The Sunday of Twinsfest has become the day I take one or both of the kids. Today both of them went with me.
They decided who we stand in line for and what we do. So, they decided they wanted Danny Valencia and Delmon Young so we got dropped off from the parking lot shuttle at the Schwan’s Center and got in line. We were stuck outside in the cold and they were not allowing anyone in until people left but we were about 10 people from the door and we thought we were in great shape. That was until the line did not move. After about 5 minutes standing outside the kids decided they wanted to go inside so we headed to the Sports Center building and got in line at station one. The kids each brought a baseball along and put almost everyone on it. So, each kid got Smalley, Steinbach and Slama on their ball and Cami got Jeff Manship on a baseball card and Caden on his baseball. We then got back in line for station one. Each kid got the following on each of their baseballs: Eric Hacker, Ben Revere and Drew Butera while I got Revere on a ticket with “First MLB Hit” and Hacker and Butera on cards.
The kids were hungry by this time so we grabbed a couple hot dogs and a pretzel and sat down to eat. While we were eating, two people who were in line for Valencia and Young next to us came up to us and asked if we did end up waiting in line or left. I told them we left because the kids were too cold. They said had we waited in line, we would have gotten in and got their autographs. They then proceeded to pull out a baseball signed on the sweetspot by Young and another by Valencia and gave each of the kids a ball. That was an amazing gesture and I hope they got a feeling of appreciation and goodwill as the kids did. Awesome people!
Then it was to wait in line for the minor league guys. Each got the following on their baseball: Aaron Hicks, David Bromberg, Rene Tosoni and Chris Parmelee. I got two Hick’s eTopps cards signed, two Bromberg cards, two Parmelee cards and Tosoni on the 2010 All Star Futures Game when he was the MVP. Caden got a Parmelee card signed too. Then it was back to get in line for Kubel which was to be the highlight of the day. Before heading back to the Schwan’s Center, I stopped at the dealer table I went to the past couple days to give one more shot at his cards. I ended up picking up a 1966 Zoilo Versalles, 1968 Rod Carew and 1970 Carew card signed for my collection as well as Torii Hunter, Matt Moses and Bobby Kielty Topps Total cards to trade. We got to the Schwan’s Center and Michael Cuddyer and Matt Tolbert had a few minutes left and no line so both kids got each on each baseball. We then got right back in line for the next group which was Jason Kubel, Jason Repko, Nick Blackburn and Jim Hoey. We go to the table and each kid got each on their baseball and I got Blackburn on a card and Repko and Hoey each on a Target Field Upper Deck card for the kids. When I got to Jason Kubel, Cami had made a little note that said “You are a grat playr. I like you.” She gave it to Jason and he said that was really neat and thanked her and put the note in his pocket. That was really cool. I told him that every time he gets to bat she yells “There’s my boyfriend!” He smiled from ear to ear and Repko said that was real nice of her. Jason signed by Target Field Firsts ball since he was the first player to hit a home run at the new field.
We got on the shuttle back to the car and headed home. This was one of the best Twinsfest weekends I have ever had. It started really bad Friday waiting and getting shut out for Thome and Mauer but because I decided to go to the other building when I did, I was able to score the greatest coup in my card collecting history!
I am already looking forward to Twinsfest 2012!