports Collectors Convention, coming at the end of the month in Cleveland, OH!
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Hounding Report: Minnesota Twins, June 28, and a TTM
Let's hit the TTM first: Mike Easler, c/o home, 6/6 cards, 10 days. Easler is a fellow Clevelander and a graduate of Benedictine High School, one of the rivals of my University School Preppers.
Anyways, I decided to skip the tunnel this morning. After being up until 1 am working on a Photoshop project (I found a tutorial for colorizing black and white images, so I set to work on my grandfather's senior portrait from high school in 1920) and stalling on pulling my Twins cards, I decided I'd just skip the early stuff to sleep in and get my stuff ready and have a decent lunch.
Sadly, I learned I missed Adrian Beltre.
So I instead arrived at the Ballpark when the gates opened and went over to the Twins' side. Paul Molitor was there but wasn't in a signing mood. Apparently he signed Friday, so I'm hoping maybe he'll do it tomorrow. He's in two of the Topps All-Time Fan Favorites sets. Ricky Nolasco was the first one I got. He signed everything in a single blue Sharpie; fortunately I just had three Topps Heritage cards so they came out fine.
Samuel Deduno signed down the line as well; I had no cards of him, so I had him sign my 2012 Topps Heritage Twins team card. I figure cards like that can come in handy for players I have nothing for, and they often can hold multiple players' sigs. I even added Caleb Thielbar and Casey Fien to it later. Maybe I'll tack on a few more tomorrow (now that I'm out of cards of Nolasco, and a few others).
Kyle Gibson came down the line next, signing one-per. Gibson is another who adds Bible verses, putting Ephesians 2:8-10 on every sig. Based on that quote ("For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."), I'd guess Gibson is of a Calvinist faith. Something Protestant for certain.
Matt Guerrier came through next, signing the two I had of him, followed by Brian Duensing on one. I went over to the dugout for a while with no luck on anyone coming off from the Twins' short batting practice session, but did go back next to the camera bay again to get Sam Fuld on a pair of cards.
A few of us went up top, hoping for Bert Blyleven. Unfortunately he only signed one, a seatback that the guy already had Nolan Ryan, Ferguson Jenkins, Goose Gossage, and Gaylord Perry on. After that he refused the rest of us. Apparently last year, he had security called on the 'graphers who wanted him. Circle this, Bert.
The last one I got inside was Ron Gardenhire who signed all three cards I had of him. Gardenhire seems like a fun guy: when they announced the Rangers lineup while he was signing for us, he looked over at us and booed.
The postgame tunnel was its usual near-pointless self. Kevin Kouzmanoff stopped but only signed for a few people because he had another car coming up behind him. Security asked him at least to pull over to the side but instead he just left. Which sucks for me because I have yet to get him and he's a former Indian. We did at least get Brian Dozier walking out, signing the lone card I had of him. He was another who just signed with one pen and I was briefly scared because I hadn't rubbed down the 2014 Topps card I had of him, but the Sharpie stuck just fine without bubbling. Good to know the current Topps releases will require minimum prep work. I usually stick as much as I can to my trusty Staedtlers so I have zero prep but once in a while someone just grans a single pen and rocks out on everyone's stuff.
Not a bad day. Hoping for Terry Steinbach, Paul Molitor, and a few others tomorrow. I gotta search for Deduno cards as well because I think I may have some somewhere. I'll have another report tomorrow and later this week a preview of the National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland, July 30-August 3.
TOTALS: 16 autographs from 10 players, plus six from one via mail.
Anyways, I decided to skip the tunnel this morning. After being up until 1 am working on a Photoshop project (I found a tutorial for colorizing black and white images, so I set to work on my grandfather's senior portrait from high school in 1920) and stalling on pulling my Twins cards, I decided I'd just skip the early stuff to sleep in and get my stuff ready and have a decent lunch.
Sadly, I learned I missed Adrian Beltre.
So I instead arrived at the Ballpark when the gates opened and went over to the Twins' side. Paul Molitor was there but wasn't in a signing mood. Apparently he signed Friday, so I'm hoping maybe he'll do it tomorrow. He's in two of the Topps All-Time Fan Favorites sets. Ricky Nolasco was the first one I got. He signed everything in a single blue Sharpie; fortunately I just had three Topps Heritage cards so they came out fine.
Samuel Deduno signed down the line as well; I had no cards of him, so I had him sign my 2012 Topps Heritage Twins team card. I figure cards like that can come in handy for players I have nothing for, and they often can hold multiple players' sigs. I even added Caleb Thielbar and Casey Fien to it later. Maybe I'll tack on a few more tomorrow (now that I'm out of cards of Nolasco, and a few others).
Kyle Gibson came down the line next, signing one-per. Gibson is another who adds Bible verses, putting Ephesians 2:8-10 on every sig. Based on that quote ("For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."), I'd guess Gibson is of a Calvinist faith. Something Protestant for certain.
Matt Guerrier came through next, signing the two I had of him, followed by Brian Duensing on one. I went over to the dugout for a while with no luck on anyone coming off from the Twins' short batting practice session, but did go back next to the camera bay again to get Sam Fuld on a pair of cards.
A few of us went up top, hoping for Bert Blyleven. Unfortunately he only signed one, a seatback that the guy already had Nolan Ryan, Ferguson Jenkins, Goose Gossage, and Gaylord Perry on. After that he refused the rest of us. Apparently last year, he had security called on the 'graphers who wanted him. Circle this, Bert.
The last one I got inside was Ron Gardenhire who signed all three cards I had of him. Gardenhire seems like a fun guy: when they announced the Rangers lineup while he was signing for us, he looked over at us and booed.
The postgame tunnel was its usual near-pointless self. Kevin Kouzmanoff stopped but only signed for a few people because he had another car coming up behind him. Security asked him at least to pull over to the side but instead he just left. Which sucks for me because I have yet to get him and he's a former Indian. We did at least get Brian Dozier walking out, signing the lone card I had of him. He was another who just signed with one pen and I was briefly scared because I hadn't rubbed down the 2014 Topps card I had of him, but the Sharpie stuck just fine without bubbling. Good to know the current Topps releases will require minimum prep work. I usually stick as much as I can to my trusty Staedtlers so I have zero prep but once in a while someone just grans a single pen and rocks out on everyone's stuff.
Not a bad day. Hoping for Terry Steinbach, Paul Molitor, and a few others tomorrow. I gotta search for Deduno cards as well because I think I may have some somewhere. I'll have another report tomorrow and later this week a preview of the National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland, July 30-August 3.
TOTALS: 16 autographs from 10 players, plus six from one via mail.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Hounding Report: Indians vs. Rangers, June 8-9
Well, I'm spent.
I decided to skip the Marlins tonight and tomorrow. Four nights in a row is more than enough. I could use a full two weeks off so I don't suffer the burnout that hit me in July and August last year. Plus it gives me time to reload on Rangers as well as stock up on Tigers and Twins if I'm lacking any. Which I probably am.
Sunday was made tough by rain. Ron Washington was first in, signing a hat for me. My wife's uncle loves Wash and he's been in the hospital for almost a year now. He was in a coma for a while but has been improving greatly the last few months. So I had Wash sign a hat for him. I asked him to personalize it and Wash said he doesn't do them, but when I explained the situation, he was nice enough to put "To Paul" on it. Tim Bogar was the only other Ranger I got, signing the last card I had of him. I also got Sandy Alomar Jr. walking in. He signed two cards, which got a little spotty from the rain. I've had worse.
Inside, no one took batting practice, so graphing was almost pointless. I got Corey Kluber on another card and Josh Tomlin on a UD logo hologram, but that was about it. TOTALS: 6 autographs from 5 players.
Monday was somewhat better. I got in early, got my free hat, and went to the Indians' side. Once again due to earlier rains, no one took BP, so once again we were behind the 8-ball. Fortunately the Tribe's pitchers did go out for a toss and a run, so some of them signed. Nick Hagadone was the first one by, signing the two cards I had of him. Carlos Carrasco also stopped by on his way out to the field, signing one-per for everyone. I tried to get Marc Rzepczynski: he said he'd sign after warmups, then walked back in with a crowd. John Axford was part of that crowd, coming over and signing, but only for kids. That was fine with me, I got him Saturday. Besides, the kid next to me that I was helping with player identification got him, so that's good at least.
Justin Masterson hung out for a good 30 minutes at the end of the tarp. I went down and got him again as he signed for everyone, including my three cards. I considered waiting around for more, but that put me at my goal of 40 for the series, so I figured I'd just head for the press box and then call it a night. Rick Manning signed the three cards I had of him as soon as he and Matt Underwood finished their pregame segment. I waited around for Tom Hamilton, but he didn't open the windows of the radio booth until after 6:50, when I left. MONDAY TOTALS: 9 autographs from 4 players
WEEKEND TOTALS (including Fri and Sat): 43 autographs from 24 players (41/22 for me, 1/1 for Chris, 1/1 for my wife's uncle)
I'm also prepping my first TTM's in a while. Got letters ready for Jason Garrett, Glenn Blackwood, Lyle Blackwood, Pat Neshek, Manny Mota, Bill Virdon, Chris Speier, Tony LaRussa, Bud Harrelson, Jim Walewander, and Curtis Pride. They should all be hitting the mailbox by the weekend.
I decided to skip the Marlins tonight and tomorrow. Four nights in a row is more than enough. I could use a full two weeks off so I don't suffer the burnout that hit me in July and August last year. Plus it gives me time to reload on Rangers as well as stock up on Tigers and Twins if I'm lacking any. Which I probably am.
Sunday was made tough by rain. Ron Washington was first in, signing a hat for me. My wife's uncle loves Wash and he's been in the hospital for almost a year now. He was in a coma for a while but has been improving greatly the last few months. So I had Wash sign a hat for him. I asked him to personalize it and Wash said he doesn't do them, but when I explained the situation, he was nice enough to put "To Paul" on it. Tim Bogar was the only other Ranger I got, signing the last card I had of him. I also got Sandy Alomar Jr. walking in. He signed two cards, which got a little spotty from the rain. I've had worse.
Inside, no one took batting practice, so graphing was almost pointless. I got Corey Kluber on another card and Josh Tomlin on a UD logo hologram, but that was about it. TOTALS: 6 autographs from 5 players.
Monday was somewhat better. I got in early, got my free hat, and went to the Indians' side. Once again due to earlier rains, no one took BP, so once again we were behind the 8-ball. Fortunately the Tribe's pitchers did go out for a toss and a run, so some of them signed. Nick Hagadone was the first one by, signing the two cards I had of him. Carlos Carrasco also stopped by on his way out to the field, signing one-per for everyone. I tried to get Marc Rzepczynski: he said he'd sign after warmups, then walked back in with a crowd. John Axford was part of that crowd, coming over and signing, but only for kids. That was fine with me, I got him Saturday. Besides, the kid next to me that I was helping with player identification got him, so that's good at least.
Justin Masterson hung out for a good 30 minutes at the end of the tarp. I went down and got him again as he signed for everyone, including my three cards. I considered waiting around for more, but that put me at my goal of 40 for the series, so I figured I'd just head for the press box and then call it a night. Rick Manning signed the three cards I had of him as soon as he and Matt Underwood finished their pregame segment. I waited around for Tom Hamilton, but he didn't open the windows of the radio booth until after 6:50, when I left. MONDAY TOTALS: 9 autographs from 4 players
WEEKEND TOTALS (including Fri and Sat): 43 autographs from 24 players (41/22 for me, 1/1 for Chris, 1/1 for my wife's uncle)
I'm also prepping my first TTM's in a while. Got letters ready for Jason Garrett, Glenn Blackwood, Lyle Blackwood, Pat Neshek, Manny Mota, Bill Virdon, Chris Speier, Tony LaRussa, Bud Harrelson, Jim Walewander, and Curtis Pride. They should all be hitting the mailbox by the weekend.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Hounding Report: Indians vs. Rangers, June 6-7
A little mid-series report, as I have two more days to go tomorrow and Monday...
SHAMELESS PLUG: Spray-on sunblock is the greatest invention since air conditioning and Slurpees. Minimal burnage today despite being outside from 8:30 am to about 6:30 pm.
Ended up with 12 total on Friday. T.J. House was the first one. While I didn't have any cards of him, I did pull out a bunch of 1991 Upper Deck team logo holograms with Chief Wahoo, so he signed one of those for me. Not long after that, Kevin Cash made his way out to the bullpen, stopping to sign my two cards of him. Mickey Callaway wasn't far behind, also signing two. The big one was Carlos Santana. I've had a photo of him that I've carried to Tribe games since about 2011 or so. Santana usually only signs for like 3 people before calling it a day. This time I was one of the lucky few he signed for. I was hoping he would use my gold pen, but as you see it looks fine in blue.
After Santana was Michael Bourn, signing two-per. I remembered from last year to only place two cards and to space the cards out as he's a smearer. Last year I had three. He signed the left-most card and then the middle one, dropping his hand on the first one in the process. This time I left the middle section in my book blank. Unfortunately he just grabbed one pen and signed everything with it, and it was the world's worst black Sharpie. I might post a picture later.
Fortunately when Terry Francona rolled with a single pen, it was a decent blue one as he signed one-per for everyone around. Josh Tomlin was the last one I got, signing three as he chatted with a few friends. FRIDAY TOTALS: 11 signed cards and a photo from 7 players.
Saturday I hit the tunnel first. I realized I forgot to restock my book when I only had one Mitch Moreland card, but fortunately he was the only one I have cards for that I missed. And at least he signed that one, which will go to Chris. Before him, Chris Gimenez came through. As a former Indian, I had him sign one of the 1991 UD holo logos. Joe Saunders was a nice surprise, stopping for the first time this season, signing one-per. David Murphy, now of the Indians, was the last one I got, signing a typical one-per. Gotta love Murph: they sent a golf cart up to get him and he told them no, he was walking in so he could stop and sign for us. He even signed again inside.
I also got to meet up with another Bench member at the tunnel, as Michael (AKA tribefan) was in town. He definitely helped out a bit inside as only about half the players had their regular BP jerseys visible. I'm alright usually with players without numbers visible, but far from being 100%.
Inside the ballpark, I got there just barely in time to get Corey Kluber. He was one of my big targets for the weekend, and he signed one of my three cards. I also got Cody Allen, one that Michael picked out. He signed another logo hologram. These things came in VERY handy this weekend. John Axford was next through, signing a ton. He skipped me about three times, but eventually I got him near the end as he signed my three cards.
After Justin Masterson snubbed us on Friday (an EXTREME rarity) I didn't hold out much hope for Saturday, wondering if his contract dispute had soured him a bit. But he made up for it on Sunday, signing all three cards I had and spending a lot of time chatting with fans and taking pictures. He's also started adding the same Bible verse to all his sigs, 2 Corinthians 12:9. For the Biblically inclined (not me), it says "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." While, as I've said here before, I'm not religious in the slightest, I am at least interested in what players find inspiring. My favorite verse is still Matthew 6:6.
After Masterson, I took a little bit of a gamble, calling out to Matthew Quatraro, the Tribe's assistant hitting coach. Matt never played in the majors, but shares a 1997 Topps card with Alex Sanchez. He seemed really surprised when I asked him to sign, but he came over and did it, signing the three copies I had of the card.
It seemed like George Kottaras expended more energy avoiding us and telling us why he wouldn't sign than he would have to stop and sign. So when I saw him walk by out to left field to take part in the pregame festivities in defending his cow milking title, I figured I'd follow one of the other collectors out to see if he would sign. And shockingly, he did-- probably since it was just two of us-- signing one of my three cards.
Last but not least was a big one I wanted to get-- Mr. Bro-hio himself, Nick Swisher, who signed one-per down the line. Swisher is great, always chatty with fans, jokingly berating Rangers fans for wearing the wrong attire. I mentioned I'll finally be getting to a few games at The Jake this year and he laughed and said "You know, I still call it The Jake too," to which another Tribe fan nearby said "Yeah, I think we all still do." There are shirts out there that say "I Still Call It The Jake," which I may have to buy. SATURDAY TOTALS: 17 cards from 11 players (16 from 10 for me, 1 from 1 for Chris).
TOTALS SO FAR: 28 cards and a photo from 18 players (27/17 for me, 1/1 for Chris)
SHAMELESS PLUG: Spray-on sunblock is the greatest invention since air conditioning and Slurpees. Minimal burnage today despite being outside from 8:30 am to about 6:30 pm.
Ended up with 12 total on Friday. T.J. House was the first one. While I didn't have any cards of him, I did pull out a bunch of 1991 Upper Deck team logo holograms with Chief Wahoo, so he signed one of those for me. Not long after that, Kevin Cash made his way out to the bullpen, stopping to sign my two cards of him. Mickey Callaway wasn't far behind, also signing two. The big one was Carlos Santana. I've had a photo of him that I've carried to Tribe games since about 2011 or so. Santana usually only signs for like 3 people before calling it a day. This time I was one of the lucky few he signed for. I was hoping he would use my gold pen, but as you see it looks fine in blue.
 |
| At least he signed it in a light spot |
Fortunately when Terry Francona rolled with a single pen, it was a decent blue one as he signed one-per for everyone around. Josh Tomlin was the last one I got, signing three as he chatted with a few friends. FRIDAY TOTALS: 11 signed cards and a photo from 7 players.
Saturday I hit the tunnel first. I realized I forgot to restock my book when I only had one Mitch Moreland card, but fortunately he was the only one I have cards for that I missed. And at least he signed that one, which will go to Chris. Before him, Chris Gimenez came through. As a former Indian, I had him sign one of the 1991 UD holo logos. Joe Saunders was a nice surprise, stopping for the first time this season, signing one-per. David Murphy, now of the Indians, was the last one I got, signing a typical one-per. Gotta love Murph: they sent a golf cart up to get him and he told them no, he was walking in so he could stop and sign for us. He even signed again inside.
I also got to meet up with another Bench member at the tunnel, as Michael (AKA tribefan) was in town. He definitely helped out a bit inside as only about half the players had their regular BP jerseys visible. I'm alright usually with players without numbers visible, but far from being 100%.
Inside the ballpark, I got there just barely in time to get Corey Kluber. He was one of my big targets for the weekend, and he signed one of my three cards. I also got Cody Allen, one that Michael picked out. He signed another logo hologram. These things came in VERY handy this weekend. John Axford was next through, signing a ton. He skipped me about three times, but eventually I got him near the end as he signed my three cards.
After Justin Masterson snubbed us on Friday (an EXTREME rarity) I didn't hold out much hope for Saturday, wondering if his contract dispute had soured him a bit. But he made up for it on Sunday, signing all three cards I had and spending a lot of time chatting with fans and taking pictures. He's also started adding the same Bible verse to all his sigs, 2 Corinthians 12:9. For the Biblically inclined (not me), it says "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." While, as I've said here before, I'm not religious in the slightest, I am at least interested in what players find inspiring. My favorite verse is still Matthew 6:6.
After Masterson, I took a little bit of a gamble, calling out to Matthew Quatraro, the Tribe's assistant hitting coach. Matt never played in the majors, but shares a 1997 Topps card with Alex Sanchez. He seemed really surprised when I asked him to sign, but he came over and did it, signing the three copies I had of the card.
It seemed like George Kottaras expended more energy avoiding us and telling us why he wouldn't sign than he would have to stop and sign. So when I saw him walk by out to left field to take part in the pregame festivities in defending his cow milking title, I figured I'd follow one of the other collectors out to see if he would sign. And shockingly, he did-- probably since it was just two of us-- signing one of my three cards.
Last but not least was a big one I wanted to get-- Mr. Bro-hio himself, Nick Swisher, who signed one-per down the line. Swisher is great, always chatty with fans, jokingly berating Rangers fans for wearing the wrong attire. I mentioned I'll finally be getting to a few games at The Jake this year and he laughed and said "You know, I still call it The Jake too," to which another Tribe fan nearby said "Yeah, I think we all still do." There are shirts out there that say "I Still Call It The Jake," which I may have to buy. SATURDAY TOTALS: 17 cards from 11 players (16 from 10 for me, 1 from 1 for Chris).
TOTALS SO FAR: 28 cards and a photo from 18 players (27/17 for me, 1/1 for Chris)
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Hounding Report: Texas Rangers Caravan in Waco, January 18
The furthest I've ever traveled solely for the purposes of getting autographs was maybe about 45 minutes or so. This was 20 years ago when my dad and I went to a couple card shows at the Euclid Square Mall and Ashtabula Mall in Northeast Ohio. In Euclid was then-looking-like-a-future-Hall-Of-Famer Carlos Baerga, while in Ashtabula was real-future-Hall-Of-Famer Ozzie Newsome. While I did a few other events that sent me further (Wichita Falls, TX to Cleveland, OH anyone?), those had other primary reasons.
That mark has been eclipsed today with a 90-minute drive to Waco, TX for the Texas Rangers Winter Caravan. After our success last week over in Frisco, Chris and I decided a quick dash down to Waco would be good. It's not too crazily far to get there, the crowd shouldn't be as bad as the stops in Grapevine, Mesquite, or Arlington, and it's a good way to get J.P. Arencibia, the new acquisition as the Rangers' backstop, along with normally-tough signer Mike Maddux.
The drive down was pretty easy, aside from thinking I was going to get busted by a cop ten minutes into our trip for doing 70 in a 60. Fortunately a truck was going a good 75 or so and I was off the hook. We got in at about 10:45 for a 12:30 signing, putting us 23rd and 24th in line. The great thing about this is that Academy was handing out numbered tickets so you could get yours and walk around the store to kill time instead of just standing around. We also met up with Matt, another collector who were were hanging out with in Frisco.
Anyways, they started pretty much right on time, just after 12:30 with the line moving pretty well. Maddux was in a surprisingly good mood compared to how we usually see him at the Ballpark on game days. In a year of graphing, I had only gotten him once, and it was on a single card. This time, he signed three of the four cards on my board. Neal Cotts did the two cards I had which Chris hooked me up with (one goes back to him). J.P. Arencibia signed all four cards I had of him, commenting on how well-prepared I was with the book and having all of them lined up in order and everything.
Since we got through quickly, we decided to jump the line once more, chatting with a few of the other collectors we've seen around at games and other various signings up in the DFW area. I decided this time I'd only go for two Maddux cards-- fortunately Matt helped me out and got two more done for me, while Arencibia signed the last card I had of him.
On the way back, we hit the famous Health Camp for lunch. If you are ever in Waco, you must try them out. They've been doing shakes and burgers for 66 years now, and have been located at the Waco Traffic Circle for the last 65 of those years. It was excellent, and I plan to go there every time I find myself in Waco, which hopefully isn't very often.
On the way back to Arlington, Chris recommended we do a little grave-stomping and visit Hall of Famer Tris Speaker. For those unaware, Speaker was from Hubbard, TX and is buried there in Fairview Cemetery, located at the end of NW 2nd Street.
It took a lap of the cemetery and Chris remembering it was near a flagpole until we found it. Speaker is buried next to his wife and under a flagpole, placed in memory of both the American and Confederate soldiers who are buried there (Speaker was a member of the Naval Reserves). Atop the flagpole is an eagle, placed in memory of Speaker, who was known as The Grey Eagle.
As a longtime Cleveland Indians fan, it seemed it would be idiotic NOT to stop by. Speaker was a top player AND the manager of the Tribe's first World Series winning team in 1920, hitting .388 with an AL-best 50 doubles. From 1909 to 1927, Speaker hit below .300 only once, while hitting above .350 nine times. He led the AL in OBP four times, homers once, hits twice, doubles eight times. He was the 1912 AL MVP with the Red Sox and was on the winning side in all three World Series in which he appeared. As a fielder, he had possibly the best range of any fielder in the game; his glove was said to be "where triples go to die."
Speaker was a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame's second class in 1937, one of eight men selected for the honor after the inaugural five-player class of 1936. After his baseball career, he managed some independent teams, owned a number of businesses, was chairman of Cleveland's boxing commission, commissioner of a short-lived indoor baseball league, and served as an "ambassador of goodwill" for the Indians. He worked to help turn then-second baseman Larry Doby into a top-flight center fielder, one who was eventually elected to the Hall of Fame. This is a major contrast to the allegations of Speaker being a member of the Ku Klux Klan: Doby, of course, was the American League's first black player.
That mark has been eclipsed today with a 90-minute drive to Waco, TX for the Texas Rangers Winter Caravan. After our success last week over in Frisco, Chris and I decided a quick dash down to Waco would be good. It's not too crazily far to get there, the crowd shouldn't be as bad as the stops in Grapevine, Mesquite, or Arlington, and it's a good way to get J.P. Arencibia, the new acquisition as the Rangers' backstop, along with normally-tough signer Mike Maddux.
The drive down was pretty easy, aside from thinking I was going to get busted by a cop ten minutes into our trip for doing 70 in a 60. Fortunately a truck was going a good 75 or so and I was off the hook. We got in at about 10:45 for a 12:30 signing, putting us 23rd and 24th in line. The great thing about this is that Academy was handing out numbered tickets so you could get yours and walk around the store to kill time instead of just standing around. We also met up with Matt, another collector who were were hanging out with in Frisco.
Anyways, they started pretty much right on time, just after 12:30 with the line moving pretty well. Maddux was in a surprisingly good mood compared to how we usually see him at the Ballpark on game days. In a year of graphing, I had only gotten him once, and it was on a single card. This time, he signed three of the four cards on my board. Neal Cotts did the two cards I had which Chris hooked me up with (one goes back to him). J.P. Arencibia signed all four cards I had of him, commenting on how well-prepared I was with the book and having all of them lined up in order and everything.
Since we got through quickly, we decided to jump the line once more, chatting with a few of the other collectors we've seen around at games and other various signings up in the DFW area. I decided this time I'd only go for two Maddux cards-- fortunately Matt helped me out and got two more done for me, while Arencibia signed the last card I had of him.
On the way back, we hit the famous Health Camp for lunch. If you are ever in Waco, you must try them out. They've been doing shakes and burgers for 66 years now, and have been located at the Waco Traffic Circle for the last 65 of those years. It was excellent, and I plan to go there every time I find myself in Waco, which hopefully isn't very often.
On the way back to Arlington, Chris recommended we do a little grave-stomping and visit Hall of Famer Tris Speaker. For those unaware, Speaker was from Hubbard, TX and is buried there in Fairview Cemetery, located at the end of NW 2nd Street.
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| The current residence of the second-greatest Pre-WWII center fielder |
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| An eagle for The Gray Eagle |
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| The plaque below the flagpole |
"I never let him know how much I admired him when we were playing
against each other...
It was only after we finally became teammates and
then retired that I could tell Tris Speaker
of the underlying respect I
had for him." - Tyrus Raymond Cobb
Speaker died at age 70 from a heart attack while pulling a boat back to dock after a fishing trip on Lake Whitney.
TOTALS: 14 autographs (13 for me, 1 for Chris)
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