Back around mid-January 1999 I was taking a programming course at a local college. It was the only formal coding class I ever had and, honestly, it was a waste of time. I already knew everything covered in the course from my own hands on but it did give me confidence that I was going the right way. I arrived at the classroom a little early one day and was checking out eBay. I found a Sports Illustrated of Greg Maddux that I did not have from 1995 without a label. It was just under $20 so I jumped on it. Today, over 20 years later, I received it autographed by Greg Maddux. I had already received my 300 win baseball from the signing and today the SI arrived. Nate Rupp did a fantastic job on my items. Both items were signed perfectly and I could not be happier. My SI has a Beckett Witness sticker on it too! I opted not to get one on the ball because it has so many autographs on it already and did not want to take up room with a sticker.
Category: HOF
Mad Dog
Today I received a really neat item that I was a little afraid to send via mail. Nate Rupp (Baseball Signings group on Facebook) had a signing with Greg Maddux and I got my 300 win baseball signed. Greg signed it with “355 W’s” in the exact location I requested. It looks great. There is only one living 300 game winner I need on the baseball and that is Nolan Ryan with 324. I sent a magazine to get signed by Mad Dog as well. I expect that to arrive this week still.
Another package I received was my Brendan McKay debut ticket. Joey H (jhenderson1675 on SCN) had a signing with McKay and I sent in my ticket. I had requested, and paid for, an inscription of MLB Debut 06.30.2019 but did not get it. That happens sometimes. I would have liked it on this ticket because it was a make up date and the date on the ticket is the day before (but this ticket was good for admission on the 30th) but it did not work out.
Nice Way To End The Year!
Today I received a couple multi signed items that received the final signature to complete them.
The first was a Twins at Angels ticket from 08.08.1983. The Twins turned a triple play in the game and I already had Gary Gaetti and Kent Hrbek on it. Guy P (gpuglia on SCN) had a signing with John Castino so I sent it in. Castino was the last person I needed on it to finish all three players involved in the triple play.
The other item was the 09.24.2018 Sports Illustrated. I already had one signed by all four people shown on the cover but since I was able to finish another, I thought “Why not?” so I sent it to Carlton Fisk. He signed it and now it is signed by Mike Torrez, Don Denkinger, Carlton Fisk, and Bucky Dent. This is my second completed one and I have one more that has everyone but Torrez on it. Someday I will go for the trifecta!
Happy New Year!
Not Chapped
Today I received a couple Sports Illustrated magazines in the mail. The first was my 10.10.2016 issue that was already signed by five Cubs players from the World Series Champion team. I was able to get Aroldis Chapman to sign it via a private signing with Josh R out of Chicago. That brings me up to six different players on the cover.
The other issue was a 08.16.1994 issue signed beautifully by Eddie Mathews. It is the 40th anniversary issue and depicted the original issue on the cover. I bought this from Eric A via Facebook.