Category: Ford Frick Award

Rookies and History

Today I received a pair of packages.  The first one was a package with seven prospects my friend Paul C got me from the minor league teams in Florida.  It contained:
Stephen Gonsalves w/”Go Twins”
Nick Burdi w/”Go Twins!”
Matt Imhof w/”Go Phillies”
Ricardo Pinto
Chih-Wei Hu with his name in Taiwanese also
Jarlin Garcia
Amir Garrett w/”Go Reds!”
As always, Paul does a great job and I cannot wait for his next package!

My other package was a do-over with Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman.  I had sent to him a couple years ago for his call on Pete Rose’s 4192nd hit and he returned it but it was signed in a black felt tip marker.  I know that baseballs signed with felt tip markers usually always end up bleeding.  I was told that spraying the baseballs preserves them so I tried it.  What ended up happening was the ink really bled and make the ball look less than ideal.  I sent him another request, with another donation of course, along with pictures of the baseball and kindly asked if he would do another.  I got it back today and it looks real nice!

A Two Time World Series Champion

Today Kent Hrbek was signing autographs at the Twin Cities Sports Collectors Show in Bloomington.  They were expecting a big turnout so Cami and I headed down to make sure we were there at 9am when tickets went on sale.  We met up with Joel B (brad0112 on SCN) as he was planning on being there too.  I had brought down a few items plus had a fellow SCN member send me some cards to get signed so I was hoping to get through the line twice and was able to.  The items I got signed today were:
1995 Twins Schedule Poster- This is now signed by all players on it with their uniform numbers including (Puckett, Oliva, Killebrew, Carew and now Hrbek)
11.01.1991 Sports Illustrated
#14 Metrodome Seatback (I had paid for 14 inscriptions to be written on it.  When I got to him he said he was there “to sign autographs and not write a novel” and that I “could write them on there”.  I was a little bummed but he did write “World Champs 87/91” on it.
1982 Topps rookie already signed by Tim Laudner
2 baseball cards for Cami
5 baseball cards for Robert T (lutherlafy on SCN).

After we were done getting autographs, Joel and I went to a dealer that was set up selling off a collection of really nice signed baseballs.  Unfortunately the owner ran into some health problems and had to liquidate his collection.  There were some really nice baseballs for sale.  I purchased the following gorgeous baseballs:
Brooks Robinson – “1964 MVP  16 Gold Gloves  1983 HOF”
Curt Gowdy
Hal Newhouser – “AL MVP 44-45 – HOF ’92”
Willie Stargell – “HOF 1988  475 HR  1540 RBI  .282 AVE”
Yogi Berra – “MVP 51-54-55   HOF 72”
AB Chandler
These baseballs are near mint snow white OAL/ONL baseballs that were stored in tubs and did not see the light of day in years.  The quality was unsurpassed by many.  I am really pleased.  My only regret was that I did not buy more!  Maybe next time.

Another Ford Frick Award Recipient!

Today I received my baseball signed by 2014 Ford Frick Award recipient Eric Nadel.  If you recognize his name, it is because he signed a couple call balls a few months ago for me.  In one letter I mentioned I hoped to be sending him another baseball in a few months asking for 2014 Ford Frick Award on it.  He signed it with his name and “Ford Frick Award 2014 Winner”.  Mr Nadel will be added to the broadcaster’s wing of the Hall of Fame Museum in the summer of 2014.

2012 Ford Frick Winner

Today I received a baseball I purchased from MLAM.  The final living Hall of Famer I needed (I include the broadcasters with them) on a baseball was Tim McCarver.  I compared prices and for a few bucks more than it would have cost me to send in to a show, I was able to get one with an inscription and MLB certified.  The one I received was perfect!