Kent Hrbek and Tom Kelly. Two names you cannot hear and not think about the Twins and legends. Both have their numbers retired. Both were involved with the 1987 and 1991 World Champ teams. Today I received an envelope from each. Tom Kelly’s contained a ticket from 07.11.1975 from when the Twins played the Yankees at Shea Stadium. TK signed it with “Final MLB Game”. It is beautiful. Another gorgeous item was the new 2024 Allen & Ginter Kent Hrbek #347 card that Hrbie signed in perfect blue Sharpie. Both items are perfect for my collection!
Category: Tickets
The Operator
Wow! I received one of the coolest items for my collection today. I had a ticket from the 05.01.2011 Phillies game for a while and decided to reach out to see if I could get it signed. I was told “The Operator” was having a private signing in a couple weeks so I quickly mailed in the ticket. You may not know who “The Operator” is but you surely know what he accomplished.
During the Phillies game on 05.01.2011, the crowd started chanting “USA! USA! USA!” Nobody directed them to do it. The cheer started organically. During the game, people saw the headline that President Obama was going to address the country announcing that the US Military conducted Operation Neptune’s Spear and took out Osama Bin Laden. I remember reading that the players in the bullpens had no idea why the fans were chanting “USA!” until they asked a fan. Word quickly spread throughout each team. Watching highlights from that game, and moment, gave me chills. It was an amazing moment tying American history with baseball history.
The Operator is Robert O’Neill and he is the Navy Seal who delivered the double-tap ridding the world of the 9/11 mastermind.
I sent in my ticket and asked for a couple inscriptions. I got “USA! USA! USA!” and “Operation Neptune’s Spear” along with his signature. It is one of the most expensive autographs I ever paid for but it is one of the coolest. The ticket goes perfectly with my 9/11/2002 game used hat that Doug Mientkiewicz wore for the one year anniversary of that fateful day. Doug had written a couple items on the hat and I was able to get it signed the following season at the 2003 Twins Autograph Party. I am very excited to add this to my collection!
Here are a couple pictures of the ticket, the hat, and Robert signing my ticket!
Joe HOF Package #2
Yes. Today is Columbus Day and no mail service but my mail carrier showed up this morning with a signature request for my second Joe Mauer package from FanHQ’s private signing! I excitedly signed for the package and ripped it open! Inside were the following items:
HOF Logo baseball signed under the logo
HOF Logo baseball signed under the logo with HOF 2024
HOF postcard I picked up and got stamped in Cooperstown during induction weekend with HOF 2024
My actual HOF induction ticket that I got stamped (I hope to someday get the other three inductees on the ticket to sign it)
I am really excited to see my third package that should arrive tomorrow! You won’t want to miss that one!
Not a (T)witt
I have received a large number of items over the years that Chris L (ChrisL999 on SCN) has gotten players to sign for me but this might be one of the biggest. Chris got field passes for the Royals at Nationals at the end of the season and was able to wrangle Bobby Witt Jr to sign my debut ticket. This turned out amazing and it a beautiful addition to my ticket collection. Bobby had one of the top months of offensive output this season and will continue to get even better. He will be one of the finalists for AL MVP probably losing out to Aaron Judge but he will get his chance soon enough. Chris also included a Dylan Crews debut ticket he got signed for me a few days prior to the Witt.
Pretty awesome package! Thanks for everything this season, Chris! Can’t wait until next year!