For just about every recent summer, the Hall of Fame has a Hall of Fame Game where a player representing each team shows up to play in this game. It seems like a fun weekend watching a bunch of recently retired players in their home team’s uniform play a game and have a little signing event and just celebrate baseball. Steve S (cosmo on SCN) reached out to me at different times in the past to see if he was seeing anyone I needed an autograph of and this year was no different. I kept watching the roster and saw that Jim Kaat was one of the coaches and Brian Dozier was the Twins representative. I had a couple 1st home run tickets for Brian Dozier so I sent one to Steve to see if he could get Doz to sign it with “1st Homerun” and Steve did not let me down! But, here is the really cool thing… I have a ticket from three of the four home 1965 World Series games signed by the Twins hero of the game. The Twins lost in Game 7 to Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers. I always wanted Sandy to sign it but he just does not sign and when he does, it is so expensive I do not partake. In chatting with Steve he told me to send it for Kaat and list a couple inscriptions that might be cool on it and he will see what he could do. I received the coolest note from Steve explaining how things went down. He waited until the end when there were not so many people around and asked Kaat to sign it with “Sandy Beat Us!” and not only did Kitty do that but he proceeded to talk about that game with the people around him for the next ten minutes. Steve said that the people surrounding them were in awe of not only the ticket but the experience they were having with Kaat spinning stories of Sandy and the Dodgers in 1965. Steve is a big baseball fan and said it was one of his top experiences chasing autographs. I am excited for him, those who shared in that, and myself who completed my run of 1965 World Series home games.
Author: Kevin
Tony O Times Three
I admit it. I have a ton of Tony Oliva signed items. Just when I think I have everything possible I want signed, something pops up that I have to add to the collection. Todd B (moselder71 on SCN) had a private signing with Tony at a very reasonable price so I sent in three items. Two of them were Hall of Fame postcards and one was the last signature I needed to complete the February 1968 Baseball Digest issue. I already had a Hall of Fame postcard signed by Tony but what makes these two special is that they are postmarked from Cooperstown’s “Induction Day Station” from Hall of Fame weekend. All three were signed perfectly and I could not be happier. What will I find next that needs to be signed? Who knows? Stay tuned though. I am sure I will find something!
Doerr-ing It Right!
I have recently started getting into Baseball Digest magazines and getting them signed. I remember subscribing to the magazine for a few years when I was a kid and thought it would be cool to get some and get them signed. Unfortunately, that means I started late and a lot of players on the really cool, older issues have passed away. John H (88Harrison88 on SCN) posted that he had an issue from April, 1946 signed by Bobby Doerr for sale since it did not fit in his collection. I was excited to see that because the issue was in really good shape for its age and no mailing label. I bought it and it arrived today. I am pretty excited to add this to the collection!
The Big Hurt
On June 28, 2007, Frank Thomas strolled up to the Metrodome batter’s box and hit a home run. It was number 500 on his career and he became the twenty-first player to achieve that milestone. I had sold my season tickets to that game long before it but picked up a couple via the box office after he hit it. I traded those two box office versions and when I saw a season version, with Justin Morneau on it no less, I bought it. Mike C (Mac6185 on SCN) had a signing with Frank but prices posted were higher for 500 HR items. I reached out and asked him if a ticket to the 500th HR game was at the standard flat price level or 500 HR level. He told me standard flat and that the 500 HR price was for 500 HR group items so I sent in the ticket. I received it back signed today along with “500th HR” inscription and JSA authentication. A great addition to the ticket collection!