Category: IP

2 + 1 Hall of Famers!

Today was a day I have been anticipating for a while.  Sports News Shows was bringing in one of my most favorite retired players of all time Cal Ripken Jr.  Along with Cal they had a couple others who I was interested in getting.  Frank Robinson and Pete Rose.  Pete was here a couple years ago but I have added a couple more Sports Illustrated magazines to my collection since then and thought I would like to get them signed.

I headed up the venue where the show was knowing I was going to meet Don H who had four more of the Twins Peters Meats full cards I needed and get the autographs.  I got to the show and headed to Don to give him the money for the cards before I could spend the money that was earmarked for him on something else I “needed”.  As always, we were happy to see each other and I got the cards.  I then headed over to purchase my autograph tickets.  Last night I tried to remove an address label from a Sports Illustrated magazine that had both Frank and Brooks Robinson on it and ruined it.  I was bummed because that was one I wanted to get signed by Frank today.  As luck would have it, I found the same issue signed by BOTH Robinson’s for $75 so I bought it.  Since Frank’s autograph was going to cost $79 anyway, I was happy to get it!

While waiting for my numbers to be called, I decided to walk around.  While walking around I noticed a Herman Hill signed card and started talking to the guy about it.  Turns out he is on SCN and collects autographed cards.  While chatting with him, Joel Bradley showed up.  We all talked for a little bit and then I walked over to get in line for Frank Robinson when my number was called.  I was really debating what pen and location to use on the magazine and Joel recommended silver in a particular location so I decided to go for it.  Frank was as nice as could be.  I met him once before in Cooperstown, NY during Hall of Fame weekend in 2001 and he was nice then but this time he stuck his hand out to shake mine twice!  I asked to sign a fairly large autograph in a particular location and after he was done, he asked “How does that look?”  That was pretty cool.

Joel had to leave and he had some items for me in his car so I headed out with him and got it as he left.  I went back in and got in line for Cal right away.  Let me say that Cal Ripken Jr is all class.  He was talking with everyone and shaking hands and all that stuff.  When I got up to him I set my Sportsman of the Year Canada issue down and he looked at it and said “Wow!”.  He then asked me where I would like it signed.  I told him he signed a lot more than I have seen so I would use his judgement and he said it looks best in a spot and proceeded to sign it there.  He then stopped and spent about twenty seconds blowing on it so the silver paint pen would dry nice.  I have NEVER seen a player sign an autograph and care enough to do that.  I told him I was at the game when he got his 3,000th career hit.  He smiled and said the Metrodome had been very good to him.  I then asked him who pushed him out of the dugout when he broke the consecutive games streak for the lap around the warning track and he said it was Rafael Palmiero and Bobby Bonilla.  He thanked me and I went over to Pete Rose’s line.

Pete is pretty cool at events like this.  He is a heck of a businessman and always draws a crowd.  I was going to get three Sports Illustrated issues signed but once I saw that Frank and Brooks Robinson SI and bought it, I thought I would just get one Rose ticket.  I decided on the Sports Illustrated issue that has him on it with “SUSPENDED!”.  Pete was suspended 30 games back in 1988 for shoving an umpire.  I requested he inscribe it with “Pallone had it coming!” and Pete said “Naaaaaah” and I asked how about “He poked me” and he said “He did!” and wrote that after confirming how to spell poked.  He then pointed under his left eye and said “He poked me right here.”  He remembered that event from twenty-five years ago!

I then headed home with a smile on my face!

He Shoots, He Scores!

Today was the Let’s Play Hockey Expo at the Xcel Energy Center.  I have never been to the event before but I heard Bill Baker was there signing autographs for the Herb Brooks Foundation so I decided to attend.  I asked my buddy Tony F is he and his kids wanted to go and they did so Cami and I and those three headed down.  There was a ton of free stuff as well as the admission being free.  You could really spend a lot of time there without spending much money.  It was a great event.  Since Tony is way more into hockey than I am, I let him get my two 1980 US Hockey Team Sports Illustrated magazines signed.  Adding Bill made my total autograph number on each issue up to eight!

Two WS MVPs and the Terminator!

Today was a great day!  Cami and I left the house around 8am and headed to Bloomington to meet up with Joel B (brad0112 on SCN) and his son Elliott.  We then headed to Moundsview Square Mall where Tom Frantzen had Frank Viola, Jeff Reardon and Jack Morris appearing to sign autographs.  There was heavy demand for Viola so we made sure we got up to get the tickets when they opened.  We bought the tickets then headed to see Ted S.  Ted has been pretty gracious with his sked doubles and let me go through all his sked doubles and take what I need.  Today I traded his AL doubles that I went through and got a TON for the NL doubles.  I will go through those over the next couple weeks.  We then headed back and got in line for Viola and Reardon.

As usual, Frankie V was his happy, talkative self.  It was really neat to see him.  He signed a 1987 World Series ticket with “87 WS MVP”, the checklist card from the 1986 7-Eleven Twins team set and two home plates made out the the old Metrodome roof.  He looked at the checklist card and said “That isn’t even me!  Well, it has my face but that is my first roommate and best friend today!”.  I asked him who it was and he had me guess.  I asked for the first name and he said ‘Jack’.  I said ‘Jack O’Conner’ and he looked at me with wide eyes and said ‘Yes!’  He said That’s Jack’s windup but my [Frank’s] face!”  He signed it and we moved on to Jeff Reardon.  Jeff signed a home plate of the Metrodome roof for Cami.  Joel then took a photo of Jeff and Cami together.  We are going to get that printed out and send it to Jeff to sign it for Cami.

After that we left to eat and when we were done we went back to the show for Jack Morris.  Jack finished our two home plates with “91 W.S. MVP”.  Both home plates turned out really cool with the two Twins World Series MVPs on them.

We left and headed to Dick Blick in Roseville and found some really cool frames for the home plates.  After that we drove to where Joel’s car was parked and dropped him and Elliott off and headed home.

It was a long day but the four of us had a blast.  It was cool that Joel and I could do this while our kids got to know each other and hung out.  We cannot wait for the next autograph show where we can do this again!

Twinsfest 2013 – Day 3

Today was the final day of Twinsfest this year and I was real happy how I did Day 1 and Day 2 that I decided to cool down a little today.  I went for quality over quantity and did not leave disappointed!

I was greeted this morning to Caden telling me he did not want to go today.  I told him I was going anyway and headed out alone.  I got to the Dome at 8:27am.  Why do I know it specifically?  Well, I put a $10 bill into the parking machine and it must have been out of paper because I did not get a receipt.  I wrote it on a napkin when I paid and put that on my dash and walked to get a wristband.  I was greeted at the wristband area with the news that they were only giving out one color for Justin Morneau and everyone was a winner!  So, I got Morneau’s wristband and went to a volunteer who always recognizes me from events like this and asked him to pick me a winner for Mauer.  He said he honestly has no idea which color was the winner but for me to pick one.  I told him to reach into the bag and grab a lucky one.  I then went to get in line.

While in line I ended up standing next to a dealer who sets up regularly at the Twin Cities Sports Collectors Club so I was able to chat with him.  I then noticed a couple guys from Wisconsin who was standing next to Russ and I yesterday walking up so I invited them to join me.  I could not believe they were both wearing just t-shirts because they did not want to carry their coats in their bag.  They were going to get Morneau too and the one guy asked if I had anything for him and he would get it for me.  That was pretty nice.  We entered the gate and walked to get in the Morneau line.  It was a lot of fun talking to the guys from Wisconsin (I never got their names).  They were funny and offered great tips for the All Star Fanfest coming in a year and a half.  the one WI guy got me the 2010 Allen & Ginter card signed and I got the 2012 Topps Heritage “Twin Terrors” card which has Justin and Joe Mauer on it.  This card would make another appearance later in the day!  The guys from Wisconsin wished me luck as I did them and we parted.  I got back in line because I figured if they only had one color for Morneau wristbands, they might run out and I could get in line to get a couple more autographs of him.  As luck would have it, my hunch paid off.  I bought two more autographs for Justin and got the 2005 Topps and 2007 Topps cards signed.  I then traipsed down to the field to see what was going on there.

On my way to my destination, I saw Mudcat Grant at the table without a line so I walked up to him and told him how Cami talked about how Mudcat got his nickname and how it really left an impression on here and I thanked him for the great memory.  He was as kind and gracious as he was last night.  I got in line for Josh Willingham and Brian Duensing.  When I got to Josh, I told him that “yesterday my 8 year old daughter was asked by Tim Laudner who her favorite Twins player was and without hesitation she said ‘Josh Willingham!'”  Josh smiled and laughed and commented “Ha! Ha! Ha!  I’ll keep it this year!”  That was really cool.  He signed my 2012 Topps Heritage card and I moved to Duensing.  Brian signed a 2012 Topps card and I went to Station 1.

At Station 1 I got Scott Diamond to sign a baseball.  He was really cool and thanked me for coming out.  Trevor Plouffe then commented that I got “Drew to sign the cards!” (see Twinsfest Day 2 post) and signed both the 2011 Topps for me and the 2011 Topps Diamond card for Jon S.  Then I got to the guy that if there was anyone more happy to be at Twinsfest I did not meet him.  Cole DeVries is a local kid who was having a blast.  He seemed to be enjoying himself and engaging everyone when they approached him.  He signed a couple of the 2008 TriStar cards for me.  Al Newman was the last person at the table and signed a couple cards for me.  At this point I decided to get the final non-rookie card for Rod Carew signed (see yesterday’s post) and headed to get in his line.

When I got to Station 5, Tom Kelly and Ron Gardenhire were still working their shift so I get in line for Carew and waited.  While in line for Carew, I got an email from Tony Swann letting me know where he was located and to stop by.  Rod showed up and I was able to get the 1979 Topps Batting Leader card signed and was pretty excited about that.  While in line, I heard my color wristband for Joe Mauer was called so I headed over to Joe’s line.

When I got to Joe, I handed him the card that Justin signed earlier in the day and he finished it.  That card looks sweet!  He also signed a 2007 Topps card for me.  Mauer is a class act.  After I was done with Joe, I headed down to see Tony Swann.

I met Tony in person at Twinsfest last year.  He is a great guy who has sent me more than a few tickets for my ticket collection.  I always keep an eye out for a White Sox ticket or any other ticket he needs for his Carlton Fisk collection.  If you are a fan of Fisk, or baseball in general, check out his website here.  Tony is awesome and had a couple tickets for my Twins collection.  Thanks Tony!

I then decided to check out some 1961 Peters Meats wiener packages with cards on them that I have always wanted for my collection.  Earlier in the weekend I noticed a dealer had some that were complete and in phenomenal condition.  I ended up purchasing eight of them and starting my collection of them.  I have eyeballed these cards going back to when I was in high school but never thought I could afford them.  The dealer worked with me and was more than fair and that, along with my Christmas gift money from my parents and my in-laws went towards them.  Once I was done with that, I realized I blew through all my money and decided to go wait in line for Miguel Sano’s autograph in the free line.  While walking there I ran into Todd B.  I met Todd years ago while standing in line for bobblehead games at the Dome.  Todd is a great guy and it was cool to see him and catch up.  We walked to a couple places to pick up schedules and then got in line for Sano’s autograph.  Sano’s line was by far the longest consistently all weekend long.  This was his first appearance in the Twin Cities and fans wanted to add him to their collections.  I waited in line about an hour before he started signing but that time flew by talking to Todd.  We got up to Sano and he signed a baseball for each of us and Todd got Chris Herrman to sign a pair of cards for me while I got a ticket from his debut game with “ML Debut” and a ticket for his first hit with “1st ML Hit”.  We then walked over and Todd introduced me to a guy he knows and we each headed to our cars.  The weather got real ugly while we were inside the Dome and the roads were slick with ice.  I headed home and did not get above 30mph the entire time passing one accident and six cars in the ditch.

With the Twins doing so poorly the last couple seasons, there were not nearly as many people showing up to this Twinsfest.  While the record is not much fun, Twinsfest was a blast because of the lesser number of fans attending.  I did really well helping a few guys who I owed as well as getting help from Russ, Todd and “the guy from Wisconsin”.  Oh, how could I forget the help from the little baseball girl of mine!