Category: IP

2014 All Star Futures Game

I decided not to head to Fanfest today even though I had a ticket.  I was just way too tired from the previous two days and got home late last night after the concert.  Amy did not care to go to the Futures Game so we took Caden’s friend Cayden who we spent all day Friday with.  The kids wanted to get to the Futures Game early so we headed down to get there before the gates opened.  We went to the railing and tried for autographs.  While there, a security guard gave Cami a foul ball.  It is cool that it has the Futures Game logo on it.

I got Blue Jays prospect Daniel Norris on a baseball.  He skipped over Caden and Cami unfortunately even though I was behind them.  Caden and I decided to get out of the sun so we walked around the concourse while Cayden and Cami went to the third base side to get some of the World team players.  They were successful there and Cami got three players to sign her All Star Sunday program.  The players to sign her program were Tayron Guerrero, Luis Severino, and Alfonso Alcantara.

The boys when up to their seats and Cami and I went to ours and we all settled in to watch the games.  It was a lot of fun to see these future stars shine!  In a few years we will be watching a few of them play in the “Main Attraction”!

2014 All Star Fanfest Day 2

Today was going to be just Cami and I.  I had two tickets for today and Cami went nuts when she found out and wanted to make sure it was her who came with me so we got up and headed down to the Convention Center.  We got there a little later than we did yesterday but it was still before the doors opened.

Today we were also going to meet up with my friend Joel and his son Elliott.  It was a ton of fun to hang out with Joel while the kids ran around doing all the things there were to do there.  Cami and I started off right away in Rollie Fingers’ line and we each got him on a baseball.  I am giving my baseball to Caden as I already have him on a ball.  Once we were done there, Cami really wanted Tony Oliva‘s autograph so I left her in his line and walked around.  While walking around, I got in line for Vera Clemente’s autograph.  Vera is Roberto’s widow.  I got her to sign a Roberto Clemente HOF postcard and got back in line for her to sign a baseball for Cami.  While signing the baseball, she was talking to me and mixed up writing her last name.  She called her son up and he told her to write the two letters she was missing and it would be find which it is.  Cami was sooo excited to get Tony Oliva’s autograph.  I ended up posting a picture of her holding the Oliva ball and put it on my Twitter account.  Turns out it got picked up by BringMeTheNews.com.  She thought that was pretty cool.

Joel and Elliott showed up and the kids went running around while Joel and I stood in line for Fred Lynn.  It was cool to catch up with Joel and I got his Sports Illustrated he had of him signed since I had him on everything else already.  After that, I went to get my Futures Game program signed by Kris Bryant.  I had gotten Jose Berrios to sign it earlier in the day and thought since it showed Berrios and Bryant, why not get it signed by each.  Now I need to get Trevor May to finish it up. After that Cami and I took off to meet up with a large group of people who were all heading to the All Star Concert.

It was another awesome day of Cami and I hanging out and getting autographs.

2014 All Star Fanfest Day 1

Wow!  What a fun day!  Today started with Caden, Cami and I picking up Caden’s friend Cayden and heading to the Minneapolis Convention Center for the 2014 All Star Fanfest.  We got there at 7:30am and were about number 15 or so in line.  When we entered, the kids each got a mini bobblehead of TC, the Twins mascot.  We then walked around to get an idea how things were laid out.  We then got in the line for Juan Berenguer’s autograph.  Cami got him on a mini bat (a Fanfest theme of hers) and Caden and I got him on a card.  He inscribed “Senor Smoke” on mine as requested.  Then we went to Tim Laudner‘s line and again, Cami got him on her bat and Caden and I on cards.  We then got Corey Koskie’s autograph on each of the same three things (bat and cards).  After this we got Frank Quilici.  Cami got him to sign her mini bat and he signed a card for me.  Frank saw I had my phone out and invited Cami around the table to take a picture.  He is ALWAYS one of the nicest people to meet.  People always talk about how nice Brooks Robinson and Harmon Killebrew are/were to fans.  To me, Frank is right up there with those two guys. He is truly a nice man!  Later we got Kevin Tapani on the same items.  I spotted Scott Leius walking around and Cami asked if he would sign her mini bat.  With a wink and a smile he nodded yes and signed it for her.  That was pretty nice.  Also, at some point during the day Caden and Cami was able to get Jack Morris for their collections.

In between all this we made Pepsi Can Coolers with our pictures on them, played Home Run Derby and fielded grounders in the activities areas and checked out a whole bunch of stuff.  Cami made the first of two Topps baseball cards with her picture on it.  Caden did a pitch speed contest and hit 59 mph which was good enough for third place in the kids age group.  Cami also did a diamond clinic and was featured on the big screen!  Cami did the Under Armour station where she ran, jumped for a ball and swung a bat and each station was photographed and she got a picture at the end of doing it.

We all stayed the entire time… from the opening moment to when they announced they were closing up shop for the day.  We did not want the day to end!

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.