Category: Uncategorized

I read where the Twins players’ wives were putting on another ‘Ball in a Bag’ event on before the game tonight.  Caden wanted to go to the game with me because he heard Shane was going to be there.  We got to the line and bought one bag for $100 and one for $30.  The $100 bag had the option of getting Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Johan Santana and Torii Hunter.  The rest of the players and coaches were in the $30 bags.  I let Caden pick each bag in hopes that we could wait until we got home to open them.  Well, we couldn’t wait.  We opened them as we were heading to the car to drop them off.  We ended up getting a Joe Mauer and a Matt Garza.  Not bad.  It sure could have been a lot worse!

This morning featured players signing at the Twins Pro Shops. Since I had a 2007 Allen & Ginter card of Glen Perkins, I decided to start with Perkins at the Pro Shop in Apple Valley. Cami decided she wanted to go with me so we headed out and got there a couple minutes after he started. There were about 20 total people there to start with. We got in and had him sign four cards. He signed two Allen & Ginter cards and two 07 Heritage with “To Camden” on one. We then headed to the Roseville Twins Pro Shop.

We got up to the Roseville Pro Shop around noon and there were still people lined up albeit it was a short line and probably all of them were going through a second, third or more time. We went through and Cami got him to sign two cards for my buddy Vince in TX. I got a ball signed. We then went back in line and Cami got him on a ball for my buddy Shane and I got him on a ticket from the game when he got his first ML hit. I think Cami almost had as much fun as I did!

During the A’s recent visit to Arlington to play the Rangers (September 7-9, 2007), my pal Vince was able to get Nick Swisher to sign a ball for me.  It is a nice addition to the collection as I admire the way Nick plays.

Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons must have been thinking about my buddy Shane and I and what we did last night when they came up with the song title.

We were invited to attend a reception which featured most of the 1987 World Champion Twins players after the game and had a blast.

Getting to talk to Greg Gagne about how he was recently watching a show on records that will probably never be broken and his game when he got two inside the park home runs in the same game was neat. So was talking to Mike Smithson (what a really nice guy). Another neat highlight was when Dan Gladden got the entire team together around the championship trophy to take a picture and then seeing Gagne dance with it to the band. It was cool to talk to Jeff Reardon about the cover of the Sports Illustrated magazine when they were piled on and he said “You would think the guy making the last out would be shown more on it” and laughing (he is in the bottom right corner). It was funny when Shane asked Frank Viola to sign a ball with “Sweet Music” and he said “That is all you want on it? Not my name?” and then really laughed at him as he was joking.

The players were really having fun meeting the fans and posing for photos and signing autographs. I am betting it was way more fun for the fans though!

Here are some highlights of the evening for my autograph collection:
Sal Butera on my 1987 team ball (down to needing just Gary Gaetti and Dan Schatzeder) and a 1987 Topps card
Juan Berenguer on 2 @ 1987 Topps and a 1987 Topps Traded
Mark Davidson on a 1988 Topps card and “The Champs” Sports Illustrated
Greg Gagne on a ticket stub from the Oct 4, 1986 game with “2 Inside the Park HR’s”
Dan Gladden on a 1987 Topps Traded card and the Sports Illustrated
Tim Laudner on a 1986 7-11 card as well as 2 1987 Topps team cards (one also signed by Frank Viola)
Steve Lombardozzi on a 1987 Topps Traded card and the Sports Illustrated
Jeff Reardon on a 1987 Topps Traded card and the Sports Illustrated
Mike Smithson on a 1986 7-11 card. He stopped to look at it and said he did not have that one. I told him I had an extra and will send it to him. He seemed genuinely appreciative.
Les Straker on a 1987 Topps Traded and a 1988 Topps
Frank Viola on a 1987 Topps with “88 ALCY”, 1986 7-11, 1987 Topps team card (signed by Tim Laudner too) and a baseball with “88 ALCY”

It was an absolutely amazing night that created memories that I will never forget. My only regret was that Gary Gaetti was not there and I did not bring a camera.